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The night Todd Worrell played in right field

Posted in Games, Hitters, Pitchers on September 12, 2017| 2 Comments »

In the thick of a pennant race, Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog put pitcher Todd Worrell in right field in the ninth inning of a one-run game.

The move worked.

Ken Dayley, brought in to relieve Worrell and pitch to one batter, got an out. Worrell then returned to the mound and retired the last two batters, earning a save and preserving a Cardinals victory over the Phillies at St. Louis.

Herzog’s unorthodox maneuvering displayed the creativity and courage that helped make him a championship manager with the Cardinals. It also showed the confidence Herzog had in his players.

Mix and match

On Sept. 22, 1987, the Cardinals were looking to build their lead in the National League East Division with two weeks remaining in the regular season. Cardinals starter Danny Cox was matched against Shane Rawley of the Phillies.

With the Cardinals ahead, 3-1, Worrell relieved Cox with two outs, one on, in the eighth and retired Chris James on a force play.

In the ninth, Mike Schmidt led off with a home run against Worrell, getting the Phillies within a run at 3-2.

With Von Hayes, a left-handed batter with extra-base potential, up next, Herzog brought in Dayley, a left-handed pitcher, to face him.

Herzog wanted to keep Worrell in the game because Rick Schu, a right-handed batter, followed Hayes in the order. Herzog removed right fielder Lance Johnson and replaced him with Worrell.

Stand and watch

“I think Todd’s my best right fielder,” Herzog said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “No kidding. He can play the … outfield.”

Said Cardinals second baseman Tommy Herr: “Todd is a good outfielder. He shags balls before the game and looks good. It’s not like he doesn’t have a clue out there.”

Still, Dayley didn’t want Hayes to pull a ball into right field. He threw pitches down and away. Hayes chased after those and struck out.

With that mission accomplished, Herzog lifted Dayley, put Worrell back to pitch and brought in outfielder John Morris off the bench to play right field.

“I didn’t get to use my blazing speed,” Worrell said of his uneventful stint in right.

Keep ’em guessing

It was the third time Herzog as Cardinals manager had sent a pitcher to the outfield, but the first time he brought that player back to the mound. In each of the other two times, the inning ended with the pitcher in the outfield.

“Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something else pops up,” Morris said.

When Dayley returned to the dugout, pitcher Bob Forsch asked him, “How does it feel to be replaced by the right fielder?”

Worrell got Schu to ground out for the second out of the inning. The next batter, Darren Daulton, lined out to shortstop Ozzie Smith.

The 3-2 victory gave the Cardinals four wins in a row and moved them 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Mets with 12 to play. Boxscore

Previously: Needing a strike for a save, Ken Dayley got hook instead

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Lots to celebrate: 1967 Cardinals clincher

Posted in Games, Hitters, Pitchers on September 6, 2017| 2 Comments »

Though they entered September with a 10-game lead over their closest pursuer, making a pennant a virtual given, the Cardinals reacted with an outpouring of giddy wonderment on the night they clinched the 1967 National League championship.

The 1967 Cardinals were a diverse blend of proud, talented professionals who liked and respected one another. They played smart, tough, fundamentally sound baseball. Winning a title together unleashed a flow of emotions.

On Sept. 18, 1967, the Cardinals, behind the pitching of Bob Gibson, beat the Phillies, 5-1, at Philadelphia. The victory gave the Cardinals a 95-56 record with 11 games left. Even if the Cardinals lost all 11 and the second place Giants (81-68) won all 13 of their remaining games, the Cardinals couldn’t be caught.

“It’s been a great-spirited club,” Cardinals general manager Stan Musial told Philadelphia Daily News columnist Stan Hochman. “It never gave up. It met all the challenges.”

Winning combination

The Cardinals went into the Monday night game at Connie Mack Stadium knowing a win would secure a pennant. Gibson, making his third start since recovering from a broken bone in his right leg, was matched against Dick Ellsworth and they engaged in a scoreless duel through five innings.

