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Revisiting the deal that made Adam Wainwright a Cardinal

Posted in Pitchers, Trades on October 14, 2013| 1 Comment »

(Updated Dec. 10, 2023)

The Cardinals acquired Adam Wainwright from the Braves in the belief he would develop into an ace for them.

On Dec. 13, 2003, the Cardinals traded outfielder J.D. Drew and catcher Eli Marrero to the Braves for pitchers Jason Marquis, Ray King and Wainwright.

Describing Wainwright as the key player of the trade for the Cardinals, St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Without him, there wasn’t a deal.”

At the time, Wainwright, 22, was a prospect who posted a 10-8 record and 3.37 ERA for Class AA Greenville (S.C.) in 2003.

“Adam is our No. 1 pitching prospect,” Braves general manager John Schuerholz told the Associated Press.

Said Jocketty to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “We see him as a top-of-the-rotation kind of guy in a couple of years.”

Baseball America magazine said Wainwright had “an ideal combination of size, talent and makeup. He started working off his 92 mph to 93 mph fastball more often at midseason and the positive results were immediate. He also throws a hard curveball and a solid changeup … He has a great work ethic and is one of the most intelligent pitching prospects … He needs to continue to gain confidence … He tends to be too fine with his pitches instead of challenging hitters.”

Slick move

Some thought the Cardinals had given up too much in dealing Drew, 28. In six years with St. Louis, he hit .282 and had a .377 on-base percentage, but he also was injury-prone and eligible for free agency after the 2004 season.

In retrospect, Jocketty took advantage of the Braves, who were desperate to replace the run production supplied by departed free agents Gary Sheffield in right field and Javy Lopez at catcher.

“That was tough to do,” Schuerholz said of including Wainwright in the deal, “but, under the circumstances, we had no choice.”

(Drew and Marrero each would play one season for the Braves. Drew departed through free agency for the Dodgers. Marrero was dealt to the Royals.)

The Cardinals were in the market for pitching and the Braves offered a bonanza.

“We felt that without pitching we weren’t going to have a chance to improve in the standings next year,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa told the Associated Press.

Said Jocketty: “There were a couple deals we could have done. We just felt this was the best overall for us.”

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz endorsed the deal, though he was concerned whether La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan were best-suited to develop a young arm. “Wainwright is a legitimately bright prospect and a potential steal for the Cardinals,” Miklasz wrote, “but if Duncan and La Russa are around beyond the 2004 season, it may not matter because they can’t develop young pitchers. Perhaps Wainwright will be nurtured and saved by the next regime.”

Good results

The trade helped the Cardinals improve from 85 wins and a third-place finish in 2003 to 105 wins and a first-place finish in 2004. With Marquis contributing 15 wins as a starter and King appearing in 86 games as a left-handed relief specialist, St. Louis won the pennant in 2004 for the first time in 17 years.

Marquis posted 13 or more wins in each of his three seasons with St. Louis, helping the Cardinals to the postseason each time.

King pitched in 163 games in two seasons for St. Louis.

At Class AAA Memphis in 2004, Wainwright was 4-4 with a 5.37 ERA when elbow discomfort caused him to discontinue throwing in June.

He was 10-10 with a 4.40 ERA in 29 starts for Memphis in 2005, though he led the Pacific Coast League in innings pitched (182) and was second in strikeouts (147).

Wainwright was eased into his first big-league season in 2006 by La Russa and Duncan. Used exclusively in relief, Wainwright led all St. Louis relievers in holds (23) and strikeouts (72). In the postseason, he was 1-0 with four saves and 15 strikeouts in 9.2 scoreless innings.

Wainwright spent his entire big-league career with the Cardinals and produced a record of 200-128. He ranks second on the franchise list in strikeouts (2,202) and starts (411) and is third in wins.

