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Willie Davis and his short, strange stay with Cardinals

Posted in Games, Hitters, Trades on August 9, 2015| 16 Comments »

(Updated June 4, 2020)

Unable or unwilling to manage his personal finances, outfielder Willie Davis left the Cardinals during a pennant drive in an effort to protect his wages from being claimed by his ex-wife.

On Aug. 15, 1975, Davis, the Cardinals’ right fielder, was placed on the club’s disqualified list after informing management he was quitting because of financial problems.

The incident added another twist to a bizarre year in which Davis served a stint in jail, got into a shouting match with a manager, staged a protest during a game and got traded twice.

Trouble in Texas

Davis was the center fielder for the Dodgers throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. He appeared in three World Series for them, twice was named an all-star and twice led the National League in triples. He produced a 31-game hitting streak in 1969.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Dodgers shortstop Maury Wills said of Davis, “He was so talented. God really blessed him with some great tools _ for any sport, really _ speed, strength, agility _ everything an athlete needs in order to make the big time.”

Asked about Davis, Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax told ESPN’s Roy Firestone, “There might have been guys who were quicker, but I don’t think anybody was faster going from first to third.”

The Dodgers traded Davis to the Expos in December 1973 and 12 months later the Expos dealt him to the Rangers. Soon after, on Feb. 13, 1975, Davis was released from the Los Angeles County jail after serving two days of a five-day sentence for failure to make child support payments, The Sporting News reported. Davis’ attorney arranged for the release by promising that the Rangers would withhold some of Davis’ salary for alimony and child support payments. Davis agreed to pay about $12,000 in back payments, the Associated Press reported.

Calm before storm

At spring training with the Rangers in 1975, Davis told columnist Melvin Durslag he was at peace because he had become a member of Nichiren Shoshu, a Buddhist religious order based on the teachings of a 13th-century Japanese monk. Davis said he spent one to four hours a day chanting. Believers say chanting enables a person to change bad karma and achieve enlightenment.

“I consider myself better adjusted than anyone else in this game,” Davis said. “That’s because nothing can make me unhappy.”

Two months later, on May 7, 1975, Davis and Rangers manager Billy Martin got into a shouting match after Davis interrupted Martin while the manager was berating the team during a locked-door clubhouse meeting.

“I just can’t play for anybody who wants to keep his foot on my neck,” Davis said, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Three weeks later, Davis staged a protest by petulantly squatting in center field, his glove under his arm, throughout an inning because teammate Steve Hargan didn’t hit a batter with a pitch after a Red Sox pitcher threw at Davis.

Soon after, when the Rangers wouldn’t give Davis a salary advance for the third time, he refused to go with the team on a road trip to Baltimore.

Feeling bad karma, the Rangers looked to trade Davis.

“We’ve been exceedingly lenient with the guy since last winter on all matters pertaining to his financial affairs,” Rangers general manager Dan O’Brien told the Star-Telegram, “but at some point you’ve got to draw the line.”

Cardinals roll dice

The 1975 Cardinals were in the market for a hitter because their rookie first baseman, Keith Hernandez, was overmatched by big-league pitching.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, O’Brien called Cardinals general manager Bing Devine and said, “We’ve got to get rid of Willie Davis. You wouldn’t want him, would you?”

Devine said no, but changed his mind three days later after talks with manager Red Schoendienst and others.

On June 4, 1975, the Cardinals traded shortstop Ed Brinkman and pitcher Tommy Moore to the Rangers for Davis. Hernandez, batting .203, was sent to the minors. The Cardinals switched Reggie Smith from right field to first base and Davis, 35, joined an outfield with Lou Brock in left and Bake McBride in center.

“The Cards took a good gamble with Willie Davis, only if they can get him to stop spending money faster than he runs,” wrote columnist Dick Young.

Devine and Davis said they believed Schoendienst would be key to making the deal successful.

“We take chances on players other teams might not want because of Red Schoendienst’s philosophy,” Devine said. “All Red looks for is a guy’s ability and how he can fit into our picture. Then, when we get a guy, Red leaves him alone.”

