Mike Shannon was a willing pupil in an experiment integral to the Cardinals becoming World Series champions in 1967.
Seeking a starting third baseman, the Cardinals gave Shannon first crack at earning the job during spring training at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst and instructor George Kissell developed a series of drills to convert Shannon from right fielder to third baseman.
The Cardinals needed to replace third baseman Charlie Smith, who was traded to the Yankees for right fielder Roger Maris in December 1966.
Shannon batted .288 with 16 home runs as St. Louis’ right fielder in 1966 and Schoendienst wanted to keep him in the lineup in 1967, joining first baseman Orlando Cepeda and Maris in forming a trio of run producers.
Moving Shannon to third enabled the Cardinals to have both Maris and Shannon in the lineup.
The conversion, though, wasn’t easy.
Head start
Shannon’s main competitors within the Cardinals for the starting third base job were Ed Spiezio, Phil Gagliano, Jerry Buchek and Ted Savage. None were considered Shannon’s equal in hitting with power and driving in runs.
Before pitchers and catchers reported for spring training, the Cardinals held a special instructional camp starting Feb. 17 at St. Petersburg, with Schoendienst, Kissell and coach Joe Schultz as teachers.
The Cardinals invited eight players _ Shannon, Gagliano, Buchek, Savage, infielder Jimy Williams, outfielders Bobby Tolan and Alex Johnson, and catcher Pat Corrales _ to the camp. Spiezio would have been invited but was excused because he played winter ball in the Caribbean.
“The Shannon-at-third experiment is rated a longshot by most observers,” The Sporting News reported.
Schoendienst and his assistants devised infield workouts to determine whether Shannon could be effective at third base.
“Schoendienst is giving Shannon and other infielders the toughest defensive drills they probably have ever seen. … Instead of fielding friendly grounders off a fungo stick, the athletes had to handle the most difficult chances,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
With Kissell pitching to Schoendienst, the manager hit balls to the infielders.
“Red still can swing a vicious bat with unusual place-hitting skill,” the Post-Dispatch reported. “The infielders never knew who was going to have to tackle the next shot off the manager’s bat.”
Bat man
Shannon did well enough at the instructional camp to enter spring training as No. 1 on the depth chart at third base.
“I prefer Shannon because he has the best bat of anybody we might consider for third base,” Schoendienst said.
Post-Dispatch sport editor Bob Broeg declared, “If Shannon … can be in the lineup with his aggressive bat, the Redbirds’ attack will be considerably stronger than if the club is forced to give up and return him to compete in an outfield overcrowded with talent.”
Shannon struggled with his fielding during spring training games.
“Mike isn’t reacting quite as well … because he’s got his hands on his knees and his weight back on his heels,” Schoendienst said. “He doesn’t come up on the balls of his feet, hands loose in front of him, ready to go in any direction with the pitch. He’s got to concentrate better, too.”
Hot pepper
With the season opener about two weeks away, Schoendienst took Shannon “to the private infield beyond the left-field fence at Al Lang Field and brought along virtually the entire pitching staff,” the Post-Dispatch reported.
Schoendienst wanted Shannon and the pitchers to work together at calling plays and handling bunts.
Afterward, “Schoendienst slashed and lashed hot grounders and line drives at Shannon in a torrid one-man pepper game,” the Post-Dispatch observed. Shannon “lunged left, then right and threw his hands up in self-defense as Schoendienst smashed the ball at him … from a distance of no more than 40 feet.”
Said Cardinals shortstop Dal Maxvill: “I feel sorry for Mike. He’s really giving it the old try. Red has been hitting balls at him like that every day.”
Making the grade
Shannon produced 19 RBI in spring training games, validating the Cardinals’ view that his bat was needed.
Named the starter at third base, Shannon pulled a muscle in his left side in the April 11 season opener and didn’t return to the lineup until April 23.
As the Cardinals hoped, Shannon played well enough at third base and delivered 12 home runs and 77 RBI. Only Cepeda, with 111, drove in more runs for the 1967 Cardinals.
Batting primarily in the fifth and sixth spots in the order, Shannon hit .293 with runners in scoring position.
Shannon played in 123 regular-season games at third base and made 29 errors. He also committed two errors in seven World Series games.
With Shannon providing punch and Maris delivering timely hitting and solid defense in right, the 1967 Cardinals finished 101-60, 10.5 games ahead of the second-place Giants, and won four of seven from the Red Sox in the World Series.
Always admired Moonman for taking on third base. Mike made 88 errors in his (way too short) career, with 80 coming at the hot corner.
Yes, 2 great characters of Cardinals lore, Pepper Martin and Mike Shannon, made the transition from outfield to third base.
True that, it wasn’t his natural position, but he never let it beat him. He can play on my all-star team any day.
Warning, thread derail…
Although Ken Boyer — why he isn’t in the HOF still baffles me. Ok, the VC let Santo in (after he died, in a total dick move) but I saw them both play and Kenny was the better fielder (nothing got by him) and could still hit a ton. He’d be my starter at 3b on the all-time Cardinals team.
Completely agree that Ken Boyer should be in Baseball Hall of Fame.
Shannon was a good clutch player.. One of my favorites…
Good choice