Dal Maxvill got the Cardinals’ first hit, a leadoff single in the sixth, moved to second on Gibson’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Lou Brock’s double.

Julian Javier followed with a single to left, driving in Brock and putting the Cardinals ahead, 2-0. When the throw from left fielder Tony Gonzalez carried to the plate in an unsuccessful bid to nail Brock, Javier moved to second. After Curt Flood struck out, Ellsworth issued an intentional pass to Orlando Cepeda.

Mike Shannon foiled that strategy with a double down the left-field line. Javier scored and Cepeda went to third. Gonzalez threw to second, trying to nab Shannon, but second baseman Cookie Rojas cut off the throw and fired to third, hoping to catch Cepeda. The peg was wild and sailed past third baseman Tony Taylor. Cepeda scored, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

Gibson retired the last nine consecutive Phillies batters, completing a three-hitter. Boxscore

Letting loose

Inside the cramped visitors’ clubhouse, the Cardinals uncorked bottles of Great Western champagne. They drank from paper cups and doused each other with champagne and beer.

“They looked like college kids after an upset victory, not pros at the end of a runaway pennant race,” observed columnist Frank Dolson of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Geysers of champagne soaked players and visitors. The new National League champions screamed and chanted and went beserk.”

As the champagne flowed, players carried onlookers, fully clothed, into the showers. Broadcaster Jack Buck and manager Red Schoendienst were among the first to get impromptu showers. Then it was Musial’s turn. With Roger Maris grabbing one arm and Phil Gagliano gripping the other, Musial, wearing a suit, was lifted into the showers as he pleaded, “No, no.”

“He emerged moments later drenched from head to foot,” Dolson wrote.

The revelry lasted more than an hour before the Cardinals gathered themselves and headed to a post-game dinner and party hosted by team owner Gussie Busch at Old Bookbinders restaurant in downtown Philadelphia.

Unity and likeability

Cardinals players cited three factors for the success of the 1967 team: 1. Unity and likability. 2. Fundamental soundness in all skillsets. 3. Contributions from younger, or less experienced, pitchers.

“I can’t remember ever having as much fun in my life playing baseball as this year,” Flood said.

Said Cepeda: “I never had so much fun in my life. Never. There are a lot of beautiful people on this ball club.”

Cepeda, acquired from the Giants in May 1966, and Maris, acquired from the Yankees in December 1966, fit well with key holdovers from the 1964 World Series champion Cardinals: Brock, Flood, Gibson, Javier, Maxvill, Tim McCarver and Shannon.

“Orlando has helped to make this ball club jell _ out on the field and in here (the clubhouse),” Flood said. “He fit in so well it is hard to remember what it was like when he wasn’t here.”

Regarding Maris, Flood said, “He’d offer you the shirt off his back and be mad if you didn’t take it. Roger is not an introvert by any means. He’s fun. A lot of fun.”

Fundamental soundness

“This club has pitching, defense, offense, speed,” Cepeda told Bill Conlin of the Philadelphia Daily News. “We can beat you so many ways.”

Flood: “We were very versatile. We didn’t have to wait around for someone to hit a home run. Lou Brock could walk, steal second and someone would single him home and we had a run.”

Maris: “The biggest thing was attitude. We had guys who felt they could hit any pitcher, any time.”

McCarver: “We had unselfish hitters and selfish pitchers. That’s right. They refused to give up any runs.”

Emerging pitching

Among the young pitchers who delivered for the 1967 Cardinals were Nelson Briles, 24, (14 wins); Steve Carlton, 22, (14 wins); Larry Jaster, 23, (nine wins); and Ron Willis, 24, (10 saves and six wins). Also, Dick Hughes, 29, a rookie, had a team-high 16 wins.

Cardinals reliever Hal Woodeshick credited pitching coach Billy Muffett.

