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Scott Spiezio replaced John Mabry as Cardinals utilityman

Posted in Hitters on February 12, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Scott Spiezio had the pedigree, the championship experience and the right amount of nonconformity to appeal to the Cardinals. What they didn’t know when they invited him to spring training was whether he still could produce.

scott_spiezioOn Feb. 17, 2006, the Cardinals signed Spiezio, a free agent, to a minor-league pact and brought him to camp at Jupiter, Fla., to compete for a utility role with the big-league club.

“There is a chance to give him some at-bats and see what he’s got,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The low-risk gamble yielded a big return for the Cardinals. Spiezio, 33, impressed in spring training, earned a spot on the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster and contributed to St. Louis winning its first World Series title in 24 years.

Based on what Spiezio had done the previous two seasons, it was hard to envision him having the success he did with the 2006 Cardinals.

Happy in a halo

In 2002, as first baseman for the Angels, Spiezio batted .285 with 82 RBI. In the postseason against the Yankees, Twins and Giants, he batted .327 with 19 RBI, helping the Angels to their lone World Series championship.

Spiezio drove in 83 runs for the 2003 Angels before becoming a free agent and signing with the Mariners. Limited by back problems, Spiezio’s career nosedived in Seattle. He hit .215 in 2004 and .064 in 2005.

The Mariners released him in August 2005 and no team showed interest until the Cardinals signed him six months later on the eve of spring training.

Open audition

St. Louis was seeking a replacement for John Mabry, who performed as a backup at first base, third base and in the outfield for the 2005 Cardinals before becoming a free agent and signing with the Cubs.

To replace Mabry, the Cardinals looked outside the organization. In December 2005, they signed Brian Daubach, 33, a free agent who had played in the big leagues with the Marlins, Red Sox, White Sox and Mets.

Daubach hit 20 or more homers in each of four consecutive seasons (1999-2002) with the Red Sox. He had spent most of the 2005 season with the Mets’ Class AAA club at Norfolk, hitting .325 with 16 home runs.

Spiezio was signed to provide competition for Daubach. A switch hitter, Spiezio could play first base, third base, second base and outfield. Daubach, a left-handed batter, primarily was a first baseman and outfielder.

All in the family

A Belleville, Ill., native, Daubach had been a Cardinals fan as a youth.

Spiezio, a native of Joliet, Ill., was the son of a Cardinals player. Ed Spiezio was a third baseman and outfielder who played five years (1964-68) with the Cardinals and appeared in two World Series (1967-68) for them.

When Scott Spiezio showed up at Cardinals training camp in 2006, he was assigned uniform number 26, the same his father had worn for St. Louis.

Good guy

Scott Spiezio also turned some heads at camp with his appearance. His left arm was covered with a tattoo displaying the full body image of his wife, Jennifer. A tuft of hair _ called a soul patch _ below his lip and above his chin was dyed red in tribute to the Cardinals.

“We’ve got some reports he can be a little bit off the wall,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said to Post-Dispatch writer Joe Strauss. “But he’s also a good guy. We don’t want to bring guys in here who are jerks. It’s something we research very heavily before we acquire a player.”

Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, who was Spiezio’s teammate with the Angels, vouched for him, saying, “Scott is a hard-nosed guy who really understands and loves playing the game … He wants to win.”

Said Spiezio: “I just like to have fun. You’ve got to remember it’s just a game.”

Making the grade

Spiezio got five hits in his first six spring training game at-bats.

“We’re watching him really closely,” La Russa said. “He’s smart enough to know that he doesn’t have a real long leash. I’m impressed with the life in his body.”

Daubach hit well in Cardinals exhibition games, but Spiezio’s ability to play both corner infield positions gave him an edge. Daubach was sent to Class AAA Memphis and Spiezio earned a spot with the Cardinals as a backup to Albert Pujols at first and Scott Rolen at third.

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.

Up, then down

In 2006, Spiezio hit .272 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI in 119 games for the Cardinals. He hit .318 versus left-handers, but produced all of his home runs against right-handers.