Davis said Schoendienst is “a lot like Walter Alston when I was with the Dodgers. Both of them leave you alone and let you enjoy playing this game.”

Schoendienst gave Davis the honor of taking the lineup card to the umpires before his first game with his new team. “With the Cardinals, I know I can play baseball without being suppressed,” Davis said. “I can be loose again.”

Unexpected departure

A left-handed batter, Davis hit .382 for the Cardinals in July.

In early August, Schoendienst was asked why he didn’t fine Davis after the outfielder made a blunder against the Padres. “How can I?” Schoendienst replied. “He doesn’t have any money.”

Davis again had fallen behind in alimony and child support payments. His ex-wife indicated she would seek a court order to have the Cardinals withhold his pay and send the money to her.

Davis said he was quitting rather than having his salary withheld. “I’m going back home and look into starting a new career,” he told the Post-Dispatch. “If I stayed, I’d be playing two months for nothing. That will never take place.”

The Cardinals placed him on the disqualified list and provided attorneys to help Davis resolve the issue, the Associated Press reported.

Regarding Davis’ absence, Brock said, “With him, we had a chance for the pennant. Without, it’s going to be tough.”

Davis’ yearly salary was $110,000. He was due about $30,000 for the remainder of the season, according to United Press International.

After missing five games, Davis and his ex-wife reached an agreement to split his remaining salary in 1975. Davis said she would receive $17,000.

“She’s satisfied and I’m satisfied,” Davis said.

Welcome back

The Cardinals were within 4.5 games of the first-place Pirates when Davis left the club and he was hitting .308.

When he returned, Davis told reporters Buddhism helped him deal with his financial problem. He delivered a few sample chants before dropping a bombshell. “I want a contract for five years and a million dollars,” Davis said. “St. Louis will have the first shot at me, but I won’t care where I go.”

In his first game back from the disqualified list, Davis started in right field, received an ovation from the fans at Busch Stadium and went 4-for-4 with a triple, double and two singles against the Reds’ Gary Nolan. Boxscore

“I felt like I was reborn,” Davis said.

Davis hit .368 in August and his Cardinals batting average entering September was .335. The Cardinals were 20-11 in August and were 72-63 overall, four games out of first place.

Reggie Smith said Davis is “the difference between winning and losing.”

Tough times

In September 1975, Davis swooned and so did the Cardinals. He hit .141 in September. The Cardinals were 10-17 for the month and finished at 82-80 _ 10.5 games behind first-place Pittsburgh.

Davis hit .291 with the 1975 Cardinals, with 50 RBI and 10 stolen bases. His batting average versus right-handed pitching was .329.

The Cardinals sought to trade him and found little interest until Padres president Buzzie Bavasi, who’d been Dodgers general manager when Davis played for them, made an offer.

On Oct. 20, 1975, the Cardinals dealt Davis to the Padres for outfielder Dick Sharon.

After his playing career, Davis “had a very difficult time … living life away from the game,” said Tommy Hawkins, a Dodgers executive.

In 1996, Davis was arrested and charged with threatening to kill his parents and burn down their house unless they gave him $5,000, the Los Angeles Times reported. He was armed with a set of throwing knives and a samurai sword.

Said Bavasi: “There was nothing more exciting than to watch Willie run out a triple. He could have been a Hall of Famer, but he had million-dollar legs and a 10-cent head.”

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Ray Lankford and his stellar debut with Cardinals

Posted in Games, Hitters, Prospects on August 6, 2015| 1 Comment »

(Updated Oct. 17, 2024)

Put at ease by management and welcomed by teammates, including those he might replace, Ray Lankford felt at home with the Cardinals and delivered a stellar performance in his big-league debut.

On Aug. 21, 1990, Lankford, 23, went 2-for-4 with a RBI, a run scored and a stolen base against future Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz of the Braves in his first game with the Cardinals.

Batting sixth and starting in center field, Lankford singled in his first at-bat and swiped second base.

In the eighth, Lankford doubled with two outs, driving in Todd Zeile from second, and scored on a single by Rex Hudler.