“It was Muffett who changed Dick Hughes and Nellie Briles to the no windup delivery,” Woodeshick said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Muffett brought along Steve Carlton, too, and he changed Ron Willis to sidearm. He had to have the young pitching come through after we left spring training, or we had nothing. They ought to triple Muffett’s pay.”

Said Musial: “The young pitching made the difference.”

Previously: How Cardinals took a chance on Roger Maris

 

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Dodgers dealt aces in Cardinals’ farewell to Brooklyn

Posted in Games, Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers on August 22, 2017| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Jan. 4, 2025)

In the last game the Cardinals played in Brooklyn, they faced a pair of 21-year-old emerging aces: Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax.

Drysdale was effective; Koufax was not. They were two of six future Hall of Famers who played against the Cardinals on Aug. 25, 1957, at Ebbets Field. The others were Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese and Duke Snider.

Stan Musial, who a decade earlier got his nickname, “The Man,” from Dodgers fans, was injured and didn’t play for the Cardinals in their Ebbets Field finale. In the book “We Would Have Played For Nothing,” Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca said of Musial, “Those fans in Brooklyn … used to give him a standing ovation. He got more cheers than the Dodgers because they respected his ability.”

Musial, who batted .359 with 223 hits in 163 career games in Brooklyn, hurt his left shoulder on Aug. 22 at Philadelphia. X-rays revealed a chip fracture in his shoulder blade.

“We’re a different ballclub, not nearly as dangerous, without Stan Musial in there,” Cardinals manager Fred Hutchinson told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Sentimental journey

Though a move to Los Angeles for the 1958 season wasn’t official, it was widely known the Dodgers intended to leave Brooklyn, barring an 11th-hour deal for a new ballpark. The Dodgers planned to follow the Giants, who had announced their plans to depart New York for San Francisco after the season.

Ebbets Field had been the site of epic Cardinals-Dodgers games, especially in the 1940s when the two franchises accounted for seven National League pennants in a nine-year span from 1941-49.

The 1957 Cardinals were in the middle of a 22-game road trip that began Aug. 13 and would take them to Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Pittsburgh, Chicago again and Cincinnati before ending Sept. 3.

A crowd of 10,883 turned out for the Cardinals’ farewell appearance at Brooklyn. A mist fell and wind whipped through Ebbets Field, bringing a raw feel to an atypical summer Sunday.

The game matched Drysdale against Sam Jones.

After retiring the first two batters, Drysdale walked Joe Cunningham and Wally Moon and plunked Ken Boyer with a pitch, loading the bases. He escaped unscathed by striking out Del Ennis.

Drysdale held the Cardinals hitless until Moon led off the fourth with a double.

Powered by Gil Hodges, who reached Jones for a two-run homer and RBI-double, the Dodgers led, 6-2, through seven.

Comeback bid

In the eighth, Moon drove in a run with a single, making the score 6-3 and knocking out Drysdale. Ed Roebuck relieved.

In the ninth, the Cardinals got within two, 6-4, on a Don Blasingame double that scored Bobby Smith and moved Dick Schofield to third.

With one out, Al Dark came to the plate, looking to drive in the runners from second and third and tie the score. Instead, Dark grounded out to Roebuck and the runners held. Disgusted, Dark flung his batting helmet into the dugout.

Plate umpire Augie Donatelli, thinking the player was upset with him, ejected Dark. “I resent Donatelli’s mind-reading act,” Dark said.

With Cunningham due next, Dodgers manager Walter Alston wanted a left-handed pitcher, so he removed Roebuck and brought in Koufax.

Hutchinson countered, sending Hal Smith, a right-handed batter, to face Koufax.

Old pro

Koufax walked Smith, loading the bases. The next batter, Moon, also walked, forcing in a run and making the score 6-5.