Spiezio played in 38 games at third base, 35 in left field, 13 at first base, eight at second base and five as designated hitter for the 2006 Cardinals.

In 2007, Spiezio underwent treatment for substance abuse and missed more than a month of the season. In December 2007, he was involved in a car crash in California. Two months later, aftr a warrant was issued for Spiezio and he was charged with drunken driving and assault, the Cardinals released him.

Regarding the club’s decision, La Russa told the Associated Press, “I think it’s a consistent message about what the team represents.”

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Cardinals taught Mike Leake hard lesson as a rookie

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers on February 9, 2016| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Dec. 21, 2024)

Matched against a big-game pitcher in an atmosphere overloaded with emotion, Reds rookie Mike Leake unraveled versus the Cardinals.

mike_leakeOn Aug. 9, 2010, Reds manager Dusty Baker gave Leake the start in the opener of a showdown series against the Cardinals at Cincinnati. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa countered with an ace, Chris Carpenter.

After a scoreless duel for three innings, Leake cracked. He yielded seven runs in the fourth and became unnerved, losing track of the number of outs and heading toward the dugout before being sent back to the mound.

Emboldened, the Cardinals won the game, swept the series and overtook the Reds for first place in the National League Central Division.

Five years later, on Dec. 22, 2015, Leake, a free agent, signed with the Cardinals.

Queen City drama

In 2010, the Reds were seeking their first NL Central title in 15 years. On the morning of Aug. 9, they held a two-game lead over the second-place Cardinals entering a three-game series against them.

The tension between the division rivals, already high, was intensified that day by two developments:

_ Reds general manager Walt Jocketty acquired Jim Edmonds from the Brewers for outfielder Chris Dickerson.

Jocketty won two NL pennants and a World Series title as Cardinals general manager before he was fired after the 2007 season. Edmonds was the Cardinals’ center fielder on those championship clubs, but was traded after Jocketty left.

Edmonds joined four other former Cardinals _ third baseman Scott Rolen, infielder Miguel Cairo and pitchers Russ Springer and Mike Lincoln _ on the Reds.

_ In an interview with Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips lit into the Cardinals. McCoy posted the comments online before the game and the Cardinals read the remarks.

Said Phillips of the Cardinals, “All they do is bitch and moan about everything, all of them. They’re little bitches … I really hate the Cardinals. Compared to the Cardinals, I love the Chicago Cubs. Let me make this clear: I hate the Cardinals.”

Schumaker slam

Dusty Baker started a lineup that night with Phillips in the leadoff spot, Rolen at cleanup and Edmonds, in his Reds debut, batting fifth.

The Cardinals focused on trying to lay off Leake’s sinker and get him to deliver pitches up in the strike zone.

In the fourth, the Cardinals produced six hits and six runs on 12 pitches. Jon Jay doubled and Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, Colby Rasmus and Yadier Molina each singled. The hits by Holliday and Rasmus each drove in a run. Molina’s single loaded the bases for Skip Schumaker, who was playing his first game since spraining his left wrist Aug. 3.

Schumaker swung at Leake’s first pitch and drove the ball 408 feet over the wall in left-center field for his first career grand slam, giving St. Louis a 6-0 lead.

Dazed and confused

“They got six in a span of 12 pitches,” Baker said to the Associated Press. “It happened so quickly that I didn’t have time to get anybody warmed up.”

After Schumaker’s slam, Leake fanned two batters, jogged off the mound and was at the foul line before he realized there were two outs, not three.

Leake returned, pitched to Felipe Lopez, who singled, and got yanked. Reliever Carlos Fisher walked Jay and yielded a single to Pujols, scoring Lopez. That run was charged to Leake, whose final line showed seven runs allowed in 3.2 innings.

Good plan

In the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Joe Strauss wrote, “The Cards perfectly executed an early attack against Leake … They noticed a flattening of Leake’s assortment in his previous start and adopted a very aggressive tact.”

The Cardinals won, 7-3, and moved within a game of the Reds. Boxscore

Phillips was 0-for-5. Edmonds and Rolen also were hitless.

