RetroSimba

Jose Cardenal faced two daunting challenges with the 1970 Cardinals: (1) replace Curt Flood as the center fielder and (2) defend himself against comments from anonymous teammates who accused him of being selfish and lackadaisical.

Cardenal contributed significantly to a 1970 Cardinals lineup that included Lou Brock, Joe Torre and Richie Allen, but some teammates questioned his desire. Whether the criticism had merit or was based on stereotype is conjecture.

Traded for Pinson

On Nov. 21, 1969, the Cardinals traded right fielder Vada Pinson to the Indians for Cardenal. The Cardinals were seeking a center fielder to replace Flood, who a month earlier had been dealt to the Phillies.

In 12 years with the Cardinals, Flood batted .293, played on two World Series championship clubs and three National League pennant winners and earned seven consecutive Gold Glove awards.

Cardenal, 26, five years younger than Flood and Pinson, hit .257 with 26 doubles and 36 stolen bases for the 1969 Indians. The Cardinals became his fourth club following stints with the Giants, Angels and Indians.

According to Russell Schneider, who covered the Indians for The Sporting News, “Cardenal, who can be an outstanding fielder and better-than-average hitter when he wants, was a disappointment through most of 1969 … Jose has a tendency toward moodiness when things aren’t going well.”

Neal Russo, who covered the Cardinals, echoed that sentiment, writing that “Cardenal, a brilliant fielder, has a reputation for pouting because of such things as the manager shouting at him.”

Team player

Cardinals general manager Bing Devine sent scout Chase Riddle and assistant player development director John Claiborne to Puerto Rico to watch Cardenal in the winter league.

“Riddle and Claiborne said Cardenal had been doing a good job in the field and had been hitting the ball consistently to right field behind the runner,” Devine said. “He makes contact well. He’s good on the hit-and-run and he looks like he’ll be a good No. 2 man in the batting order.”

Said Cardenal: “I read where I would bat second behind a fast man like Brock. I thought I might be able to help him, my club and myself if I could hit the ball on the ground to the right side.”

Cardenal opened the season batting between Brock and Allen. He hit .353 in April and .366 in June.

Said Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst: “He can do everything. He’s one of the best players we have.”

Nasty talk

In early September, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported Cardenal would be traded and quoted anonymous Cardinals players who called him a bad teammate.

Cardenal called a press conference to address the matter and said the accusations “broke my heart because they were so nasty.”

“Cardenal denied the charges that he played only when he felt like it, that he played for himself rather than for the team and that he did not hustle in the outfield or on the bases.” The Sporting News reported.

At a speaking engagement soon after, Cardinals player Joe Hague criticized Cardenal and Allen for not being “winning types,” The Sporting News reported.

Winning numbers

Based on statistics, Cardenal had a successful 1970 season. He batted .293 with 162 hits in 148 games, led the Cardinals in doubles (32), placed second in stolen bases (26) behind Brock (51) and was third in RBI (74) behind Allen (101) and Torre (100).

Cardenal hit .342 with runners in scoring position.

After the season, the Cardinals acquired Matty Alou from the Pirates and projected him to play center field, with Cardenal moving to right.

Sent packing

Cardenal didn’t perform as well in 1971 as he did in 1970. With the Cardinals eager to give a starting spot to rookie outfielder Jose Cruz, Cardenal was deemed expendable.

On July 29, 1971, Cardenal was batting .243 when the Cardinals traded him, infielder Dick Schofield and pitcher Bob Reynolds to the Brewers for infielder Ted Kubiak and minor-league pitcher Chuck Loseth.

“When they traded me, I was hurt and embarrassed,” Cardenal said. “They told me they wouldn’t trade me after the All-Star Game.”

Nearly a quarter-century later, Cardenal returned to the Cardinals as a coach on the staff of their manager, Torre, in 1994 and 1995.

Previously: Ted Simmons packed powerful punch vs. Cubs