RetroSimba

(Updated April 20, 2019)

When Keith McDonald was promoted from Class AAA Memphis to replace injured catcher Eli Marrero and serve as the backup to Mike Matheny, he was shocked by the Cardinals’ decision.

McDonald was hitting .246 with one home run and 17 RBI for Memphis when the Cardinals called him to the majors in July 2000.

What happened next was magical.

McDonald hit home runs in his first two big-league at-bats, becoming the second major-league player to accomplish the feat. His first three Cardinals hits were home runs. Those would be his only hits in the major leagues.

Surprise promotion

When Marrero tore ligaments in his left thumb, some speculated the Cardinals might make a trade for a catcher, but they opted instead to bring up McDonald, 27, on July 2, 2000.

McDonald, who spent seven seasons in the minor leagues after being selected by the Cardinals in the 24th round of the 1994 amateur draft, was “shocked” by the promotion, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Two days later, before a July 4 crowd of 46,022 at St. Louis, McDonald made his major-league debut, pinch-hitting for shortstop Edgar Renteria in the eighth inning with the Cardinals holding a 13-3 lead over the Reds. McDonald responded with a solo home run against reliever Andy Larkin. Video

“I just kept running, hoping I’d touch every base so I wouldn’t get called out,” McDonald told the Post-Dispatch. “I was running with my head down, so I didn’t see it go out.”

Said Matheny: “I told him before he went up there that when you get your first shot you should take advantage of it.”

The crowd urged a curtain call, but manager Tony La Russa, not wanting to show up the Reds in such a lopsided game, convinced McDonald to stay in the dugout, according to the Associated Press. Boxscore

Encore

In his next appearance, on July 6, McDonald was given the start at catcher against the Reds. Batting in the No. 8 spot, McDonald led off the second inning with a home run against Osvaldo Fernandez, tying the score 3-3. Video

“You got to be kidding me,” Cardinals broadcaster Mike Shannon said on the telecast.

Said broadcast partner Joe Buck: “Is it that easy?”

With a nod to McDonald’s teammate Mark McGwire, a headline in the Post-Dispatch declared, “There’s a new Mac in town.”

“I’m the most surprised of anyone,” McDonald said. “The fans are probably going to expect it every time, but it may be a long time before I hit the next one.”

Teammates Renteria and Jim Edmonds prodded McDonald to wave to the crowd from the dugout steps. “I didn’t want to go,” said McDonald. “I have never done that, but it felt great.”

McDonald became the second big-league player to hit home runs in each of his first two at-bats, tying the mark first achieved by Browns left fielder Bob Nieman on Sept. 14, 1951, at Boston’s Fenway Park.

“It would have been a lot better if we’d have won,” McDonald said after the Reds won, 12-6. Boxscore

McDonald’s final hit in the big leagues came in another blowout, a 15-7 White Sox victory over the Cardinals on July 15, 2000, at Chicago. Pinch-hitting for Matheny, McDonald, in his sixth big-league at-bat, hit a two-run home run against Jesus Pena with two outs in the top of the ninth. Video and Boxscore

Back to minors

After two weeks with the Cardinals, McDonald was returned to Memphis and was replaced by Rick Wilkins, 33, a big-league journeyman. In six games with St. Louis, McDonald had three hits in seven at-bats, with five RBI and three runs scored.

At Memphis, McDonald completed his minor-league season with a .263 batting average and five home runs. He helped Memphis advance to the Class AAA World Series, where he batted .412.

In 2001, McDonald appeared in two games (both in late September) for the Cardinals, going hitless in two at-bats. He left the Cardinals organization after the 2002 season and spent the next four years in the minor-league systems of the Cubs, Pirates, Rangers and Yankees.

In 13 years in the minors, he slugged 78 home runs in 984 at-bats, but it’s those three big-league home runs that make McDonald a permanent part of Cardinals lore.