“I did a little bit of everything,” Lankford said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’m happy. I couldn’t have asked for much more.” Boxscore

Top prospect

Lankford was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 1987 amateur draft. He and another Cardinals outfield prospect, Bernard Gilkey, became friends and were road roommates with the 1990 Class AAA Louisville farm club.

With Willie McGee eligible to become a free agent after the 1990 season, speculation was Lankford would replace McGee as Cardinals center fielder in 1991.

“When he plays hard, he’s awesome,” Gilkey said of Lankford. “… He reminds me of Kal Daniels of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he plays better defense and he runs better (than Daniels). His style is like Daniels and he’s built like Willie Mays.”

One of the few to cast doubts about Lankford was Whitey Herzog. After abruptly quitting as Cardinals manager in July 1990, Herzog remained with the club as a vice president and was sent in August to scout Cardinals prospects.

“You can talk about prospects all you want, but if you and I are hitting .270 at Louisville … those aren’t good credentials to take Willie McGee’s job,” Herzog said.

The Post-Dispatch reported Herzog said in a Louisville radio interview his opinions on Cardinals prospects “might not be the same” as those of director of player development Ted Simmons. Herzog concluded Lankford could benefit from another season at Class AAA.

No war zone

Disregarding Herzog’s advice, the Cardinals called up Lankford on Aug. 20, 1990. He was batting .260 for Louisville, but had a .362 on-base percentage, with 25 doubles, 72 RBI, 30 stolen bases, 72 walks and 123 hits in 132 games.

After reporting to Busch Stadium on Aug. 21, Lankford met with Simmons, manager Joe Torre and instructor George Kissell in Torre’s office.

“Teddy told him he wasn’t going to Vietnam,” Torre said. “This isn’t war here. Just go out and have a good time.”

Torre met with Cardinals starting outfielders McGee, Vince Coleman and Milt Thompson and explained to them he would start Lankford in center and move McGee to right, putting Thompson on the bench.

Torre said he wanted Lankford to play center “in the event McGee’s not here next year. We want to get him used to the bigger outfield here (at Busch Stadium).”

One of the first to greet Lankford in the clubhouse was Thompson. “I just have to keep my head up and keep working hard,” Thompson said.

McGee and Coleman also were friendly to Lankford. “Willie and Vince are both great players and I’m not here to take any jobs away,” Lankford said.

McGee said he hadn’t played right field since attending Diablo Valley College in California. Asked his reaction to being moved from center to right, McGee said, “I’m the employee. I do what I’m told.”

Let loose

Lankford batted .400 (6-for-15) in his first four games for the Cardinals.

“We’ll baby Lankford a little bit, but we want to get a good read on him so we know what to expect,” Torre said.

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz endorsed the decision to play Lankford. “The Cardinals need to turn Lankford loose, let him flail away at big-league pitching,” Miklasz wrote. “… Lankford can’t be held back. Stunting his progress at this stage is counterproductive.”

On Aug. 29, 1990, the Cardinals traded McGee to the Athletics for outfielder Felix Jose, infielder Stan Royer and minor-league pitcher Daryl Green.

In 39 games with the 1990 Cardinals, Lankford hit .286 with 10 doubles, eight stolen bases and a .353 on-base percentage.

After getting the chance to see Lankford, Gilkey and Jose play in the big leagues in September 1990, the Cardinals made the trio their regular outfield in 1991.

In the 1991 Cardinals Yearbook, Ted Simmons said of Lankford, “He has the best tools of any prospect we’ve had in the two years I’ve been here (as director of player development). He’s got the kind of tools that are as good as anybody and the kind that should let him have as good a rookie season as anybody.”

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David Eckstein and his walkoff slam for Cardinals

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents on August 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Dec. 21, 2024)

Having already worked one grand slam miracle as an Angel, David Eckstein performed another for the Cardinals.

On Aug. 7, 2005, Eckstein hit a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning against Chris Reitsma, lifting the Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over the Braves.

“Every once in a while, you get a miracle like this,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Eckstein, 5-foot-6 and slightly built, appeared better suited for singles than slugging.

