RetroSimba

(Updated May 19, 2018)

In 1966, Ed Spiezio, hoping to jumpstart his career and contend for the Cardinals’ third base job, hit his first big-league home run for St. Louis. Forty years later, Scott Spiezio, hoping to jumpstart his career and fill a utility role with the Cardinals, hit his first National League home run for St. Louis.

Ed Spiezio and Scott Spiezio were the first father-son duo to hit home runs for the Cardinals. Ed Spiezio played five years (1964-69) for the Cardinals and hit five home runs for them. His son, Scott Spiezio, played two years (2006-07) for the Cardinals and hit 17 home runs for them.

Tony Pena and Francisco Pena became the second father-son duo to hit home runs for the Cardinals. Francisco Pena hit his first Cardinals home run, and his fourth overall in the major leagues, on May 18, 2018, versus the Phillies at St. Louis. His father Tony hit 107 big-league home runs, including 19 in three seasons (1987-89) with the Cardinals

Ed Spiezio, a right-handed batter, played nine big-league seasons (with the Cardinals, Padres and White Sox) and hit 39 regular-season home runs.

Scott Spiezio, a switch-hitter, played 12 big-league seasons (with the Athletics, Angels, Mariners and Cardinals) and hit 119 regular-season home runs. He also hit three postseason home runs, all for the Angels.

Pull hitter

Ed Spiezio hit 18 home runs in 112 games for the Cardinals’ Class AAA Tulsa club in 1966. Spiezio told The Sporting News that Tulsa manager Charlie Metro “wanted me to pull (the ball) because the fences in left are so close in most of the (Pacific Coast League) parks.”

Ed Spiezio said he had been a pull hitter since his youth because “if you tried to hit the ball to right field you were considered a sissy.”

The Cardinals called up Ed Spiezio in September 1966 and gave him a chance to play third base in place of the starter, Charlie Smith.

On Sept. 11, 1966, Ed Spiezio hit his first big-league home run, pulling a Bob Veale pitch over the scoreboard in left field at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The solo shot in the fifth inning helped the Cardinals to a 4-3 triumph over the Pirates. Boxscore

Two weeks later, on Sept. 30, 1966, Ed Spiezio hit a two-run home run off future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, producing all the runs in a 2-0 Cardinals victory over the Cubs at St. Louis. Boxscore

Ed Spiezo’s counterpart, Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, was impressed. “I like Spiezio a lot … He just needs a little more experience, like knowing the pitchers better,” Santo said. “I’ve always admired his poise at bat.”

Ed Spiezio was a utilityman with the 1967 and 1968 Cardinals and appeared in the World Series in both years for them. In December 1968, the Cardinals traded Ed Spiezio and three others to the Padres for pitcher Dave Giusti.

Like father, like son

In February 2006, the Cardinals signed Scott Spiezio, a free agent, to a minor-league contract and brought him to spring training to compete for a utility role.

Scott Spiezio had been the starting first baseman for the 2002 World Series champion Angels. His career spiraled, though, after he became a free agent and signed with the Mariners before the 2004 season. The Mariners released him in August 2005.

Scott Spiezio earned a spot on the Opening Day roster of the 2006 Cardinals.

On April 15, 2006, Scott Spiezio got his first Cardinals hit. In the seventh inning, with the Cardinals leading the Reds, 7-2, at St. Louis, Scott Spiezio slugged a two-run homer run off Mike Burns. Boxscore

Scott Spiezio’s teammates pushed him up the dugout steps for a curtain call from appreciative Cardinals fans. Scott told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch his father was at home, watching the game on television.

Ed Spiezio and Scott Spiezio became the third father and son to play for the Cardinals. The others were outfielder Ed Olivares and his son, pitcher Omar Olivares, and pitchers Pedro Borbon and Pedro Borbon Jr.

Among those pairs, only Omar Olivares hit a home run for the Cardinals.

Previously: Scott Spiezio replaced John Mabry as Cardinals utilityman

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The 1946 Cardinals shifted Stan Musial from left field to first base and it worked out well.

Though he never had played first base as a professional, Musial replaced injured Dick Sisler on June 7, 1946, and started at first base the remainder of the season and in the World Series.

Musial, 25, started 114 regular-season games at first base for the 1946 Cardinals. He ranked second among National League first basemen in double plays turned (119), fourth in putouts (1,056) and fifth in fielding percentage (.989). Musial also led NL first basemen in errors (13).