With the bases still loaded, Alston pulled Koufax and replaced him with a starter, Sal Maglie. Making his first relief appearance since May, Maglie, 40, was brought in to face Ken Boyer. Mixing guile with skill, Maglie struck out Boyer on three pitches, clinching the victory. Boxscore

 

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How Cardinals were able to acquire Mark McGwire

Posted in Hitters, Pitchers, Prospects, Trades on July 29, 2017| 3 Comments »

(Updated on July 31, 2018)

Unwilling to part with Manny Aybar, the Cardinals almost didn’t make the trade for Mark McGwire.

In July 1997, the Cardinals went in search of a power hitter. They had discussions with the Blue Jays about Joe Carter and with the Tigers about Travis Fryman. The slugger they wanted most was McGwire.

For the Cardinals to get him, the Athletics demanded a package that included Aybar, a top pitching prospect.

With the trade deadline of midnight July 31 fast approaching, the Cardinals held firm in their refusal to part with Aybar. As late as 6:30 p.m. on July 31, Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said he thought the deal wouldn’t happen.

When the Athletics relented and settled instead for Eric Ludwick, the trade was made. The Cardinals got McGwire for three pitchers: T.J. Mathews, Blake Stein and Ludwick.

Thumbs up

On July 25, after losing to the Marlins at St. Louis, the Cardinals fell to 48-53, six games behind the first-place Astros in the National League Central Division.

Unwilling to concede, the Cardinals determined what they needed most was another run producer in a lineup that included Ray Lankford, Ron Gant and Gary Gaetti.

Two days later, on July 27, McGwire told reporters he strongly would consider a trade to the Cardinals.

McGwire was eligible to become a free agent after the 1997 season, so the Athletics were open to trading him if they could get a good return. Because McGwire was a 10-year veteran who had played five consecutive seasons with his current team, the Athletics needed his approval before they could deal him. That’s why it was significant when McGwire went public with his consent of a possible trade to St. Louis.

Art of the deal

Initially, the Athletics inquired about the availability of two of the Cardinals’ most promising starting pitchers, Alan Benes and Matt Morris.

When Jocketty made it clear neither would be traded, the Athletics set their sights on two prospects in the Cardinals’ minor-league system: Aybar and catcher Eli Marrero.

Jocketty didn’t want to trade them either.

On July 29, Jocketty rated the Cardinals’ chances of acquiring McGwire as 50-50, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Looking to keep options open, Jocketty spoke with the Blue Jays about Carter, but they wanted outfielder John Mabry. Jocketty said no.

The Tigers were willing to deal Fryman, but they wanted starting pitcher Todd Stottlemyre. Again, Jocketty said no.

McGwire remained the best option.

The Angels also had pursued McGwire, but when they dropped out of the bidding it left the Cardinals as the lone suitor and gave Jocketty leverage.

Holding firm

With their negotiating hand weakened, the Athletics ended their demand for Marrero _ they also had asked about two other prospects, pitcher Braden Looper and infielder Brent Butler _ but still insisted on Aybar being in the deal. Jocketty wouldn’t budge. “We couldn’t give up Aybar and Mathews,” he said.

Athletics general manager Sandy Alderson indicated to Jocketty the deal could be dead. “At one point,” Jocketty said, “I thought we weren’t going to be able to get it done.”

Faced with the likely prospect of getting nothing in return for McGwire if he departed as a free agent after the season, Alderson relented and took Ludwick instead of Aybar when he realized Jocketty wouldn’t change his stance.

“Sometimes free agency forces your decisions,” Alderson said.

On July 31, 1997, four days after talks began, the deal for McGwire was completed.

It takes a village

“We were determined to get a quality bat in the middle of our lineup and I think we got the best hitter we could,” Jocketty said.

McGwire twice led the American League in home runs and three times was the league leader in slugging percentage.

“He’s probably the greatest power hitter of his time,” said Stottlemyre.

Tony La Russa, who managed McGwire with the Athletics before joining the Cardinals after the 1995 season, was happy to have the slugger on his team again, but cautioned that McGwire alone couldn’t lift the Cardinals into first place.

