RetroSimba

(Updated May 25, 2022)

Mark Littell, Trevor Rosenthal and Seung Hwan Oh are the Cardinals relievers to strike out 100 batters in a season.

In 70 relief appearances for the 1978 Cardinals, Littell struck out 120 in 97.1 innings.

In 74 relief appearances for the 2013 Cardinals, Rosenthal struck out 108 in 75.1 innings.

In 76 appearances for the 2016 Cardinals, Oh recorded 103 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.

Among the relievers who fell just short of achieving 100 strikeouts in a season as Cardinals: Lindy McDaniel (95 in 1960), Giovanny Gallegos (95 in 2021 and 93 in 2019), Alex Reyes (95 in 2021), Diego Segui (93 in 1973), Todd Worrell (92 in 1987) and Kevin Siegrist (90 in 2015).

Littell was in his first season with the Cardinals in 1978 after being acquired from the Royals for Al Hrabosky. He was a closer for a club that started poorly and never recovered. The 1978 Cardinals lost 10 of their first 15 games and manager Vern Rapp was fired in late April.

In a 24-hour period, Littell was the losing pitcher in three games. Facing the Giants at San Francisco, Littell took the loss in a Saturday game, May 13, and he was the loser in both games of a Sunday doubleheader on May 14.

Littell entered June with a 1-6 record and no saves. He didn’t earn a save until June 8 against the Braves at St. Louis. In that game, Littell relieved starter Pete Vuckovich with runners on first and second and two outs in the eighth. He struck out Jeff Burroughs, ending the threat. In the ninth, Littell secured the Cardinals’ 2-0 victory by striking out Gary Matthews and Dale Murphy before getting Darrel Chaney on a ground out. Boxscore

“After getting off to a miserable start, the ex-Royal began to get his bullet fastball and slider on the same wavelength,” The Sporting News reported. “Results: many strikeouts, few hits allowed and his first save of the season.”

One of Littell’s most impressive strikeout efforts occurred on July 20 in the Cardinals’ 3-2 victory over the Padres. Littell got six outs, all on strikeouts. The first two batters he struck out: future Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield. Boxscore