In a tragic twist of fate, a deadly boating accident during spring training led the Cardinals to acquire outfielder Mark Whiten.
On March 22, 1993, Indians pitcher Steve Olin was killed and pitchers Tim Crews and Bob Ojeda were injured severely in a boating accident on a Florida lake. Crews died the next day.
After the accident, Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill called his counterpart with the Indians, John Hart, who asked whether pitcher Rene Arocha was available. Maxvill replied, “No.”
“He said, ‘We really need pitching now,’ ” Maxvill told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I said, ‘Which one of our pitchers are you interested in?’ And he said, ‘Anybody, really.’ ”
Maxvill wanted an outfielder to back up projected starters Ray Lankford, Brian Jordan and Bernard Gilkey. Maxvill was about to make a deal for Braves outfielder Keith Mitchell, who was ticketed to open the 1993 season in the Atlanta farm system.
Hart was offering to trade Whiten, the Indians’ starting right fielder, to the Cardinals if Maxvill would offer a pitcher Hart liked.
Maxvill and Hart had discussed a possible deal during the winter meetings in December 1992. At that time, Hart asked about pitcher Mark Clark, who was 3-10 with a 4.45 ERA for the 1992 Cardinals.
Remembering that exchange, Maxvill offered Clark to the Indians. Hart wanted a second player added to the deal. When Maxvill suggested minor-league infielder Juan Andujar, Hart accepted.
Maxvill contacted the Braves and nixed the proposed trade for Mitchell. On March 31, seven days before the 1993 season opener, the Cardinals sent Clark and Andujar to Cleveland for Whiten.
“It was a shock for me,” Whiten said of the trade.
Whiten, 26, was joining his third major-league club. (He had played for the Blue Jays before joining the Indians.) He had a strong throwing arm, speed and power, but generally was considerd a raw talent. “I’m still learning,” Whiten conceded.
The acquistion of Whiten ended Ozzie Canceso’s spring training quest to make the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster as a reserve outfielder. Canseco produced four home runs and 14 RBI for St. Louis in spring training exhibition games, but admitted, “My defense is lacking … It’s something I realize I have to improve.”
Whiten became a standout for the 1993 Cardinals, generating 25 home runs, 99 RBI and 15 stolen bases. On Sept. 7, 1993, in the second game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati, Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 while batting sixth in the order. Whiten, who hit a grand slam, two three-run home runs and a two-run home run, tied the major-league single-game RBI record established by Cardinals first baseman Jim Bottomley in 1924. Boxscore
Clark finished 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA for the 1993 Indians. In three seasons with Cleveland, Clark was 27-15. Andujar never reached the big leagues.
In two seasons with St. Louis, Whiten had 39 home runs and 152 RBI. On April 9, 1995, the Cardinals traded Whiten and pitcher Rheal Cormier to the Red Sox for third baseman Scott Cooper and pitcher Cory Bailey.
Previously: Mark Whiten, Josh Hamilton: Same feat, different path
RetroSimba 
In retrospect, would the Cardinals have been better off with two extra years of Brian Jordan starting for them?
On the other hand, excellent depth isn’t a bad thing.
Good points. Thanks for reading and for commenting.
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[…] with plus power who once was a prospect in the Blue Jays’ system. Incidentally, the Cardinals were trying to acquire Keith Mitchell from the Braves before getting […]
Too bad we had the strike in 1994. Mark was on pace to have his best season.
Yes, in 92 games in 1994, Mark Whiten had 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 10 stolen bases.