Nick Punto fielded flawlessly at second base for the Cardinals in the 2011 postseason and helped them become World Series champions.
On Jan. 21, 2011, the Cardinals signed Punto, a free agent, to fill a utility role as the backup to Skip Schumaker at second, Ryan Theriot at short and David Freese at third.
When the Cardinals surged into a playoff spot in September, Punto was a key contributor. He helped with his glove and bat, and also with his hijinks. Punto got the nickname “Shredder” for playfully tearing off the uniform jerseys of teammates during impromptu victory celebrations.
Versatile player
A switch-hitter, Punto made his major-league debut with the Phillies in 2001. He got traded to the Twins two years later. With the Twins, Punto was the starter at second base in 2005, at third base in 2006 and 2007, and at shortstop in 2008 and 2009. He opened the 2010 season as the Twins’ starting third baseman before being shifted into a utility role.
Granted free agency after the 2010 season, Punto, 33, signed with the Cardinals for one year at $750,000.
Punto replaced Aaron Miles, who became a free agent after the 2010 season. The Cardinals showed little interest in retaining Miles, who went to the Dodgers.
Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak described Punto as a “much better than average defensive player,” the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
At spring training, Punto had surgery for a hernia and began the season on the disabled list. With Punto shelved, Daniel Descalso and Tyler Greene were the Cardinals’ utility infielders.
In and out
Punto healed faster than expected and was activated on April 19. Ten days later, his two-run triple with two outs in the 11th inning lifted the Cardinals to a victory over the Braves. Boxscore
On May 10, another triple by Punto drove in the go-ahead run in a win against the Cubs. Boxscore
A week later, Punto’s season skidded to a halt when he went back on the disabled list because of a right forearm strain that made it painful for him to throw.
Punto was out for six weeks. When he returned to the lineup on June 28, he went 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored against the Orioles. His leadoff triple in the seventh led to a run. Boxscore
Soon after, Punto began to experience significant pain while throwing. It got so bad that on July 17, after Punto singled against the Reds, manager Tony La Russa didn’t let him go to the field, using catcher Tony Cruz to play second base instead. Boxscore
Cruz became the eighth player the Cardinals used at second base in 2011, joining Allen Craig, Daniel Descalso, Tyler Greene, Pete Kozma, Skip Schumaker, Ryan Theriot and Punto.
Punto told the Post-Dispatch the pain was “definitely affecting” his throws. “I can’t keep putting the team at risk by continuing to play like this,” Punto said.
On July 29, Punto was placed on the disabled list for the third time that season. The injury was diagnosed as a strained oblique muscle.
Welcome back
Punto stayed on the disabled list until September. When he returned, he made an immediate impact.
On Sept. 9, the Cardinals (76-67) opened a three-game series at home against the Braves (84-60). The Braves were the leaders for the wild-card spot in the playoffs, and the Cardinals needed a series sweep to enhance their chances of overtaking them.
In the ninth inning, Albert Pujols delivered a two-run single with two outs, tying the score. In the 10th, Punto, appearing in a Cardinals game for the first time since July 28, drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Boxscore
La Russa told the Post-Dispatch he was confident Punto would come through because he recalled how Punto tripled to beat the Braves in extra innings in April.
Punto’s teammates celebrated by shredding Punto’s jersey. Punto said the idea of shredding a jersey after a big win came from his wife, Natalie, when he was with the Twins.
“We clinched to get into the playoffs and we were celebrating and she ripped my shirt,” Punto recalled. “I kind of liked it. So I ripped everybody else’s shirts.”
The win propelled the Cardinals to the coveted series sweep of the Braves. A few days later, Punto hit a game-winning double against the Pirates. Video
The Cardinals went on to win 18 of 26 games in September and edged the Braves for the wild-card spot.
Punto hit .308 in September and had an on-base percentage of .424 for the month. He finished the regular season with a .278 batting mark in 63 games and an on-base percentage of .388. He hit .359 with runners in scoring position.
Making the plays
Punto played a prominent role in the Cardinals’ postseason. He started at second base in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies and made terrific fielding plays to help gain a 1-0 victory for the Cardinals. “La Russa’s decision to start Punto paid off,” Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz noted. Boxscore
In the National League Championship Series versus the Brewers, Punto made four starts at second base and the Cardinals won all four games. He also started in five games at second in the World Series against the Rangers. He had five walks and three hits in 19 plate appearances for a World Series on-base percentage of .421.
“His penchant for doing the right things at bat and not the wrong things in the field have been notable,” the Post-Dispatch reported.
Punto played 85.2 innings in the 2011 postseason and committed no errors.
La Russa described him as “a very heady player” and “an extremely valuable defensive player.”
Punto became a free agent after the Cardinals won the 2011 World Series title. The Cardinals expressed interest in bringing back Punto, but he went with the Red Sox, who gave him a two-year contract worth $3 million.
RetroSimba 
The 2011 Cardinals were a special group. Seasoned veterans, home grown youngsters and free agent gems. All held together by a first class manager and coaching staff. Nick Punto made great contributions that year. With runners in scoring position and two out, he batted .350 with an OBP of .480 From the 7th inning on, Nick batted .333. Just as a note of interest. Along with Adam Ottaviano, Nick Punto was on the roster for the 2009 Italian baseball team during the 2009 Word Baseball Classic.
As the Italians might say, “Punto e basta.” Nick Punto put an exclamation point on the Cardinals’ 2011 season.
A guilty pleasure of mine was watching Nick’s reaction whenever he struck out in the WS. He wanted to grind that bat into sawdust.
Hey, I loved Punto – steller defense wherever he played and a little pop in the bat, what’s not to love? But those K’s had me half-groaning and half-chuckling.
Yes, I got coal in my stocking last month, in case you were wondering.
Good stuff and well-said. I can relate. I could fill a coal bin over the years.
Punto indeed was prone to sometimes swinging like a power hitter, without the results. With the Twins in 2007, he had 90 strikeouts and 1 home run. In the 2011 World Series, he had twice as many strikeouts (6) as hits (3).
A guy can dream big……..