“I’m guessing Phillips really hated seeing Schumaker hit the grand slam, a massive hit that wasn’t very Cubs-like,” wrote columnist Bernie Miklasz.

Tempers flare

The next night, Aug. 10, Phillips sparked a brawl when, in the batter’s box, he used his bat to tap Molina’s shin guards. Molina responded angrily, both benches emptied and the fight carried to the backstop.

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto kicked Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue in the head and he also kicked Carpenter in the back. Baker and La Russa were ejected.

The Cardinals won that game, 8-4, and moved into a tie with the Reds for first place. Boxscore

(Asked about the incident with Phillips, Molina said to Stan McNeal in an interview for the 2019 Cardinals Yearbook, “Moments like that are going to happen. We spent time together at the All-Star Game {the next year}, and we talked. I met his family. He met mine. We’re good.”)

On Aug. 11, the Cardinals completed the sweep with a 6-1 triumph. Rasmus hit a grand slam off Bronson Arroyo, Adam Wainwright pitched seven shutout innings and the Cardinals had first place to themselves.

The Reds, though, recovered and went on to win the division title, finishing five games ahead of the runner-up Cardinals.

 

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Jedd Gyorko feasted on Cardinals pitching

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Trades on February 3, 2016| Leave a Comment »

If Jedd Gyorko hits as well for the Cardinals as he did against them, St. Louis will have added a productive batter to its lineup.

jedd_gyorkoAcquired by the Cardinals from the Padres in a trade for outfielder Jon Jay on Dec. 8, 2015, Gyorko entered the 2016 season as a versatile infielder who can perform at second base, shortstop and third base.

His career batting average versus the Cardinals is .342 (25-for-73), with five home runs and 16 RBI in 20 games.

Two of Gyorko’s best games came against the Cardinals in 2014.

Here is a look at those performances:

Sweet swing

Batting sixth and playing second base, Gyorko was 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored against the Cardinals in a 12-1 Padres victory at San Diego on July 30, 2014.

He got a hit apiece off three pitchers.

Gyorko began his barrage with a solo home run in the fourth inning off starter Joe Kelly.

“Pitches were up that should have been down,” Kelly told the Associated Press.

In the sixth, Gyorko singled off Carlos Martinez. An inning later, with the bases loaded and one out, Gyorko hit a three-run double off Seth Maness, giving San Diego a 9-1 lead.

‘It was probably our ugliest loss of the year,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Gyorko had been activated two days earlier after a 44-day stint on the disabled list because of foot problems.

“It obviously feels good to swing the bat the way I wanted to,” Gyorko said. “It feels a lot like how I was swinging it there at the end of the year last year. It’s something to build on, but I still have a long way to go.” Boxscore

Grand game

Two weeks later, on Aug. 16, 2014, at St. Louis, Gyorko hit a grand slam, lifting the Padres to a 9-5 victory over the Cardinals.

Batting fifth and playing second base, Gyorko was 2-for-3 with five RBI, two runs scored and two walks.

In the third, Gyorko’s two-out, RBI-single off Shelby Miller scored Abraham Almonte from third base, sparking a four-run Padres inning and tying the score at 4-4.

Said Miller: “Unacceptable. Obviously, it doesn’t sit well with me. I should have done a better job of making pitches.”

The Cardinals led, 5-4, entering the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded, Gyorko connected on a 94-mph fastball from reliever Kevin Siegrist, launching a grand slam over the left field wall and giving the Padres an 8-5 lead.

“It was a fastball down and in,” Gyorko said. “It probably wasn’t a bad pitch. I just put a good swing on it.”

The home run was the 31st of Gyorko’s big-league career, moving him past Mark Loretta as the Padres’ all-time home run leader as a second baseman.

“That’s a credit to the guys hitting in front of me,” Gyorko told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Really, they are doing a great job of getting on base. I just have to capitalize more like tonight.”