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How stint in Japan helped sell Cardinals on Ernie Broglio

Posted in Games, Pitchers, Trades on October 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »

(Updated Oct. 7, 2018)

Ernie Broglio was a key player in two Cardinals trades _ the famous one involving Lou Brock and the largely forgotten one that led to him becoming a prominent part of the St. Louis rotation.

On Oct. 7, 1958, the Cardinals acquired Broglio and Marv Grissom from the Giants for Billy Muffett, Hobie Landrith and Benny Valenzuela.

The top names in the deal were relief pitchers Grissom and Muffett. Landrith was a backup catcher, Valenzuela a utility infielder and Broglio a minor-league pitcher.

Referring to managers Solly Hemus of the Cardinals and Bill Rigney of the Giants, columnist Dan Daniel of The Sporting News wrote, “Hemus wanted Grissom and Bill Rigney wanted Muffett, and the rest of it looks like parsley on the boiled potato.”

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch described the trade as “a can of salmon for a can of salmon.”

Regarding Ernest Broglio, he was “not to be confused either with movie Academy Award winner Ernest Borgnine or a plain old imbroglio,” the Post-Dispatch reported.

“Broglio must be suspect because he didn’t make it with the Giants last spring and no club needs pitching more than San Francisco,” the Post-Dispatch concluded.

Dixie delighted

Dixie Walker, who managed Broglio at Class AAA Toronto in 1958, was on good terms with the Cardinals. His brother, Harry Walker, was a Cardinals coach and Dixie worked with Cardinals general manager Bing Devine at Rochester in 1955.

It was on Walker’s advice that Devine pursued Broglio.

In the Giants’ organization since 1956, Broglio had opened the 1958 season with their Class AAA club at Phoenix and posted an 8-1 record. The Giants, though, were seeking a veteran pitcher and they made a deal with Toronto in July 1958 for former big-leaguer Don Johnson. The Giants sent Broglio, along with outfielder Jim King and pitcher Ray Crone, to Toronto.

Broglio, 23, apparently was loaned to Toronto, which wasn’t affiliated with any big-league club.

“Nobody said anything to me at Phoenix except when I was being shipped out,” Broglio said. “I was told I’d be back.”

Toronto throwback

Broglio was an immediate success with Toronto. In his first start for Dixie Walker, Broglio struck out a franchise-record 15 against Buffalo in 11.1 innings. Three days later, Broglio pitched a three-hitter against Montreal.

On Aug. 6, Broglio pitched a two-hit shutout against Havana. The next day, he pitched seven innings in relief.

“A throwback to pitchers of another era _ that is the reputation of Ernie Broglio, workhorse of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ mound corps, who appears to thrive on only two days rest,” Th Sporting News reported.

Broglio was 9-3 for Toronto in the regular season and 2-0 in the International League playoffs. For Phoenix and Toronto combined, Broglio had a 17-4 regular-season record.

Made in Japan

Two weeks after he was traded to St. Louis, Broglio was invited to join the Cardinals on their tour of Japan. The Cardinals were scheduled to play 16 games against Japanese teams in October and November. Broglio took full advantage of the chance to impress his new club.

Described by The Sporting News as “the big surprise,” Broglio was the Cardinals’ biggest winner on the tour, posting a 4-0 record and 1.55 ERA and striking out 30 in 28 innings.

Based on that showing, Hemus tabbed Broglio as the staff’s No. 4 starter entering spring training in 1959.

“I know that wasn’t big-league opposition,” Hemus said, “but he showed me enough to warrant this chance.”

Broglio further impressed the Cardinals by reporting to spring training three pounds under his assigned weight of 195.

“Wildness has been the bane of his six-year career (in the minors),” The Sporting News reported. “If pitching coach Howard Pollet can help Broglio with his control, the Cardinals might have their best rookie pitcher since Johnny Beazley in 1942.”

Broglio earned a spot in the 1959 Cardinals’ rotation and finished the season tied with Larry Jackson for the club lead in shutouts (three). Broglio also ranked second in strikeouts (133) and third in innings pitched (181.1) for the Cardinals.