However, the feat wasn’t a first for Eckstein. Three years earlier, on April 28, 2002, Eckstein hit a walkoff grand slam for the Angels against Pedro Borbon of the Blue Jays. It was one of three grand slams Eckstein hit for the Angels that season.

Eckstein’s grand slam for the Cardinals against the Braves was the fourth and last of his big-league career.

Subs deliver

The Braves scored a run in the top of the ninth against Jason Isringhausen, extending their lead from 2-1 to 3-1.

Reitsma, a right-hander who had yielded one run over his last 11 appearances and had converted nine consecutive save opportunities, was the choice of Braves manager Bobby Cox to pitch the bottom of the ninth.

Each of the first three Cardinals batters _ Abraham Nunez, So Taguchi and Hector Luna _ singled with two strikes, loading the bases with none out.

Nunez, subbing for injured Scott Rolen, hit a groundball single to center and Taguchi, subbing for injured Larry Walker, followed with a low liner up the middle.

Luna, pinch-hitting for catcher Mike Mahoney, who was subbing for injured Yadier Molina, slapped a grounder that deflected off Reitsma’s glove toward second baseman Marcus Giles. As Taguchi dashed in front of him, Giles tried to scoop the ball and swipe Taguchi with a tag, but he couldn’t get a handle on the ball and all the runners were safe on what was ruled an infield hit.

“If I let that go, maybe we turn two,” Reitsma said to the Associated Press. “You just react in that situation and it hit the top of my glove.”

Said Cox: “We butchered a double-play ball. You tell your pitchers not to touch a ball like that because it’s a routine double play.”

With the bases loaded and none out, La Russa called for Scott Seabol to bat for pitcher Ray King. Seabol, who hadn’t produced a hit for the Cardinals since June 21, popped out to third baseman Wilson Betemit.

Mighty mite

Next up was Eckstein, who had hit four home runs on the season and 21 since entering the major leagues in 2001.

After taking the first pitch from Reitsma for a ball, Eckstein swung at the next and drove the ball over the left-field fence and into the seats. Video

“I was trying to go down and away with a sinker for a double play,” Reitsma told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I just left it down the middle.”

Said Eckstein of his home run swing: “That’s probably all I’ve got right there.” Boxscore

After being mobbed by his teammates at the plate, Eckstein doffed his helmet to the crowd of 47,714 who had turned out on what the Cardinals promoted as Transplant Awareness Day. Eckstein’s father was scheduled to become the fourth family member to receive a kidney transplant.

Walkoff winners

The seven previous walkoff grand slams hit by Cardinals:

_ Pepper Martin hit a grand slam off George Jeffcoat of the Dodgers, breaking a 7-7 tie in the ninth inning and giving the Cardinals an 11-7 victory on July 14, 1936, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Joe Cunningham hit a grand slam off Ruben Gomez of the Giants, breaking a 3-3 tie in the ninth and giving the Cardinals a 7-3 victory on July 30, 1957, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Carl Taylor hit a grand slam off Ron Herbel of the Padres, erasing a 10-7 San Diego lead in the ninth and giving the Cardinals an 11-10 victory on Aug. 11, 1970, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Joe Hague hit a grand slam off Mike Marshall of the Expos, breaking a 6-6 tie in the 10th and giving the Cardinals a 10-6 victory on Sept. 24, 1971, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Roger Freed hit a grand slam off Joe Sambito of the Astros, erasing a 6-3 Houston lead in the 11th and giving the Cardinals a 7-6 victory on May 1, 1979, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Darrell Porter hit a grand slam off Bob Lacey of the Giants, breaking a 4-4 tie in the 11th and giving the Cardinals an 8-4 victory on July 18, 1984, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Tommy Herr hit a grand slam off Jesse Orosco of the Mets, breaking an 8-8 tie in the 10th and giving the Cardinals a 12-8 victory on April 18, 1987, at St. Louis. Boxscore

Since Eckstein’s walkoff grand slam, five other Cardinals achieved the feat:

