RetroSimba

(Updated July 30, 2018)

In his two months with the Cardinals during the 2006 regular season, Ronnie Belliard didn’t compile dazzling statistics, but he did play a significant part in Cardinals postseason history.

Belliard’s performance in the 2006 National League Division Series enabled the Cardinals to eliminate the Padres and advance on a postseason path that led them to their first World Series title in 24 years.

On July 30, 2006, the Cardinals acquired Belliard, a second baseman, from the Indians for infielder Hector Luna. The Cardinals rated Belliard a more complete player than either Luna or their incumbent second baseman, Aaron Miles.

In declaring Belliard the everyday second baseman, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, “Sometimes you have to seize the moment. This is our chance to win.”

“I’ve seen him rise to the occasion in winning situations,” La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He doesn’t hide from them. He takes charge of them.”

Belliard gave the Cardinals an infield that had at each position a starter who had been a big-league all-star: Albert Pujols at first, Belliard at second, David Eckstein at short and Scott Rolen at third.

When acquired by St. Louis, Belliard was hitting .291 with eight home runs and 44 RBI for the Indians.

In 54 games with the Cardinals, Belliard batted .237 with five home runs and 23 RBI.

After losing nine of their final 13 regular-season games and barely holding off Houston to win the NL Central championship, the Cardinals stumbled into the first round of the playoffs against San Diego.

That’s when Belliard played his best as a Cardinal.

In Game 1 at San Diego, the Padres trailed by four runs in the seventh inning, but had the bases loaded with two outs and Todd Walker at the plate against reliever Tyler Johnson.

Walker hit a sharp grounder, but Belliard “dived on the outfield grass, knocked the ball down, rolled over and threw out Walker by a step,” Ryan Fagan of The Sporting News reported. “It was the play the locker room was buzzing about.” Video

If the ball had gotten past Belliard, two runs would have scored and the Padres would have had the tying runs on base with Dave Roberts (who was 3-for-3 in the game) up next.

Instead, the Cardinals went on to win, 5-1, setting the tone for the series and restoring their swagger after their wobbly finish to the regular season. Boxscore

“That saved the game for us,” Cardinals outfielder Jim Edmonds said. “If they get two runs in right there, we’re in trouble.”

Added Pujols: “I never thought he was going to get to the ball.”

In the clubhouse, his Cardinals teammates presented Belliard with a game ball.

“I think I got lucky on that one.” Belliard said. “… It was a pretty good play and I know we need that play for the win.”

Belliard also delivered with the bat. In the decisive Game 4 against the Padres, Belliard’s two-run, two-out single in the first tied the score and helped St. Louis regain momentum en route to a 6-2 victory. Boxscore

For the four-game series, Belliard batted .462 (6-for-13).

The Cardinals went on to eliminate the Mets in a classic seven-game League Championship Series and knocked off the Tigers in the World Series.

Belliard’s strong play didn’t last. He was hitless in 12 at-bats in the World Series.

On Oct. 31, 2006, Belliard declared for free agency, sat for five months without an offer, and finally signed with the Nationals on March 24, 2007.