After losing his first five decisions, Broglio completed the 1959 season at 7-12 with a 4.72 ERA. He was 7-9 in 25 starts and 0-3 in 10 relief appearances.

In six years (1959-64) with St. Louis, Broglio was 70-55, including seasons of 21 wins in 1960 and 18 wins in 1963.

When the Cardinals sent Broglio to the Cubs on June 15, 1964, in a deal involving Brock and others, most thought the transaction favored Chicago, but Broglio hurt his arm and went 7-19 with a 5.40 ERA in three years with the Cubs. Brock became a Hall of Fame player who broke stolen base records, achieved 3,000 hits and ignited the Cardinals to three pennants and two World Series titles.

Previously: Ernie Broglio built great home mark the hard way

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How Reggie Cleveland almost got perfect game for Cards

Posted in Games, Pitchers on September 25, 2013| 4 Comments »

(Updated Sept. 27, 2019)

Reggie Cleveland may have been an unlikely candidate to nearly pitch the Cardinals’ first perfect game. Ken Rudolph may have been one of the unlikeliest batters to keep him from achieving perfection.

On Sept. 27, 1973, Cleveland faced the minimum 27 batters in pitching a one-hitter against the Cubs at St. Louis.

Rudolph, a catcher batting eighth, was the only Cubs player to reach base. He singled in the sixth, then was erased on a double play.

Cleveland, 25, hadn’t won since Aug. 22, losing four consecutive decisions, but the right-hander threw just 78 pitches in subduing the Cubs.

“I had an unbelievable fastball,” Cleveland said to The Sporting News. “I put it where I wanted almost every time and the ball kept jumping.”

Said Cardinals catcher Ted Simmons: “That’s as good a one-hit perfecto as you’ll ever see. Reggie didn’t make a really bad pitch all night.”

Cleveland retired the first 16 Cubs batters. With one out in the sixth, Rudolph, who entered the game with a .196 batting average, singled sharply to left.

“Rudolph hit a good pitch, a slider low and away,” Simmons said.

The next batter, Burt Hooton, bunted. Cleveland fielded the ball and threw to shortstop Mike Tyson for the force on Rudolph at second. Tyson fired the relay to second baseman Ted Sizemore, covering first, to complete the double play.

In the bottom of the inning, Lou Brock lined a two-run home run into the seats in right against Hooton, producing the game’s only scoring.

“That was the first changeup I’ve hit out of the park in five years,” Brock said to the Chicago Tribune.

Cleveland set down the Cubs in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, finishing the gem in 1 hour, 40 minutes.

He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “The fastball was the best I’ve ever had.”

The ninth inning was relatively drama-free. Glenn Beckert flied out, Pete LaCock struck out and Adrian Garrett grounded out. Boxscore

The final out by Garrett provided a twist.

Four years earlier, May 27, 1969, Cleveland’s wife gave birth to their first child, a daughter. That night, Cleveland, pitching for the Cardinals’ minor-league Arkansas affiliate, pitched a one-hitter versus Shreveport, facing the minimum 27 batters. The lone hit was a second-inning single by Adrian Garrett.

The one-hitter versus the Cubs was the last game Cleveland pitched for the Cardinals. He was traded to the Red Sox after the season. A year later, October 1974, the Cardinals acquired Rudolph to be Simmons’ backup.

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Willie Mays on Ray Washburn: ‘Never saw a better curve’

Posted in Games, Pitchers on September 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Utilizing a wicked curveball that Willie Mays admired but couldn’t hit, Ray Washburn capped a sensational summer of 1968 by pitching the Cardinals’ first no-hitter in 27 years.

The gem was achieved less than 24 hours after the Cardinals had been held hitless by the Giants’ Gaylord Perry.

Perry and Washburn became the first big-league pitchers to toss no-hitters in consecutive games.