_ Gary Bennett hit a grand slam off Bob Howry of the Cubs, breaking a 6-6 tie in the ninth and giving the Cardinals a 10-6 victory on Aug. 27, 2006, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Aaron Miles hit a grand slam off Bryan Corey of the Padres, breaking a 5-5 tie in the ninth and giving the Cardinals a 9-5 victory on July 20, 2008, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Matt Carpenter hit a grand slam against J.P. Howell of the Blue Jays, breaking a 4-4 tie in the 11th and giving the Cardinals an 8-4 victory in the first game of a doubleheader on April 27, 2017, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam against Ryan Borucki with two outs in the 10th for a 7-3 Cardinals victory over the Blue Jays on May 23, 2022, at St. Louis. Boxscore

_ Nolan Arenado hit a curve from Trevor Megill of the Brewers for a grand slam with one out in the 10th inning for a 10-6 Cardinals triumph at St. Louis. Boxscore

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How Vince Coleman, Willie McGee left Cubs in dust

Posted in Games, Opponents, Records on July 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Jan. 8, 2025)

In an unusual play that involved a Penguin, a Bull and Vince Coleman establishing a major-league rookie record, the Cardinals stole four bases on one pitch in a game against their archrivals, the Cubs.

On Aug. 1, 1985, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Cardinals speedsters Coleman and Willie McGee turned a double-steal attempt into a successful quadruple steal.

In the first inning, Coleman was on second base and McGee on first with none out and Tommy Herr at-bat, facing Scott Sanderson.

Coleman entered the game with 72 steals, tying him with Juan Samuel of the 1984 Phillies for the big-league single-season record for a rookie.

Dead duck

On a pitch to Herr, Coleman and McGee took off for third and second. Catcher Jody Davis threw to third baseman Ron “Penguin” Cey in an attempt to nab Coleman.

Coleman slid across the bag, “way deep in foul territory, almost in back of the coach’s box,” Cubs manager Jim Frey told the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald.

Slow to react, Cey didn’t rush to tag Coleman. “He would have been a dead duck had there not been a brain-dead Penguin on the scene,” wrote Mike Lucas, covering the game for the Madison (Wis.) Capital Times.

Seeking an escape route, Coleman got up and scampered down the third-base line, with Cey in pursuit.

“When Ron went after him … (Coleman) ran out of the base line,” Frey said.

Knowing he had no chance to catch Coleman, Cey tossed the ball to Davis. Coleman applied the brakes and headed back toward Cey. Davis ran toward Coleman, then lobbed the ball to Cey.

No one at home

When Coleman looked back, he saw Davis near him and no Cubs player protecting the plate. Sanderson had gone over to cover third. First baseman Leon “Bull” Durham, the former Cardinal, should have covered the plate but instead stood frozen along the first-base line, watching the rundown.

Coleman whirled around, slipped past Davis and sped toward the plate. Cey, clutching the ball, gave chase.

Wrote Lucas, “Cey’s only option was to chase down Coleman from behind (but) he couldn’t chase down (actor) Gary Coleman, let alone Vince Coleman.”

Coleman crossed the dish and McGee dashed uncontested from second base to third. The official scorer credited each with two stolen bases on the play.

Wrote Rick Hummel for The Sporting News, “One pitch, four stolen bases _ sounds something like (Hall of Famer) Cool Papa Bell flicking off a light switch and jumping in bed before it was dark.”

Said Coleman to the Associated Press, “I’ve never seen a play like that before. I couldn’t get back to third, so my reaction was to go to the next base.”

Record setter

In so doing, Coleman had 74 steals for the season, breaking the rookie record.

“Just another day’s work, but I am honored about the record,” Coleman said. “I’m looking for more records. No goals. I just let my ability dictate my future.” Boxscore

Coleman achieved 110 stolen bases in 1985 and was named winner of the NL Rookie of the Year Award. He also topped more than 100 steals in 1986 (107) and 1987 (109) and led the NL in stolen bases for six consecutive years (1985-90) with the Cardinals.

“If you played against me, you hated me, because I’m bringing it to the table every day,” Coleman told Jerry Crasnick for Memories and Dreams magazine. “It was like trying to guard Michael Jordan one-on-one. You could only try to contain him, and you could only try to contain me. You can’t stop me, because it’s me against you, and there’s nothing you can do once you let that ball go.”