“The quality of everything else we do has to raise itself a couple of levels for us to win a lot of games,” La Russa said.

For McGwire to be most effective, La Russa said, “we have to get on base in front of (him).”

Bernie Miklasz, Post-Dispatch columnist, acknowledged McGwire “will provide entertainment” and “will be a menacing presence” in the lineup, but expressed concern McGwire would depart as a free agent after the season. The Cardinals would have done better to trade for an emerging talent such as Jose Cruz, 23, of the Mariners, Miklasz wrote.

Slugging and scandal

Asked why he approved the trade, McGwire said, “I decided to do this because I needed a change and I needed a challenge.”

On Aug. 1, McGwire traveled from California to Philadelphia and joined the Cardinals 90 minutes before their game that night with the Phillies.

Put into the cleanup spot between Phil Plantier and Gant, McGwire was 0-for-3 with a walk against Garrett Stephenson and Ricky Bottalico.

On Sept. 16, 1997, the Cardinals signed McGwire to a three-year contract extension through 2000 worth $28.5 million. The deal included an option for a fourth year at $11 million. McGwire went on to hit 24 home runs with 42 RBI in 51 games for the 1997 Cardinals, but they finished 73-89.

McGwire hit 70 home runs with 147 RBI in 1998 and 65 home runs with 147 RBI in 1999, but the Cardinals failed to qualify for the postseason both years.

McGwire and the Cardinals got into the postseason in 2000 and 2001 but didn’t reach the World Series.

In five years with St. Louis, McGwire had 220 home runs and 473 RBI, but the achievements were tainted by his subsequent admission of using banned performance-enhancing drugs.

Previously: Mark McGwire had hot start to 1998 Cardinals season

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Cardinals struck out in bid to bring back Matt Morris

Posted in Pitchers, Trades on July 26, 2017| 2 Comments »

Seeking to bolster their rotation and add a role model to mentor their young starting pitchers, the Cardinals wanted to bring back Matt Morris.

Confident in the offer they made to the Giants for Morris, the Cardinals were astonished when he was traded instead to the Pirates.

At the trading deadline on July 31, 2007, the Cardinals did acquire a starting pitcher, Joel Pineiro, from the Red Sox. At that time, though, Pineiro was in the minor leagues and his career appeared to be trending downward. Morris would have been a more prominent acquisition.

As it turned out, Pineiro became a productive starter for the Cardinals. Morris was out of the big leagues less than a year after the Cardinals tried to re-acquire him.

Learning to lead

The Cardinals, 2006 World Series champions, had a 49-53 record at the trade deadline on July 31, 2007. They were in third place in the National League Central, six games behind the front-running Brewers, but were determined they might make a run for the division title if they could improve their starting rotation.

Morris, who would turn 33 in August 2007, was their primary target.

He had pitched eight years for the Cardinals, posting a 101-62 record, before signing with the Giants as a free agent after the 2005 season.

Morris’ record with the 2007 Giants was 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA. The Cardinals saw him as someone who still could pitch effectively and help in the development of starters such as Adam Wainwright and Anthony Reyes.

“With us, he learned from guys like Darryl Kile about how to be a leader on a pitching staff,” Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He was always a guy we felt was good with young pitchers and led on the mound and off the mound. He was a guy who would provide whatever assistance and advice he could with young pitchers.”

Caught by surprise

The Giants, in last place in the NL West, were willing to deal Morris. The Cardinals and Mariners were the most aggressive suitors.

Jocketty told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the Cardinals had agreed to send two minor-league players to the Giants and would absorb most of Morris’ contract. “From our standpoint, money was never an issue,” Jocketty said.

On the afternoon of the trade deadline, Jocketty said, he was confident the Cardinals and Giants had a deal. At the 11th hour, though, the Pirates contacted the Giants and offered to take on Morris’ entire contract. With bonuses, Morris had $13.8 million remaining on his total package.

“Pittsburgh stepped up to take the player as is, with the contract,” said Giants general manager Brian Sabean.