The grand slam was the third of Gyorko’s big-league career and the only one yielded by Siegrist with the Cardinals. Boxscore

Afterward, Siegrist was demoted to the minor leagues and Martinez was recalled from Class AAA Memphis to replace him.

Said Matheny of Siegrist: “He feels physically strong, but there’s just something that’s a click off.”

Previously: Cards steals leader Jon Jay plays similar to Wally Moon

Previously: Jon Jay matched Curt Flood as flawless in center

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Cardinals helped Walt “No Neck” Williams return to majors

Posted in Hitters, Trades on January 31, 2016| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Nov. 10, 2023)

When Walt “No Neck” Williams played in the Cardinals’ system, he was hailed as the best hitter in the minor leagues and was said to have the potential to be the next Minnie Minoso.

walt_williamsThough he impressed the Cardinals, he never played for them at the major-league level.

The Cardinals were stocked with premier outfielders such as Lou Brock and Curt Flood, with prospects such as Bobby Tolan waiting in reserve. When the Cardinals acquired Roger Maris from the Yankees in December 1966, Williams was deemed expendable.

On Dec. 14, 1966, the Cardinals traded Williams and reliever Don Dennis to the White Sox for catcher Johnny Romano and minor-league pitcher Leland White.

Rushed to majors

At 19, Williams signed with the Houston Colt .45s, got sent to the Class A level of the minor leagues and batted .341 in 1963.

At spring training in 1964, Williams, 20, impressed the Colt .45s _ he nailed three runners at home with his outfield throws _ and opened the regular season in the major leagues.

Williams told The Sporting News it was during this time someone in the front office gave him the nickname of “No Neck.”

At 5 feet 6 and 190 pounds, Williams was described by one writer as “built along the lines of a fireplug,” creating a perception his head was touching his shoulders.

In his book “Five Seasons,” Roger Angell wrote that Williams had “the shoulders and chest of a heavyweight prizefighter. At the plate, he stands with his arms and shoulders raised high, peering at the pitcher over his left biceps, and waggles the bat fiercely.”

Williams, hitless in nine at-bats for the Colt .45s, was placed on waivers in May 1964 and claimed by the Cardinals, who assigned him to Class A Winnipeg.

Coached by Cardinals

Williams batted .318 at Winnipeg, went to the Florida Instructional League after the season, got guidance from manager George Kissell and hit .320 for the instructional league team.

In 1965, Williams was moved up a level to Class AA Tulsa and hit safely in his first 18 games. Williams finished the 1965 season with a .330 batting average, 36 stolen bases and 106 runs scored.

In 1966, Tulsa joined the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and Williams, playing left field, had another stellar season there. He led the league in batting average, hitting .330 for the second consecutive season, and produced 54 doubles and 25 steals with 107 runs scored.

Asked about the 1966 team in a 1981 interview with the Tulsa World, Williams said, “That year was one of the high moments of my career. The thing I remember about that 1966 team was that we had six or seven guys hitting over .300 but nobody was envious of the other. It was just a fun season.”

Change in plans

Cardinals general manager Bob Howsam and manager Red Schoendienst considered promoting Williams to St. Louis during the 1966 season, The Sporting News reported, but opted to have him stay at Tulsa, knowing he was unlikely to get at-bats on a club featuring outfielders Brock, Flood and Mike Shannon.

Based on his minor-league success, Williams was rated likely to win a spot with the 1967 Cardinals until the club acquired Maris on Dec. 8, 1966. The Cardinals planned to move Shannon to third base and start Maris in an outfield with Brock and Flood.

A week later, Williams was dealt to the White Sox.

“Williams should be a crowd pleaser,” Howsam said. “When you take a look at our outfield picture, you can see why we could afford to deal him.”

Hit man

The White Sox expected Williams to contend for the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1967. “We picked up the best hitter in the minor leagues,” said White Sox general manager Ed Short.

Comparisons were made to Minoso, an all-star outfielder who six times batted better than .300 for the White Sox in a career that led to election to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“White Sox officials believe they may just have another Minnie Minoso in No Neck Williams,” The Sporting News declared.