McGee contributed a career-high 56 steals in 1985 and was selected winner of the NL Most Valuable Player Award, batting a league-high .353 with 216 hits.

In an article for the 1985 World Series program, Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog said to Rick Hummel, “The whole key to what Willie hits is how many strikes he swings at. Ever since he came to the big leagues, the question is would he ever stop swinging at bad balls.”

The 1985 Cardinals had 314 steals. No other team in the major leagues that season had more than 182.

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How a lady in red got an at-bat vs. the Cardinals

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers on July 28, 2015| 5 Comments »

(Updated Nov. 28, 2024)

A playful blonde in a flaming red dress gave an unexpected mix of sex appeal and comedy to the first regular-season night game played by the Cardinals.

On a sultry evening in Cincinnati, July 31, 1935, Kitty Burke, 25, a nightclub entertainer, emerged from an overflow crowd at Crosley Field during a game between the Cardinals and Reds, grabbed a bat and stood at the plate, expecting a delivery from St. Louis pitcher Paul Dean.

Amazingly, with the approval of the plate umpire and with the commissioner of baseball watching from the stands, Dean tossed a soft pitch, Burke swung at it and connected with a groundball to the pitcher.

Satisfied, she departed back into the crowd and the game resumed.

Night baseball

Two months earlier, regular-season night baseball had debuted in the major leagues with a game between the Phillies and Reds at Crosley Field.

The Cardinals, who wouldn’t have lights at their home field, Sportsman’s Park, until 1940, were the defending World Series champions in 1935 with a lineup of colorful Gashouse Gang characters such as Dizzy Dean, Pepper Martin, Joe Medwick, Frankie Frisch and Leo Durocher. That made the Cardinals-Reds night game at Cincinnati a big draw, even on a Wednesday.

(In the book “Voices From Cooperstown,” Stan Musial told author Anthony J. Connor, “I always thought I would’ve enjoyed playing in that Gashouse era, although I didn’t have the same color as a guy like Pepper Martin.”)

Crosley Field in 1935 seated 26,060. Thousands more than that turned out for the Cardinals-Reds game and were admitted. Many were in a partying mood.

Out of control

“A big part of the overflow came into the park shortly before game time on special trains from Dayton, Ohio _ and to say that a good many of these excursionists were feeling their oats is putting it mildly,” The Sporting News reported. “They had been hitting it up on the train and were out for a high time. When they found no seats for themselves at the park, they just leaped the field-box fences and made for the foul lines.”

Fans initially stood along both foul lines and in territory behind the plate. When some fans who were seated in box seats had their view of the playing field obstructed by those standing in foul territory, they left their seats and joined those on the grass. Eventually, the crowd swelled so much that spectators “completely encircled Crosley Field,” the Associated Press reported.

Wrote The Sporting News: “Fans were standing right against the base lines and so close behind the catcher that it was impossible for any player to catch a foul ball.”

Official attendance was listed as 30,000. The Sporting News estimated the crowd at 30,450. Among those in attendance were baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis and Reds president Powel Crosley, who stood together for most of the game “because they couldn’t see the field while seated in box seats,” The Sporting News reported.

In the fourth inning, “irate fans stormed the field, holding up the game for 10 minutes” because of mixups in the seating arrangements, according to International News Service.

The Associated Press reported, “Players were forced to shoulder their way through to the plate. The heat _ on Cincinnati’s hottest day of the year _ added to police troubles, a number of fans being ejected from the park for disorderly conduct.”

Sizing up the boozy crowd, third-base umpire Cy Rigler ordered beer sales stopped in the fourth inning.

Kitty takes the stage

From her perch in a field-level seat, Kitty Burke was one of the patrons unable to see the playing field. Described by United Press as “a pretty young blonde wearing a flaming red dress,” Burke attracted attention when she left her seat and joined those standing near the field.

“I had a very good box seat and I figured I was entitled to see the game,” said Burke, “but it seems they oversold the park and about the sixth inning everybody started crowding in front of me … I just joined the crowd, which swarmed down on the field, and found places along the first-base line.”

