In a decision that impacted the course of baseball broadcasting, the Braves rejected a chance to acquire Mike Shannon from the Cardinals for Bob Uecker.
During spring training in 1964, the Cardinals were in the market for a backup catcher and the Braves were seeking a reserve outfielder.
The Cardinals targeted Uecker because of his strong arm, quick release and defensive skills. To get him, they offered the Braves their choice of an outfielder _ Shannon or Gary Kolb. The Braves picked Kolb.
If the Braves had taken Shannon, he likely wouldn’t have contributed as he did to Cardinals clubs that won two World Series championships and three National League pennants in the 1960s.
If Shannon hadn’t had a prominent role as a Cardinals player, he likely wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to become a team broadcaster.
As it turned out, Uecker, with the Brewers, and Shannon, with the Cardinals, built successful careers as broadcasters and continued in those roles into their 80s.
Outfield glut
After being called up from the minors to the Cardinals during the 1962 and 1963 seasons, Shannon was looking to be on their Opening Day roster in 1964.
Shannon had lots of competition for one of the six outfielder spots. The favorites to open the season as outfield starters were Charlie James in left, Curt Flood in center and Carl Warwick in right, The Sporting News reported.
Competing with Shannon for backup jobs were Doug Clemens, Ron Cox, Gary Kolb, Johnny Lewis, Bobby Tolan, Corky Withrow and Don Young.
As spring training neared its end, the Cardinals settled on Clemens and Lewis for two of the three reserve outfield spots. Clemens and Lewis batted left-handed, giving the Cardinals the chance to platoon them with James and Warwick.
The last outfield spot came down to Kolb and Shannon.
What the Cardinals needed was a backup to catcher Tim McCarver. The Cardinals had Jim Coker and Dave Ricketts as candidates, but were looking for an upgrade.
Uecker, who had spent parts of the 1962 and 1963 seasons with the Braves, was available because he was third on the depth chart behind Joe Torre and Ed Bailey.
Easy choice
The Cardinals offered Coker and an outfielder for Uecker.
“We had a choice of Gary Kolb or Mike Shannon,” Braves general manager John McHale told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Kolb produced a .403 on-base percentage (26 hits, 22 walks) with the 1963 Cardinals. He also batted .500 (9-for-18) against the Braves that year. Shannon batted .308 (eight hits) for the 1963 Cardinals.
“We asked 15 people, some with the Braves and others who were friends of mine in baseball, which one they preferred,” McHale said. “It was 14-to-1 in favor of Kolb.”
McHale said Walter Shannon, a former Cardinals farm director who had joined the Indians’ scouting staff, cast the lone vote for Mike Shannon. A couple of St. Louis natives, Walter and Mike were not related, but those Shannons stuck together.
Taking advantage
The trade of Uecker to the Cardinals for Kolb and Coker was made on April 9, five days before the Cardinals opened the season.
Cardinals consultant Branch Rickey rated Kolb a top prospect and opposed the deal made by general manager Bing Devine. According to the book, “October 1964,” when Uecker was introduced to Rickey in the Cardinals’ clubhouse, Rickey replied, “I didn’t want you. I wouldn’t trade 100 Bob Ueckers for one Gary Kolb.”
Uecker, though, gave the 1964 Cardinals the defense they desired. He threw out 38 percent of runners attempting to steal. By comparison, McCarver’s rate was 29 percent. Uecker also contributed a game-winning hit against the Braves in the pennant stretch.
Shannon hardly played early in the 1964 season. He had three at-bats and struck out each time. The Cardinals sent him to their Jacksonville farm club in early May. Called back to the majors in July, Shannon took over in right field and drove in 43 runs in 88 games. He also hit a home run against Yankees ace Whitey Ford in Game 1 of the World Series.
Kolb hit .188 with no home runs in 64 at-bats for the 1964 Braves and was traded to the Mets in July 1965.
Thank you for posting this. I did not know about the Cardinals trying to trade Mike Shannon for Bob Uecker. It’s interesting that not only did we pick up Bob Uecker but that Mike Shannon proved to be a very reliable emergency backup catcher.
Thanks, Phillip. I found the info in a 1966 Post-Dispatch article.
The Braves had acquired Gene Oliver from the Cardinals in 1963, but he was used primarily at first base in 1964.
Thanks for the info.
The Braves thought they needed a back-up outfielder? Hah – what they really needed was Mike Cuellar, who the Cardinals didn’t think was ready.
Before being called up to the Cardinals in June 1964, Mike Cuellar might very well have been available in a trade. Cuellar began the 1964 season with minor-league Jacksonville. After posting a 6-1 record and 1.78 ERA in 10 starts for Jacksonville, he joined the Cardinals and helped them in their pennant-winning season. Cuellar was 5-5 for the 1964 Cardinals. He was 3-0 with 4 saves and a 2.53 ERA as a reliever, and 2-5 with a 6.13 ERA as a starter. Here is more on Cuellar: https://retrosimba.com/2015/06/14/the-story-of-why-cardinals-gave-up-on-mike-cuellar/
Branch Rickey’s consulting caused quite a furor during that time.
Yes, you are correct. Branch Rickey clashed with general manager Bing Devine, and Rickey influenced Gussie Busch’s decision to fire Devine in August 1964 and replace him with Bob Howsam: https://retrosimba.com/2014/08/15/why-gussie-busch-fired-bing-devine-in-championship-year/
And work behind his back to replace Johnny Keane. Again Mr. Busch showed low patience. Howsam was a poor replacement for Devine & returned to Cincy in 67.