Whitey Herzog was willing to find out whether a comeback might be in the cards for pitcher Steve Busby.
On Jan. 27, 1981, Busby signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals and was offered a chance to compete at spring training for a spot on the big-league pitching staff.
Herzog, who had the dual role of Cardinals manager and general manager, got to know Busby well when both were with the Royals. Busby pitched for the Royals his entire career in the majors. Herzog was their manager from 1975-79.
A right-hander, Busby pitched two no-hitters for the Royals and had seasons of 16, 22 and 18 wins for them. His career stalled when he injured his right shoulder and became the first pitcher to undergo rotator cuff surgery.
Special stuff
Born and raised in the Los Angeles area, Steve Busby was the cousin of Jim Busby, an outfielder in the majors for 13 seasons (1950-62).
Steve Busby was attending the University of Southern California when the Royals drafted him in 1971. He made his debut in the majors a year later.
On April 27, 1973, Busby pitched a no-hitter against the Tigers at Detroit. It was the first by a Royals pitcher. Boxscore and Video
A year later, on June 19, 1974, Busby did it again, with a no-hitter versus the Brewers at Milwaukee. Boxscore and Video
Brewers catcher Darrell Porter told United Press International, “He was powerful and he had a great arm. He would find a weakness on a guy and he would just wear him down.”
The 1974 Royals, managed by Jack McKeon, were a flawed team filled with fading former Cardinals such as Nelson Briles, Orlando Cepeda, Joe Hoerner, Lindy McDaniel and Vada Pinson. Busby and rookie third baseman George Brett gave the Royals a pair of special talents to build a team around.
Busby was 22-14 for the 1974 Royals. He made 38 starts, completed 20 and totaled 292.1 innings.
In 1975, Busby took on a similar workload. In July, McKeon was fired and replaced by Herzog. Busby “was one of the top five pitchers in baseball,” Herzog told John Schulian of Universal Press.
Two months after Herzog arrived, Busby experienced persistent shoulder pain.
Drastic measures
In 1976, Busby took numerous cortisone shots for his ailing shoulder. “He made me cry, watching him,” Herzog, wincing, said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
After beating the Orioles on June 12, Busby was 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA, but his performances declined after that. He reached a low point on July 6 in a start against the Yankees.
“I was embarrassed for Whitey and for me,” Busby said to Universal Press. “I threw like a 5-year-old. I could barely get the ball 60 feet, six inches. When I went into his office afterward, I asked him how much more of that he could stand to watch.”
It was discovered Busby had a torn rotator cuff. He decided to undergo surgery, an unprecedented step for a pitcher with that kind of injury, in July 1976.
A couple of days after the operation, Busby told Universal Press, a doctor said, “It might be best if you considered another occupation.”
“That’s kind of a sobering moment,” Busby said.
Except for one game in the minors, Busby sat out the 1977 season. He made 14 starts in the minors in 1978 and had another seven appearances with the Royals.
Darrell Porter, who was with the Royals in 1978, saw a much different pitcher than the one who tossed a no-hitter against him four years earlier. “The first time I caught him in Kansas City, I cringed.” Porter told United Press International. “It looked like it hurt him so much to throw.”
Busby, who also underwent multiple knee operations, said to the Post-Dispatch, “The toughest thing on a rehabilitation program is to keep yourself on an even keel. You have to go into it with the idea that it’s going to be a long-term process. You can be throwing well one day and the next day, nothing. That can get very discouraging and it can drive you bananas.”
Ups and downs
Busby spent the 1979 season with the Royals and was 6-6 with a 3.63 ERA. After the season, Herzog was fired and replaced by Jim Frey.
Busby began the 1980 season as a Royals reliever, but was sent to their Omaha farm club in May. On July 14, he pitched a one-hitter against Iowa. The hit was a bunt single.
Though the radar gun showed the top speed on his pitches was in the low 80s, Busby consistently hit the outside corner with his fastball and slider, The Sporting News reported.
Called back to the Royals, Busby was put in the starting rotation. He made six starts, went 1-3 with a 5.60 ERA and was released in August. The Royals went on to win the American League pennant for the first time.
“Quite honestly, the Royals and the people of Kansas City stuck with me a lot longer than could have been anticipated,” Busby said. “I’ll always be grateful for that.”
Cardinals camper
During the winter after the 1980 season, Busby and Herzog had a chance meeting at a sports banquet in Columbia, Mo. Asked by Herzog whether he thought he still could pitch, Busby said yes. Herzog arranged to give Busby, 31, a look at Cardinals camp.
“I wouldn’t have invited him if I didn’t think he had a chance,” Herzog said.
Busby said, “I want to find out if I can do it. I don’t want to get five or 10 years down the road and wonder if I could have. … I’m not the same player I was at 25, but I feel I can pitch major league baseball.”
The move reunited Busby with Herzog and Porter, who had become the Cardinals’ catcher.
Wearing uniform No. 60 at Cardinals spring training in St. Petersburg, Fla., Busby was given many opportunities to pitch, including two innings in the Grapefruit League opener against the Mets.
After Busby faced the Mets again on St. Patrick’s Day and pitched four strong innings, Herzog said, “I haven’t seen Busby show such control since before his rotator cuff surgery.”
Busby lasted deep into spring training and was considered a candidate for the Cardinals’ last open bullpen spot. His last two outings sealed his fate.
On March 30, Busby allowed seven hits, two walks and three runs in four innings versus the Mets. Five days later, on April 4, he started against the Braves, pitched six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.
Herzog said, “I know he’s getting better. I can see it,” but a discouraged Busby told the Post-Dispatch, “This was pretty well my last shot. … If I was the manager, I would have gotten rid of me then.”
Decision time
On April 6, the Post-Dispatch reported the Cardinals assigned Busby to their Springfield, Ill., farm club and gave him a day or two to decide whether to report.
“I know how long he’s been through this,” Herzog told the Kansas City Star. “He’s improved so much. He’s been good one time, not so good the next, all spring. I think he might make it if he gives himself a little more time.”
Busby drove from St. Petersburg to the Royals’ spring training site in Fort Myers to consult with two friends, pitcher Paul Splittorff and broadcaster Fred White.
“We stayed up most of the night, sharing thoughts and ideas,” Splittorff told the Kansas City Star. “When he left us, I had the impression he would report to Springfield.”
Instead, Busby told the Cardinals he was through.
“It’s time to hang it up,” Busby said. “I gave myself a deadline, spring training. This is it.”
A few days later, Busby launched a second career as a sports broadcaster.
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