The Cardinals had taken a 2-1 lead, with one of the runs being scored by Medwick. According to Burke, “The St. Louis players had been crowded out of their dugout by the mob and we were lined up behind them on the field.”

In the eighth inning, Burke found herself within shouting distance of Medwick and the two exchanged good-natured taunts.

Burke: “Medwick, you can’t hit anything.”

Medwick: “You can’t hit anything yourself.”

Burke: “I’d like to show you sometime.”

Medwick: “You can’t hit anything with an elephant.”

(Said Burke to United Press: “I think what he meant was you can’t hit an elephant.”)

Burke: “I’ll show you.”

Babe helps a babe

Burke looked toward the plate and saw a Reds player, Babe Herman.

Said Burke to United Press: “I yelled, ‘Hey, Babe, lend me your bat.’ ”

Herman said, “OK, Sis,” and handed the bat to the lady in red.

“Babe always is accommodating to his public,” The Sporting News slyly noted.

Said Burke: “So I took the bat up to the plate and made up my mind I was going to sock one if I had to stay there all night. (Dean) was on the mound when I came up, but was looking toward the outfield. You should have seen the dumb expression on his face when he turned around and saw me. He didn’t know what to do.”

The plate umpire, Bill Stewart, did nothing to stop Burke.

“The umpire was a good egg and yelled. ‘Play ball!’ ” Burke said.

Said The Sporting News: “How Stewart let her get away with it is beyond explanation. She would have had no chance pulling that on Bill Klem or some of the other umpires.”

Dean plays along

Dean, younger brother of Dizzy, was nicknamed Daffy. Burke yelled to him, “Hey, you hick, why don’t you go home and milk the cows?”

Said Burke: “That must have got him, because he started winding up to burn one in. I asked myself, ‘Should I get out of here?’ but just then Pepper Martin yells, ‘Take it easy, Daf.’ So, Daffy just grinned and lobbed one across.”

Dean made an underhanded toss.

Burke swung and hit a grounder to Dean.

Said Burke: “I smacked it … but Daffy was on first with the ball, waiting for me.”

Burke took a few steps up the line, then veered back toward the crowd.

“I saw that he had me beaten, so I stopped,” Burke said.

Before she departed, though, she gave a parting shot to Medwick.

“I said to Medwick, ‘I hit that one, didn’t I, big boy?” He was a good sport and said, ‘Yes.’ ”

When play resumed, the Reds scored two in the eighth to take the lead, the Cardinals rallied to tie the score, 3-3, in the ninth and the Reds rewarded their fans with a run in the 10th for a 4-3 victory. Boxscore

Previously: Why 1940 was year Cardinals saw the light

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The short, intriguing Cardinals career of Frank Barnes

Posted in Games, Pitchers on July 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »

(Updated July 23, 2020)

Frank Barnes was a baseball pioneer who thrived at the highest levels of the Cardinals’ farm system.

In the big leagues, Barnes ran for Stan Musial after he got his 3,000th hit.

In 15 pitching appearances over three seasons for the Cardinals, Barnes was 1-3 with a 5.89 ERA.

Statistics tell only part of his story.

Yankees prospect

At 21, Barnes began his professional career in 1947 with Indianapolis of the Negro American League. Three years later, in July 1950, while playing for Kansas City of the Negro American League, Barnes and teammate Elston Howard had their contracts sold to the defending World Series champion Yankees, who were slow to integrate. According to the book, “Elston and Me” by Arlene Howard (Elston’s widow) and Ralph Wimbish, Barnes was like a big brother to Howard and helped him adapt to professional baseball.

Barnes and Howard, a St. Louis native, were assigned by the Yankees to a Class A farm club in Muskegon, Mich. Howard, converted from outfielder to catcher, eventually became the first African-American to play for the Yankees. Barnes was dealt to the Browns organization.

In 1956, at age 30, Barnes was with Toronto, a Class AAA franchise without affiliation. Toronto loaned him to the Cardinals’ Omaha affiliate and Barnes appeared in seven games for the American Association club.

