RetroSimba

(Updated Jan. 31, 2021)

Ken Boyer is the only Cardinal to twice hit for the cycle. Each time, he enhanced the feat by raising the degree of difficulty.

Boyer first achieved the cycle on Sept. 14, 1961, in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cubs at St. Louis. Boyer led off the 11th with a home run, giving the Cardinals a 6-5 victory and becoming the first big-league player to complete the cycle with a walkoff homer.

Three years later, on June 16, 1964, against the Colt .45s at Houston, Boyer achieved another rarity, completing a natural cycle by getting a single, double, triple and home run in that exact order in his first four at-bats.

Cubs tormenter

In the 1961 doubleheader, Boyer had a spectacular night, going 7-for-11 with five RBI against the Cubs.

Boyer was 2-for-5 in the opener, including a two-run triple in the fifth off starter Don Cardwell.

With the score 7-7 and the bases loaded in the ninth, Cubs reliever Barney Schultz delivered a pitch the Chicago Tribune described as a “puzzling knuckler” that “slithered away” from catcher Sammy Taylor, enabling Bob Lillis to scamper home from third for an 8-7 Cardinals victory. Boxscore

“The Cubs claimed Taylor’s recovery throw nailed Lillis at the plate, but they weren’t winning arguments _ or anything else _ on this night,” the Tribune reported.

That ending was a fitting prelude to Game 2.

Boyer was 5-for-6 and delivered extra-base hits in the ninth and the 11th.

In the first inning, Boyer hit a RBI-single against starter Jack Curtis. He singled again off Curtis in the third.

After grounding out in the fifth, Boyer tripled against Curtis in the seventh.

Facing Bob Anderson in the ninth, Boyer produced a RBI-double with one out, tying the score at 5-5.

In the 11th, Boyer led off with his game-winning home run against Don Elston. The victory gave the 1961 Cardinals an 11-0 home record against the Cubs. Boxscore

Since Boyer, others who have completed a cycle with a walkoff home run are Cesar Tovar of the 1972 Twins, George Brett of the 1979 Royals, Dwight Evans of the 1984 Red Sox, Carlos Gonzalez of the 2010 Rockies and Nolan Arenado of the 2017 Rockies. Arenado did it on June 18, 2017, versus the Giants at Denver. Boxscore

Hot in Houston

Boyer’s second cycle overshadowed the first Cardinals start of Lou Brock, who was acquired by St. Louis the day before in a trade with the Cubs.

Boyer that night became the 19th big-leaguer to hit for the cycle twice and the seventh to hit for the natural cycle.

In the second, Boyer beat out an infield single against starter Bob Bruce. He had a RBI-double against Bruce in the third and a RBI-triple off him in the fifth.

Boyer completed the natural cycle with a home run against Don Larsen leading off the seventh.

After flying out against Larry Yellen in the eighth, Boyer finished 4-for-5 with three RBI in a 7-1 victory that snapped a five-game Cardinals losing streak. Boxscore