Perry walked two and struck out nine, including ex-teammate Orlando Cepeda twice, in outdueling Bob Gibson in the Giants’ 1-0 victory over the Cardinals before 9.546 on Tuesday night, Sept. 17, 1968, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Boxscore

On Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, 1968, Washburn walked five and struck out eight, including Mays twice, in the Cardinals’ 2-0 victory before 4,703 at Candlestick. Boxscore

“I never saw a guy throw a curve much better,” Mays said to United Press International. “It floated up there, but you couldn’t hit it.”

Washburn threw 138 pitches: 89 fastballs, 42 curves and seven sliders, The Sporting News reported.

“His curve was the big thing for him,” said Cardinals pitching coach Billy Muffett to the Associated Press. “It kept the hitters off balance.”

Said Cardinals catcher Johnny Edwards: “The curve turned him into a great pitcher. He got away from depending too much on his hard slider.”

Giants grounded

The Associated Press described Washburn’s curve as “deadly” to a lineup of sluggers that included Mays, Willie McCovey, Bobby Bonds and Jim Ray Hart. Washburn was effectively wild with a sinking fastball that set up his curve.

“I had control of my breaking pitches when I was behind the batters,” Washburn said. “My slow curve was working. If you have good motion and can keep it away from the hitters, it’s a very effective pitch.

“The curve helps me keep the batters off stride and has them hitting the ball off the end of the bat and into the ground.”

The Giants hit two balls out of the infield.

The no-hitter was Washburn’s first as a professional. He said he had pitched one in high school. It was the first no-hitter by a Cardinals pitcher since Lon Warneke did it against the Reds in 1941. Boxscore

“I’ve been with the Cards 23 years and never saw a no-hitter before,” said St. Louis manager Red Schoendienst.

Back from the brink

Perry went into the Cardinals’ clubhouse to congratulate Washburn. Until Perry and Washburn, only one no-hitter had been pitched in San Francisco since the Giants moved there from New York after the 1957 season. That was tossed by the Giants’ Juan Marichal against the Colt .45s in 1963. Boxscore

Before his no-hitter, Washburn had lost his previous two starts, including a 5-1 decision versus Perry and the Giants on Sept. 7 at St. Louis. Washburn won seven consecutive decisions from June 16 to July 29.

In 1963, Washburn tore a muscle in his right shoulder. Some thought he never could recover to pitch like he did for St. Louis five years later.

“He was almost finished,” Schoendienst said.

Cardinals trainer Bob Bauman called the injury “one of the worst muscle tears ever. The way it looked, we thought he’d never come around.”

Said Washburn: “They never gave up on me and I never gave up on myself.”

Washburn finished the 1968 season with a 14-8 record and 2.26 ERA.

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Why Bob Forsch didn’t end his career as a Cardinal

Posted in Pitchers, Trades on August 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Bob Forsch might have spent his entire playing career with the Cardinals if management had given him the opportunity. Instead, informed he wasn’t wanted, Forsch took the chance to extend his career with the Astros.

On Aug. 31, 1988, the Cardinals traded Forsch to the Astros for utility player Denny Walling.

Forsch was 9-4 with a 3.73 ERA for the 1988 Cardinals. A fan favorite, he ranked second among all Cardinals pitchers in career games started (401) and third in career wins (163).

In his book “Tales from the Cardinals Dugout,” Forsch said general manager Dal Maxvill called him while the team was in Atlanta and said he planned to trade him to the Astros.

Under baseball rules, Forsch, 38, could have blocked a trade because he was a player with five years of service with one team and 10 years in the majors.

The second-place Astros, chasing the Dodgers in the National League West, were pressing for a decision before midnight on Aug. 31, the last date a player could be acquired and still be eligible for the postseason.

Encouraging him to accept the trade, Maxvill told Forsch he wasn’t in the Cardinals’ plans for 1989. Forsch said he wasn’t ready to quit. When the Astros sweetened the deal by guaranteeing Forsch a contract for 1989, he agreed to the trade.