The change in positions didn’t hurt Musial’s hitting. He led the NL in batting (.365), hits (228), singles (142), doubles (50), triples (20), extra-base hits (86) and total bases (366) for a Cardinals club that won the 1946 World Series championship.

In an editorial, The Sporting News opined, “Usually, so drastic a shift harries the player and hampers his hitting and fielding, but Stan jumped into his new position as if to the manor born.”

It was a remarkable and completely unexpected transformation.

Naval disaster

In 1945, Musial was called into military service and joined the Navy. At Bainbridge, Md., where he was sent for basic training, Musial played in a few ballgames with fellow servicemen.

In his book “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” Musial recalled, “Although by then I had a reputation as a good defensive outfielder in the big leagues, the Bainbridge athletic director, a lieutenant named Jerry O’Brien, put me at first base. I was amused. O’Brien was not.”

“Get out of there, Musial,” O’Brien ordered. “You’re terrible. You’ll never make anybody’s team at first base.”

Helping the team

That was the extent of Musial’s experience at first base until he got a surprise request a year later.

Sisler, a rookie, had been selected to be the first baseman for the 1946 Cardinals by first-year manager Eddie Dyer. Sisler replaced Ray Sanders, whose contract was sold to the Braves the day before the 1946 season opener.

Sisler was hitting .270 when he injured his hand on June 2, 1946. Harry Walker, an outfielder, replaced Sisler at first base, but Dyer had another player in mind for the position.

“When I reported in the clubhouse, I found a new first baseman’s glove in my locker,” Musial said. “I took the hint and began working out at the infield position.”

A few nights later, Musial said, Dyer asked him to play first base “for the good of the club.”

“I always liked to fool around the bag,” Musial said. “When Skip told me that I was to be the regular first sacker, I was delighted.”

On June 7, 1946, in a game against the Phillies at St. Louis, Musial made his debut as a professional first baseman. He turned two double plays, had 11 putouts and one assist and made no errors. Boxscore

Gamble pays off

After Sisler’s hand healed, Dyer kept Musial at first base.

“St. Louis players liked Musial’s work around the bag, thought the team was stronger with Stan on the infield and what started to be a makeshift developed into a permanent arrangement,” The Sporting News explained. “From all present indications, Stan will continue indefinitely at the position.”

Said Musial: “I would hate to go back to the outfield. Now I am in the game all the way in every play. Not like waiting out there for three or four chances.”

On Aug. 12, 1946, against the Cubs at Chicago, Musial handled 20 chances at first base _ 19 putouts and one assist. Boxscore

“I am quite thrilled over the way my move in converting Stan Musial into a first baseman has turned out,” Dyer told The Sporting News. “… I knew that shifting Musial to first base was a perilous adventure for me. Suppose he had fallen off in his hitting? … I had to risk that. But, then, it wasn’t too big a gamble, for I knew Musial.”

Self-assessment

Musial said his experience as a pitcher in high school and in the minor leagues helped prepare him to play first base with the 1946 Cardinals.

“That taught me how to get around the infield, field bunts and hot smashes, also to get some experience in covering first base when balls were hit to the first baseman,” Musial said.

Assessing his fielding, Musial said, “I am far from a polished first sacker.”

His weakness?

“That dilemma you find yourself in when you get a bad throw is my biggest problem,” Musial said. “Here’s what I mean: One of the infielders makes a wide relay to me. A player who is accustomed to playing the bag will leave it if he sees that he has to and will save the out. I am afraid I can’t do both. So I try to protect the bag and the ball at the same time.”

His strength?

“I can make that first-to-short-to-first double play and that throw to the pitcher when he covers the bag.”

Two-position player

In the 1946 World Series versus the Red Sox, Musial fielded flawlessly at first base. He made 61 putouts, had two assists, turned six double plays and committed no errors in 62 innings.

Musial played the entire 1947 season at first base. In 1948, Dyer moved Musial to right field and put Nippy Jones at first base.

From 1948-54, Musial primarily played outfield. He was the starting first baseman for the Cardinals from 1955-59 and returned primarily to the outfield for the last four years (1960-63) of his career.

Musial made 1,854 career regular-season starts in the outfield and 989 career regular-season starts at first base.

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