The Giants sent Morris to the Pirates for outfielder Rajai Davis and a player to be named (minor-league pitcher Steve MacFarland).

When Sabean “called back to say he had moved Morris, Jocketty was stunned,” the Post-Dispatch reported.

Said Jocketty: “We were never told we had to take the whole contract.”

Oquendo approves

The consolation prize for the Cardinals was Pineiro. The Cardinals sent Sean Danielson, a minor-league outfielder, to the Red Sox for him.

Pineiro, 28, made 31 relief appearances for the 2007 Red Sox, posting a 1-1 record and 5.03 ERA, before he was sent to the minors. At Class AAA Pawtucket, he made two starts and had a 2.25 ERA before he was acquired by the Cardinals.

Before joining the 2007 Red Sox, Pineiro had been a starter for the Mariners. He was 14-7 in 2002 and 16-11 in 2003, but had losing records for the Mariners in each of the next three seasons.

At the World Baseball Classic in 2006, Pineiro pitched for Team Puerto Rico. His manager was Jose Oquendo, a Cardinals coach, and his catcher was Yadier Molina. Oquendo recommended Pineiro to the Cardinals.

“He has a good arm,” Oquendo said. “What he probably needs is a philosophy about pitching.”

Dave Duncan, Cardinals pitching coach, figured to be an ideal candidate to help Pineiro develop that philosophy.

“I think this is a good situation for him,” Duncan said. “I’m expecting to see good things … Yadi will be catching him and I think that works in his favor, too.”

Pineiro produces

In his second start for St. Louis, Pineiro pitched seven shutout innings and got the win against the Padres. That was the game Rick Ankiel returned to the Cardinals as an outfielder and hit a three-run home run.

Pineiro was 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 11 starts for the 2007 Cardinals. He was 7-7 with a 5.15 ERA in 2008 and 15-12 with a 3.49 ERA in helping the Cardinals win a division title in 2009.

After that, Pineiro became a free agent and signed with the Angels. In three seasons with the Cardinals, Pineiro was 28-23 with a 4.14 ERA.

Meanwhile, Morris struggled with the Pirates. He was 3-4 with a 6.10 ERA in 2007 and 0-4 with a 9.67 ERA the next season before he was released in April 2008.

 

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How Al Hrabosky stood up to Gussie Busch

Posted in Managers, Pitchers on July 23, 2017| Leave a Comment »

In July 1977, when Al Hrabosky ignored manager Vern Rapp’s facial hair ban and let his whiskers grow, Cardinals owner Gussie Busch intervened and tried to get the pitcher to follow orders. Rather than obey, Hrabosky fought back. He told Busch he would file a grievance with the players’ union if the Cardinals tried to force him to shave.

If Hrabosky filed a grievance, the matter would go to arbitration. To Busch, the prospect of appearing before an arbiter and likely losing to Hrabosky and the union was more distasteful than having the pitcher grow a moustache.

Outmaneuvered, Busch lifted the facial hair ban Rapp had imposed at the start of 1977. At the same time, in an effort to show he maintained confidence in Rapp, Busch extended the manager’s contract through the following season.

Busch, though, was angry and humiliated.

Unaccustomed to defiance from an employee, Busch lashed out publicly at Hrabosky. He challenged him to become a better pitcher and warned Hrabosky to quit being disruptive.

“You pushed me into a corner,” Busch said, addressing Hrabosky, “and no one does that to me.”

Hrabosky realized his victory came at a price. He predicted the Cardinals would get rid of him.

Hairy situation

Hrabosky had established himself as an effective Cardinals reliever in 1973. Soon after, he developed a persona as the “Mad Hungarian.” With a Fu Manchu moustache, flowing black hair and menacing glower, Hrabosky tried to intimidate or irritate batters by standing behind the mound, facing the infield, muttering to himself and pounding his fist into his glove before whirling around and preparing to pitch.