Les Moss, manager of the White Sox’s Class AAA Indianapolis team, had seen Williams play for Tulsa and said, “He’s the nearest thing to Minnie in his hustle, desire and aggressiveness that I’ve seen around anywhere. He’s no power hitter, but he can whack that ball. He’s an excellent leadoff man.”

Said Tulsa manager Charlie Metro: “The White Sox got themselves a fine-looking prospect. He not only was the best hitter in the league, but he’s a pretty fair outfielder … He overcomes mistakes with his speed.”

No fooling around

Williams hit .358 in spring training for the 1967 White Sox and was named Opening Day starting left fielder by White Sox manager Eddie Stanky.

“He’s really an aggressive hitter,” Stanky said. “He doesn’t fool around up there at the plate. He attacks the ball. He’s one of the few players who can tie into a high pitch and whack it for a line drive.”

Williams, 23, hit .240 as a White Sox rookie. He went on to play 10 years in the majors for the Colt .45s, White Sox, Indians and Yankees, batting .270 overall. His best season was in 1969 when he hit .304 for the White Sox and ranked third among American League right fielders in assists.

Looking back at his time in the majors, Williams told the Tulsa World, “I felt they never gave me a chance to relax to see me really play at my best.”

Neither of the players acquired by the Cardinals for Williams contributed much. Romano, a backup to catcher Tim McCarver, hit .121 in 24 games for the 1967 Cardinals and was released after the season. White, a left-hander, never appeared in a big-league game for St. Louis.

With Brock, Flood and Maris in the outfield and Shannon at third base, the 1967 Cardinals won the National League pennant and World Series championship.

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Why Bernard Gilkey no longer fit Cardinals plans

Posted in Hitters, Pitchers, Prospects, Trades on January 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Deemed too expensive to be a reserve and not enough of a power hitter to remain the everyday left fielder, Bernard Gilkey no longer fit into the Cardinals’ plans.

bernard_gilkey3Looking to restock their farm system, the Cardinals were offered packages of prospects by the Mets, White Sox and Royals for Gilkey.

On Jan. 22, 1996, the Cardinals traded Gilkey, 29, to the Mets for three minor-league players: right-handed pitchers Eric Ludwick and Erik Hiljus and outfielder Yudith Ozorio.

In the short term, the deal had little impact on the Cardinals, even though Gilkey had a career year with the 1996 Mets. The Cardinals won the 1996 National League Central Division championship and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 1987.

In the long term, the trade hurt the Cardinals because they didn’t get the pitching help they needed. Neither Ludwick nor Hiljus could help a staff whose team ERA increased each year from 1997 through 1999, contributing to the Cardinals missing the playoffs in those seasons.

Hometown regular

Gilkey, a St. Louis native, debuted with the Cardinals in 1990, replaced Vince Coleman as the starting left fielder in 1991 and held the position through 1995.

For those six years, he batted .282 with 602 hits in 593 games. In 1993, his best Cardinals season, Gilkey batted .305 with 170 hits, including 40 doubles, 16 home runs, 15 stolen bases and a .370 on-base percentage.

However, Gilkey never hit more than 17 home runs or produced more than 70 RBI in a season with St. Louis.

In December 1995, the Cardinals signed free-agent Ron Gant, 30, to a contract for five years and $25 million. Gant had three times hit 32 or more home runs with the Braves and twice had topped 100 RBI. He had driven in at least 80 in five consecutive seasons.

Money ball

Gilkey was paid $1.6 million in 1995, when he led NL left fielders in fielding percentage (.986) and batted .298 with 17 home runs and 69 RBI.

Eligible for salary arbitration, Gilkey was seeking $3 million in 1996. The Cardinals offered $2.5 million. A settlement likely could be reached for $2.8 million, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

However, the Cardinals were looking to acquire a closer, either Dennis Eckersley of the Athletics or free-agent Gregg Olson, and trading Gilkey would help free up money to make such a deal.

“The only reason we’d have to move Gilkey is because of money,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said.

