Carl Taylor and Roger Freed are the only Cardinals to achieve one of the rarest of big-league baseball feats: the ultimate grand slam, a game-ending, four-run home run that erases a three-run deficit with one swing.
Big thrill
Taylor, acquired by the Cardinals from the Pirates in October 1969 for pitcher Dave Giusti and catcher Dave Ricketts, was expected to compete for the starting right field position in 1970. Instead, the job went to Leron Lee and Taylor primarily was used as a pinch-hitter.
On Aug. 11, 1970, the Padres led the Cardinals, 10-7, in the ninth inning at St. Louis. With two outs, the bases loaded and pitcher Harry Parker due to bat, Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst sent in Taylor.
Padres reliever Ron Herbel delivered a thigh-high fastball and Taylor drove it about two feet beyond the left-field wall, giving the Cardinals an 11-10 victory.
“I figured he’d go to the fastball to try getting ahead of me,” Taylor told the Associated Press. “It’s got to be the biggest thrill I’ve ever had, because this one won the ballgame. Heck, it’s my first grand slam ever, even in Little League.”
It also was the last big-league homer Taylor would hit in a six-year career. Boxscore
“I hit the ball off the end of the bat,” Taylor told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I thought it might be another one that would just reach the warning track. I hit a lot of those in batting practice, so many that the guys rib me about it.”
Making a contribution
Nine years later, on May 1, 1979, the Astros and Cardinals were involved in a see-saw game at St. Louis.
In the top of the 11th, with a 3-3 score, the Astros struck for three runs and led, 6-3.
Left-hander Joe Sambito loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half of the 11th, but when Garry Templeton struck out for the second out, the Cardinals’ hopes dimmed.
Jerry Mumphrey was due up next, and he hit right-handers better than he did left-handers, so manager Ken Boyer sent Freed to bat for him.
Freed, hitless in five at-bats that season, was keenly aware of reports his demotion to the minors could be imminent.
Sambito got ahead on the count, 1-and-2, but Freed worked the count back to his favor.
“My knees were shaking and sweat kept pouring into my eyes,” Freed told United Press International. “I asked the ump (Dave Pallone) for time and took a few deep breaths. I felt a bit strange because I’d only been up two or three times in the last three weeks.”
Freed launched Sambito’s 3-and-2 pitch over the left-field fence, giving the Cardinals a 7-6 victory. Boxscore
“This is the biggest, most pleasing experience anyone could have in a lifetime,” Freed said to the Post-Dispatch. “Something like this really makes me feel like a part of the ballclub, like I’m an asset to the team. You get to feeling like dead weight when you’re not contributing in some way.”
Freed said Sambito’s full-count pitch “was away, but out over the plate. I’m sure he got more of the plate, maybe four or five inches, than he wanted.”
RetroSimba 
I remember Freed’s grand slam well. I was nine years old and had just moved from the St. Louis area to Tupelo, Mississippi. That night, against parental orders, I was listening to the game in bed on a small transistor radio. When Freed smacked that home run, I screamed and jumped out of the bed and started going nuts. My parents came running and were mad for about three seconds until I told them what had happened. Incredible.
Scott: Thanks for sharing that recollection. Moments like that seal a special bond between team and fan.
I was at the game. As a kid going to the ballpark with my dad We NEVER left a game early regardless of the score so I carried on this tradition as a young man. That is until that night. I was with two buddies who were so frustrated with Tom Bruno getting rocked in extra innings they convinced to leave before the game was over. We heard Freed’s slam on KMOX driving home. A hard lesson learned – don’t leave games early. Sorry dad!
Thanks, Kevin. Good stuff. I know the feeling.
Incredible stuff…….makes the game so great….me?? Roger Freed played for the Phillies at one time…so? So…I was a diehard Johnny Callison fan…..so all I need to say is 1964 All Star Game walkoff!
Thanks, Tommy. I remember when Phillies had high hopes for Roger Freed. Phillies sent Grant Jackson to Orioles to acquire Freed.
Also check out the connection between Carl Taylor and Boog Powell; Taylor actually burned his clothes in the clubhouse signifying he wanted to quit!
Good tip, Tommy. Indeed, Carl Taylor and Boog Powell are stepbrothers
This article reminds me of a similar game in 1977. It was a Monday night game of the week versus the Dodgers. The Cardinals were down 6-1 in the bottom of the 9th. Jerry Mumphrey led off with a sharp single to center, and the game ended on a pinch hit 3 run Roger Freed home run. Cards won 8-6 as it recall. The LA Times sports section the next day led with the headline “Chalk one up to Dodger Blew”
You are absolutely correct in your recollection. Thanks for sharing it. I love the story of the LA Times headline. Here is the boxscore from that game in which the Cardinals rallied to win with seven runs in the bottom of the ninth: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1977/B08220SLN1977.htm
Thanks Retro! Isn’t this what makes baseball great? I was 13 and sitting in our den watching on a small black and white TV. Still remember waking up my dad to tell him what happened…my son has inherited the Cardinal tradition from me, and though still living in Dodger country, we get out to Busch for 3-5 games per year! Great website!
Thank you, Emerson. It’s always special to connect with a true Cardinals fan.