Backed by Keane

Omaha manager Johnny Keane gave a positive report on Barnes to the Cardinals. On the strength of that recommendation, Cardinals general manager Frank Lane acquired Barnes from Toronto on Oct. 1, 1956, for pitcher Jim Pearce, cash and a player to be named, first baseman Rocky Nelson.

Barnes began the 1957 season with Omaha. On May 28, he struck out 17 Denver batters in 10 innings of a 1-0 Omaha victory. In a stretch from May to June, Barnes pitched 41.1 consecutive scoreless innings, breaking the American Association record of 39 by Bill Schardt of the 1915 Indianapolis team.

Keane cited “pinpoint control” and “much improvement on the breaking pitches” as reasons for Barnes’ success, The Sporting News reported.

Lane sent an assistant, Joe Mathes, to Omaha to scout Barnes and two other pitching prospects, Bob Mabe and Tom Cheney.

Barnes completed the 1957 American Association season with a 12-10 record, six shutouts and a league-leading 2.41 ERA.

Reaching the majors

The Cardinals called up Barnes for the final month of the 1957 season. On Sept. 22, 1957, Barnes, 31, made his big-league debut with a scoreless inning in relief of starter Lindy McDaniel against the Reds at Cincinnati. Boxscore

Two days later, Barnes pitched six scoreless innings in relief of starter Sam Jones against the Braves at Milwaukee. Boxscore

Barnes “showed speed and a good slow curve,” The Sporting News reported.

Cardinals manager Fred Hutchinson gave Barnes his first big-league start on Sept. 29, 1957, against the Cubs at St. Louis. Barnes lacked command of his pitches and was shelled for five runs in three innings.

In three appearances for the 1957 Cardinals, Barnes was 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. He was prominent in the Cardinals’ plans for spring training in 1958.

High hopes

On March 9, 1958, the Cardinals started Barnes against Yankees ace Whitey Ford in the second exhibition game of the spring. Barnes pitched well, yielding a run in three innings.

In his first 15 spring exhibition game innings, Barnes gave up two runs, prompting The Sporting News to describe his performance as “dazzling pitching.” Impressed, the Cardinals put Barnes on their Opening Day roster.

For Barnes, two highlights of his stint with the 1958 Cardinals occurred in May.

Musial delivered his 3,000th career hit, a RBI-double to left-center off the Cubs’ Moe Drabowsky, on May 13 at Chicago. Hutchinson lifted Musial for a runner, choosing Barnes for the honor. Barnes raced home from second on a single to left by Don Blasingame, tying the score at 3-3 in a game the Cardinals won, 5-3. Boxscore

Five days later, on May 18, Barnes earned his only big-league win.

In the opener of a doubleheader against the Dodgers at St. Louis, Barnes, in relief of Mabe, pitched six innings and held the Dodgers to one run (a John Roseboro home run) and four hits. The Cardinals won, 6-5. The losing pitcher was Don Drysdale. Boxscore

Return to Omaha

Barnes was 1-1 with a 7.58 ERA in eight games for the 1958 Cardinals. He was returned to Omaha in June after St. Louis acquired pitcher Sal Maglie from the Yankees in a cash transaction. Yankees farm director Lee MacPhail told The Sporting News he asked the Cardinals for Barnes in exchange for Maglie, but St. Louis refused.

On Aug. 4, 1958, Barnes pitched a no-hitter for Omaha against Louisville. He walked three and struck out 11.

Barnes completed the 1958 season with a 7-6 record and 2.58 ERA for Omaha.

He spent the entire 1959 season with Omaha, posting a 15-12 record and 2.87 ERA as the ace on a staff that included Bob Gibson and Ray Sadecki.

After opening the 1960 season with the Cardinals’ Rochester farm club, Barnes was called up to St. Louis on April 29. He went 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four games with the Cardinals.

“We figured on Barnes for relief, but his arm is too tender for frequent duty,” Cardinals manager Solly Hemus said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

On May 19, 1960, the Cardinals sold Barnes’ contract to the White Sox, who assigned him to their San Diego farm team. Barnes continued to pitch professionally in the minor leagues and Mexico until age 40 in 1967.

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