It’s business

Projecting a 1996 outfield of Gant in left, Ray Lankford in center and Brian Jordan in right, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa discussed the possibility of moving Gilkey to first base. “We were saying that, but I didn’t see that as an alternative,” Jocketty said. “That probably would have hurt us defensively.”

On the day he was traded, Gilkey said, “I’m not bitter. I understand business.”

He was, however, hurt by the rejection.

“Once they signed Ron Gant, I knew the opportunity for me playing in St. Louis was slim,” Gilkey said. “It’s kind of shocking to know that you’ve played with the St. Louis Cardinals through all the down times and you did whatever you could to help. All of a sudden, they turn into contenders and they send me on my way.”

Of the players acquired by the Cardinals, Ludwick, 24, projected to be the most promising. He had a 13-6 record and 3.31 ERA for Mets farm teams in 1995. “We have excellent reports on him,” Jocketty said.

Hiljus, 23, was 10-8 with a 3.94 ERA in the minors in 1995. Ozorio, 21, batted .217 with 40 stolen bases in Class A.

The aftermath

Joining a revamped Mets outfield that included another former Cardinal, Lance Johnson, in center, Gilkey had a sensational 1996 season. He batted .317 with 181 hits, including 44 doubles, 30 home runs, 117 RBI, 17 stolen bases and a .393 on-base percentage.

Gant hit .246 with 103 hits, including 14 doubles, 30 home runs, 82 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a .359 on-base percentage for the 1996 Cardinals.

Though Gilkey outperformed Gant in 1996, the Cardinals finished 88-74 and reached the NL Championship Series. The Mets finished 71-91.

Neither Hiljus nor Ozorio would play for St. Louis. Both were out of the Cardinals’ organization after the 1997 season.

Ludwick, older brother of outfielder Ryan Ludwick, pitched well at Class AAA Louisville _ 2.83 ERA in 1996 and 2.92 ERA in 1997 _ but flopped in two stints with the Cardinals. He was 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in six games for the 1996 Cardinals and 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in five appearances for the 1997 Cardinals.

On July 31, 1997, the Cardinals traded Ludwick and pitchers T.J. Mathews and Blake Stein to the Athletics for first baseman Mark McGwire.

Previously: How Bernard Gilkey foiled an opponent’s masterpiece

Previously: How Bernard Gilkey spoiled Frank Castillo’s big moment

 

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A stormy relationship between Walker Cooper, Cardinals

Posted in Hitters, Opponents, Trades on January 7, 2016| 4 Comments »

Fed up with contract hassles and uneasy with the prospect of playing for manager Eddie Dyer, Walker Cooper, the best catcher in the National League, wanted out of St. Louis. Seeing a surplus of suitors causing Cooper’s market value to skyrocket, Cardinals owner Sam Breadon was willing to accommodate him.

walker_cooper2On Jan. 5, 1946, the Cardinals sent Cooper to the Giants for $175,000.

The cash amount was the third-largest paid by a club to acquire a player, according to media reports at that time.

(In 1934, the Red Sox sent $250,000 and shortstop Lyn Lary to the Senators for shortstop Joe Cronin. In 1938, the Cubs gave $185,000, plus pitchers Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun and outfielder Tuck Stainback, to the Cardinals for pitcher Dizzy Dean.)

“I decided Cooper wasn’t satisfied here and would do better elsewhere,” Breadon said. “But get me right: Walker was a great player here and I consider him the greatest catcher in the majors since Bill Dickey of the Yankees was a young man.”

In the short term, the trade didn’t hurt the Cardinals. Without Cooper, they won the 1946 World Series championship.

In the long run, losing Cooper was a factor in the erosion of the Cardinals, who went 18 years before winning another World Series crown.

3-time all-star

Along with his brother Mort, a starting pitcher, Walker Cooper was a key player on Cardinals clubs that won three consecutive NL pennants and two World Series titles from 1942-44.

He was named an all-star catcher in each of those three seasons. His numbers:

_ 1942: Batted .281 with 32 doubles and 65 RBI. Ranked second among NL catchers in assists (62) and runners caught attempting to steal (58 percent). Batted .286 in the World Series.