After Rapp replaced Red Schoendienst as manager, he imposed the facial hair ban for 1977. Clean-shaven, Hrabosky no longer looked like the “Mad Hungarian.” He said he believed that took away from his ability to pitch at his best.

Unhappy and resentful, Hrabosky ripped Rapp in spring training, then apologized. In May, he refused Rapp’s request to meet and briefly was suspended for insubordination.

On July 4, the Cardinals began a 15-game road trip. They didn’t play well and tension mounted between manager and players.

Rapp called a clubhouse meeting in Philadelphia on July 14, and began the session by saying he’d noticed 5 o’clock shadows on the faces of some players. He considered that a violation of the facial hair ban and said he’d suspend anyone who didn’t shave, The Sporting News reported.

Cardinals outfielder Lou Brock spoke up and asked Rapp to “bend a little” on his rules. Rapp replied, “I’m not going to change,” and left the clubhouse.

Jack Buck, Cardinals broadcaster, told listeners, “It’s one against 25.”

After the game, Hrabosky told a Philadelphia radio station “there’s no way” he could play another season with Rapp as manager. Soon after, Hrabosky began letting his facial hair grow.

Plenty of trouble

The Cardinals lost 11 of 15 games on the trip _ Hrabosky was 0-2 with a save and an 11.42 ERA _ before entering the all-star break.

When the team got back to St. Louis, Busch met with Hrabosky on July 21, the pitcher’s 28th birthday. Rather than a gift, Hrabosky received scorn.

“Well, young man, if you’re looking for trouble you can believe August A. Busch Jr. will give you more than you can handle,” Busch said.

Hrabosky told Busch he had the backing of Marvin Miller, leader of the players’ union. Miller encouraged Hrabosky to file a grievance.

That’s when Busch lifted the ban, saying management wouldn’t give Hrabosky “the satisfaction of dragging the Cardinals and baseball into the courtroom.”

Said Hrabosky: “From the legal standpoint, they knew they’d lose.”

Put up or shut up

Hrabosky at that time had a record of 2-4 with seven saves and a 4.58 ERA.

“You said … you can only get batters out by being psyched up with your moustache and beard,” Busch said. “Then go ahead and grow it. But, boy, are you going to look like a fool if you don’t get batters out.”

Said Hrabosky: “After much thought and personal reflection, I know it will be in the best interests of the ballclub and of my career to go back to being Al Hrabosky. I sincerely believe my appearance had a great effect on my performance … I sincerely believe my decision will help me on the field.”

Busch told Hrabosky: “My suggestion … would be for you to stop causing this trouble in the middle of a pennant race, obey the rules of the team, work your butt off for a pennant and quit this complaining.”

Jeff Meyers, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist, wrote that Hrabosky “deserves applause for having had the courage to stand up for what he thought was right,” but added that Busch had “deflated Hrabosky’s massive ego.”

Fading fastball

Cardinals infielders Mike Tyson and Garry Templeton were among the players who said they would grow facial hair in support of Hrabosky. Another infielder, Don Kessinger, said he wouldn’t try a moustache or beard.  “If I grow one, my wife won’t kiss me and there ain’t nothing worth that,” Kessinger said.

On July 23, Hrabosky made his first Cardinals appearance since his meeting with Busch and received mostly applause from the spectators at Busch Stadium. He pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief and the Cardinals beat the Astros, 4-3.

Hrabosky had a productive August (3-1 record, one save, 3.52 ERA) and a dismal September (0-0, no saves, 6.75 ERA).

“His fastball isn’t what it used to be and the whole league knows it,” Buck said.

Hrabosky’s overall statistics for 1977: 6-5, 10 saves, 4.38 ERA.

In The Sporting News, Neal Russo wrote, “Al Hrabosky was as bad with his beard as without.”

On Dec. 8, 1977, the Cardinals traded Hrabosky to the Royals for pitcher Mark Littell and catcher Buck Martinez.

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