RetroSimba

Though they entered September with a 10-game lead over their closest pursuer, making a pennant a virtual given, the Cardinals reacted with an outpouring of genuine joy and giddy wonderment on the night they clinched the 1967 National League championship.

This was a team that meshed well. A diverse blend of proud, talented professionals truly liked and respected one another. They played a brand of baseball that was smart, tough and fundamentally sound. Winning a title together was a special accomplishment that unleashed a flow of emotions.

Fifty years ago, on Sept. 18, 1967, the Cardinals, behind the pitching of Bob Gibson, beat the Phillies, 5-1, at Philadelphia. The victory gave the Cardinals a 95-56 record with 11 games left. Even if the Cardinals lost all 11 and the second place Giants (81-68) won all 13 of their remaining games, the Cardinals couldn’t be caught.

“It’s been a great-spirited club,” Cardinals general manager Stan Musial told Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stan Hochman. “It never gave up. It met all the challenges.”

Winning combination

The Cardinals went into the Monday night game at Connie Mack Stadium knowing a win would secure a pennant. Gibson, their ace, was making his third start since recovering from a broken bone in his right leg. He was matched against Dick Ellsworth.

Gibson and Ellsworth engaged in a scoreless duel through five innings.

Dal Maxvill, the eighth-place batter, got the Cardinals’ first hit, a leadoff single in the sixth. He moved to second on Gibson’s sacrifice bunt. Lou Brock doubled, scoring Maxvill.

Julian Javier followed with a single to left, driving in Brock and putting the Cardinals ahead, 2-0. When the throw from left fielder Tony Gonzalez carried to the plate in an unsuccessful bid to nail Brock, Javier alertly moved to second.

Curt Flood struck out. With two outs and first base empty, Ellsworth issued an intentional pass to cleanup batter Orlando Cepeda.

Mike Shannon foiled that strategy with a double down the left-field line. Javier scored and Cepeda chugged toward third. Gonzalez threw to second, trying to nab Shannon. Cookie Rojas, the second baseman, cut off the throw and fired to third base, hoping to catch Cepeda, but the peg was wild and sailed past third baseman Tony Taylor. Cepeda scored, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Gibson retired the last nine consecutive Phillies batters, completing a three-hitter. Boxscore

Letting loose

Inside the cramped, dimly lit visitors’ clubhouse, the Cardinals celebrated, uncorking bottles of Great Western champagne. Some drank from tiny paper cups. Others doused each other with champagne and beer.

“They looked like college kids after an upset victory, not pros at the end of a runaway pennant race,” observed columnist Frank Dolson of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Geysers of champagne soaked players and visitors. The new National League champions screamed and chanted and went beserk.”

As the champagne flowed _ there was no post-game food spread for the champions _ players began carrying onlookers, fully clothed, into the showers.

Broadcaster Jack Buck and manager Red Schoendienst were among the first to get impromptu showers. Then it was Musial’s turn. With Roger Maris grabbing one arm and Phil Gagliano gripping the other, Musial, wearing a suit, was lifted into the showers as he pleaded, “No, no.”

“He emerged moments later drenched from head to foot,” Dolson wrote.

The clubhouse revelry lasted more than an hour before the Cardinals gathered themselves and headed to a post-game dinner and party hosted by team owner Gussie Busch at the venerable Old Bookbinders restaurant in downtown Philadelphia.

Cardinals players cited three main factors for the success of the 1967 team: 1. Unity and likability. 2. Fundamental soundness in all skillsets. 3. Contributions from younger, or less experienced, pitchers.

Unity and likability

“I can’t remember ever having as much fun in my life playing baseball as this year,” Flood said.

Said Cepeda: “I never had so much fun in my life. Never. There are a lot of beautiful people on this ball club.”

Cepeda, acquired from the Giants in May 1966, and Maris, acquired from the Yankees in December 1966, fit well with key holdovers from the 1964 World Series champion Cardinals: Brock, Flood, Gibson, Javier, Maxvill, Tim McCarver and Shannon.

“Orlando has helped to make this ball club jell _ out on the field and in here (the clubhouse),” Flood said. “He fit in so well it is hard to remember what it was like when he wasn’t here.”

Regarding Maris, Flood said, “He’d offer you the shirt off his back and be mad if you didn’t take it. Roger is not an introvert by any means. He’s fun. A lot of fun.”

Fundamental soundness

“This club has pitching, defense, offense, speed,” Cepeda told Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News. “We can beat you so many ways.”

Flood: “We were very versatile. We didn’t have to wait around for someone to hit a home run. Lou Brock could walk, steal second and someone would single him home and we had a run.”

Maris: “The biggest thing was attitude. We had guys who felt they could hit any pitcher, any time.”

McCarver: “We had unselfish hitters and selfish pitchers. That’s right. They refused to give up any runs.”

Emerging pitching

Among the young pitchers who delivered for the 1967 Cardinals were Nelson Briles, 24, (14 wins); Steve Carlton, 22, (14 wins); Larry Jaster, 23, (9 wins); and Ron Willis, 24, (10 saves and 6 wins). Also, Dick Hughes, 29, a rookie, had a team-high 16 wins.

Cardinals reliever Hal Woodeshick credited pitching coach Billy Muffett.

“It was Muffett who changed Dick Hughes and Nellie Briles to the no windup delivery,” Woodeshick said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Muffett brought along Steve Carlton, too, and he changed Ron Willis to sidearm. He had to have the young pitching come through after we left spring training, or we had nothing. They ought to triple Muffett’s pay.”

Said Musial: “The young pitching made the difference.”

Previously: How Cardinals took a chance on Roger Maris