_ 1943: Batted .318 with 30 doubles and 81 RBI. Caught 48 percent of runners attempting to steal. Batted .294 in the World Series.

_ 1944: Batted .317 with 25 doubles and 72 RBI. Caught 43 percent of runners attempting to steal. Batted .318 in the World Series.

Cooper also was touted for game-calling skills. “He’s the best fellow handling young pitchers I have ever seen,” said Coaker Triplett, a Cardinals outfielder from 1941-43.

Feuding with front office

The relationship between Cooper and the Cardinals soured in 1945.

In spring training, Mort Cooper demanded a $15,000 contract. Breadon refused. In protest, Mort Cooper and Walker Cooper left camp and threatened to boycott the Cardinals’ opening series against the Cubs.

The brothers gave in and were with the club on Opening Day. Soon after, Walker Cooper was inducted into the Navy after playing four April games for the 1945 Cardinals. A month later, Mort Cooper was traded to the Braves.

While serving his Navy stint in 1945, Walker Cooper remained miffed at Cardinals management for the contract dispute and for dealing his brother.

Trade me

In October 1945, Walker Cooper called Breadon and requested a trade, the Cardinals owner told The Sporting News.

Cooper confirmed to the Associated Press he had asked to be traded.

A month later, Cardinals manager Billy Southworth resigned and joined the Braves. Breadon replaced Southworth with Dyer. Cooper again contacted the Cardinals and “said he would rather not play under Dyer,” Breadon said.

Cooper’s problem with Dyer occurred when both were with the Cardinals’ Houston farm club during spring training in 1939. Cooper apparently clashed with Dyer, who had replaced Ira Smith as manager. Cooper was shipped to the Cardinals’ Asheville, N.C., affiliate.

“(Dyer) said there had been differences with Cooper in Houston, but he believed they could be ironed out,” Breadon said. “He felt a player didn’t have to like him personally if he played good ball for his team.”

Said Dyer: “I have always been able to get along with any ballplayer and I could have gotten along with Cooper, whom I consider the best catcher in baseball.”

In his book “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” Musial said, “Breadon said Coop didn’t want to play for Dyer, but the boss gave (Dyer) no chance to talk to the catcher. The truth is, Mr. Breadon was annoyed at the Cooper boys for squabbling over salaries.”

Money talks

At the baseball winter meetings in December 1945, at least five clubs inquired about Cooper, with the Giants, Braves and Phillies making the most lucrative offers.

The Cardinals asked the Giants for $150,000 and three players. A few weeks later, the trade came together when the Giants offered to increase the cash amount to $175,000 if the Cardinals would drop their demand for players.

The transaction was announced three days before Cooper turned 31. It “kicked up more commotion among Polo Grounds customers than any deal since Frank Frisch was traded for Rogers Hornsby in 1926,” wrote The Sporting News.

Cooper was released from the Navy on April 2, 1946, and debuted with the Giants about two weeks later.

Looking back

His first season with New York was a dud. Cooper hit .268 with 46 RBI for a 1946 Giants team that finished in last place at 61-93. The 1946 Cardinals, using a platoon of Joe Garagiola and Del Rice at catcher, finished in first place at 98-58.

Cooper did better for the 1947 Giants, hitting .305 with 35 homers and 122 RBI.

After stints with the Reds, Braves, Pirates and Cubs, Cooper finished his career as a backup catcher for the 1956-57 Cardinals.

Neither Garagiola nor Rice performed at the level Cooper had for St. Louis.

In his book “Musial: From Stash to Stan the Man,” author James N. Giglio wrote, “Both Musial and (Enos) Slaughter rightly contended that the loss of Cooper cost the Redbirds several pennants.”

In choosing his all-time NL all-star team, Musial picked Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella “in a photo finish with Walker Cooper.”

Comparing the Cooper deal with the 1941 trade of St. Louis slugger Johnny Mize to the Giants, Musial said, “Big Coop’s sale by the Cardinals probably was even worse than the loss of Johnny Mize.”

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