The 1956 Cardinals had an unremarkable record with a remarkable cast of leaders.
Hampered by a pitching staff that yielded 698 runs (third-highest total in the National League), St. Louis finished in fourth place at 76-78.
Yet nine players on the ’56 Cardinals became major-league managers.
A recent Society for American Baseball Research list serve had a post regarding which major league team produced the most managers. A member made a case for the ’56 Cardinals.
The team was managed by Fred Hutchinson.
In alphabetical order, the players from that team who became big-league managers:
_ Ken Boyer: In his second big-league season, the third baseman became a full-fledged star in 1956, with 26 home runs, 98 RBI and a .306 batting average. As Cardinals manager from 1978-80, he was 166-191, though he did post a winning record (86-76) in his only full season (1979) at the helm.
_ Al Dark: Acquired from the Giants on June 14, 1956, in a trade involving Cardinals fan favorite Red Schoendienst, Dark played shortstop and hit .286 (118 hits in 100 games) that season for St. Louis. In 13 years as a big-league manager (Giants, Athletics, Indians, Padres), Dark was 994-954. He won pennants in both leagues (1962 Giants and 1974 Athletics) and a World Series title (1974 Athletics).
_ Joe Frazier: A 33-year-old outfielder in 1956, Frazier hit .211 in 14 games for the Cardinals before being traded to the Reds on May 16 with shortstop Alex Grammas for outfielder Chuck Harmon. After managing the Mets to an 86-76 record in 1976, Frazier was replaced by Joe Torre when the Mets went 15-30 to start 1977. Frazier, 88, died Feb. 15.
_ Alex Grammas: In his third season with St. Louis, Grammas was the Opening Day shortstop in 1956 and hit .250 in six games before being dealt with Frazier to Cincinnati. After managing the Pirates for five games at the end of the 1969 season, Grammas managed the Brewers in 1976 and ’77. His big-league managerial mark is 137-191.
_ Grady Hatton: A reserve second baseman, Hatton hit .247 in 44 games for the 1956 Cardinals before his contract was sold to the Orioles on Aug. 1. As Astros manager from 1966-68, he was 164-221.
_ Solly Hemus: A Cardinals player since 1949, Hemus was traded to the Phillies on May 14, 1956, for infielder Bobby Morgan. He was 190-192 as Cardinals manager from 1959-61, including an 86-68 record in 1960.
_ Whitey Lockman: Acquired from the Giants along with Al Dark, the outfielder batted .249 with no homers in 70 games in his only St. Louis season. Lockman was 157-162 as Cubs manager from 1972-74.
_ Red Schoendienst: An eight-time All-Star as a Cardinal, the second baseman was hitting .314 for St. Louis in 1956 when he was traded to the Giants. As Cardinals manager from 1965-76 (plus stints as an interim in 1980 and 1990), Schoendienst won two pennants (1967, ’68), a World Series championship (1967) and compiled a record of 1,041-955.
_ Bill Virdon: The Opening Day center fielder for St. Louis was hitting .211 in 24 games when traded to the Pirates on May 17 for pitcher Dick Littlefield and outfielder Bobby Del Greco. In 13 years as manager of the Pirates, Yankees, Astros and Expos, Virdon was 995-921.
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