RetroSimba

(Updated Dec. 15, 2018)

The Giants made Mike Matheny a financial offer he couldn’t refuse.

Though Matheny had said he wanted to remain with the Cardinals, he accepted a free-agent deal from San Francisco in December 2004.

Matheny was the Cardinals’ catcher from 2000 through 2004. He won three Gold Glove awards as a Cardinal and played a major-league record 252 consecutive errorless games over a period from 2003-04. The Cardinals qualified for the postseason in four of the five years Matheny was their catcher.

With Matheny’s three-year $8 million contract ending after the season, the Cardinals approached him during spring training of 2004 and offered a one-year $2 million extension through 2005. Matheny rejected it, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Yadier Molina was a Cardinals rookie in 2004 and management wanted Matheny to mentor Molina through the 2005 season. Matheny would turn 36 in 2006 and the Cardinals planned for Molina to be the everyday catcher by then.

Matheny had other ideas. He played well in 2004. He contributed 50 RBI (his single-season best as a Cardinal) and made one error in 122 games, helping St. Louis win its first National League pennant in 17 years.

In December 2004, Matheny told the Post-Dispatch, “I don’t think I’ve made any secret that I’d prefer to remain with the Cardinals, but there has to be interest on their part as well.”

A few days later, the Cardinals offered Matheny a two-year contract worth about $4 million, the Post-Dispatch reported. The Dodgers, Phillies and Pirates also showed interest in signing Matheny, but it was the Giants who lured him.

On Dec. 15, 2004, Matheny accepted the Giants’ three-year $10 million deal. According to the Post-Dispatch, the pact included a $3 million signing bonus to be paid in annual installments of $500,000, $1 million and $1.5 million over three years. Matheny would be paid a base salary of $1 million in 2005, $2.25 million in 2006 and $2.25 million in 2007. In addition, the Giants held a $4 million option for 2008 that could be bought out for $2 million.

“As soon as the Giants hit the scene, it really opened the eyes of my wife and myself,” Matheny said. “We realized this could be a very special opportunity.”

On July 8, 2005, at San Francisco, the Cardinals faced the Giants for the first time since Matheny departed. During batting practice, Matheny embraced former teammates. At home plate before the game, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, pitching coach Dave Duncan, players and support staff gathered to present Matheny with his 2004 Gold Glove Award.

Matheny had two hits in the game (a double off Mark Mulder and a single off Jason Isringhausen) and nailed David Eckstein attempting to swipe second. The Cardinals won, 3-1. Boxscore

“Those are some of the best friends I’ve ever had in the game,” Matheny said of the Cardinals. “… You don’t come across that all the time in this game. There are tight bonds. It comes with the winning, but it also goes beyond baseball. There are families involved. I see my son over there with them. The guys are excited to see him. It’s a pretty neat thing. It doesn’t happen everywhere that you have those kinds of relationships. They are very, very special to me.”

A month later, Aug. 19, 2005, Matheny played his first game at St. Louis as a Giant. The Cardinals presented him with a National League championship ring before the game.

When Matheny batted for the first time in the game, the crowd of 46,200 gave a prolonged ovation. Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter stepped off the mound to allow the applause to continue. “I want to thank the fans for doing that,” Matheny said.

The Cardinals won, 5-4. Matheny went hitless in three at-bats against Carpenter and drew an intentional walk from Julian Tavarez. Boxscore

Matheny enjoyed a stellar first season with the Giants. He produced 13 home runs and 59 RBI, both career highs. He also won another Gold Glove Award while leading NL catchers in assists (77) and runners caught attempting to steal (39). He posted a .999 fielding percentage (one error in 132 games caught).

In late May 2006, Matheny was struck by several foul balls during a three-game series against the Marlins. On May 31, in the series finale, Matheny was removed from the game in the third inning after getting conked by a foul tip. He was diagnosed with a concussion and never played in another game.

Matheny became manager of the Cardinals when Tony La Russa left after winning the 2011 World Series championship. Matheny managed the Cardinals to a pennant in 2013 and postseason appearances in each of his first four seasons, but was fired in July 2018 as the club headed to a third consecutive year without a postseason bid.

Previously: Michigan mentor: Bill Freehan prepared Mike Matheny