Maxvill played hardball

“It was better than what I was offered here,” Forsch said to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “Maxvill made it pretty clear that I wouldn’t have a job here.

“I would have liked to have pitched here some more, but it didn’t look like it was going to work out … Maybe the decision would be easier if I felt they wanted me here.”

In his book, Forsch said manager Whitey Herzog told him he would have a chance to earn a spot with the Cardinals in 1989.

“(But) Dal told me, ‘Well, if you stay here (and reject the trade) you’re not going to pitch again,’ ” Forsch said. “When I heard that, I was a little shocked, to say the least.”

Maxvill said Forsch would be offered a job in the Cardinals organization if he didn’t pitch in 1989.

“Forschie has been great for the Cardinals for a lot of years,” Maxvill said. “He was a great teacher and a great person. We’re sorry to lose him, but I was happy to accommodate him and hopefully he’ll pitch next year.”

Tributes from teammates

A consistent winner and classy competitor, Forsch pitched two no-hitters and appeared in three World Series for the Cardinals. The right-hander produced 10 double-digit win seasons and was 163-127 in 15 years (1974-88) with the Cardinals.

Kevin Horrigan, sports editor of the Post-Dispatch, suggested the Cardinals should retire Forsch’s uniform number 31, but they didn’t. Shortstop Ozzie Smith called Forsch “the consummate professional.” Center fielder Willie McGee said Forsch is “a great person, a great leader and one of the best competitors I have ever played with in any place and at any level.”

Forsch said having former Cardinals coach Hal Lanier as Astros manager “made a lot of difference” in his decision to accept the trade. “I knew Hal real well and really liked him,” Forsch said.

Also, Ken Forsch, Bob’s older brother, pitched for the Astros from 1970-80.

Two days after Bob was dealt to the Astros, the Cardinals were in Houston to begin a three-game series.

When Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck entered the Astros clubhouse, Forsch asked, “How do I look in blue?”

Replied Buck: “Like your brother.”

Previously: Forsch vs. Forsch: Bob had edge in brotherly matchup

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

Posted in Games, Managers, Opponents, Pitchers on August 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Whitey Herzog managed the Cardinals with a bold, creative style, which partly explains why he largely was successful. What elevated Herzog to Hall of Fame quality is he got his players to buy into that style.

A striking example of that occurred on Aug. 28, 1988, in a Sunday afternoon game between the Cardinals and Reds at Cincinnati.

Ken Dayley was one strike away from completing a three-inning save when Herzog abruptly pulled the reliever before he was finished pitching to the batter, Chris Sabo.

Dayley didn’t complain nor did anyone else with the Cardinals, which is testament to the trust and respect Herzog had with his players at that time.

Bob Forsch, in his last appearance as a Cardinal, started that game and pitched six innings. With the Cardinals ahead, 5-3, Forsch was relieved by Dayley after yielding a leadoff single to Sabo in the seventh.

Dayley held the Reds scoreless in the seventh and eighth.

In the ninth, Dayley retired the first two batters before Barry Larkin singled. Up next was Sabo.

A right-handed batter, Sabo, a rookie, presented a challenging matchup for the left-handed Dayley. The previous night, Sabo had four hits against the Cardinals, including three singles off left-handed pitching.

Cardinals closer Todd Worrell, a right-hander, was warming in the bullpen, but Herzog stayed with Dayley because Kal Daniels, a left-handed batter, was due up after Sabo. Herzog wasn’t figuring on Sabo hitting a home run. Dayley was unscored on in his last seven games.

Dayley got the count to 2-and-2 on Sabo. On the next pitch, Sabo drilled a line drive down the left-field line.

Worrell, who was in the left-field bullpen, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “When it passed me, it was about three feet fair.”

Wrote the Associated Press: “Sabo’s liner flirted with the left-field foul screen … but the ball hooked at the last second.”

“It wasn’t foul by much, maybe two feet,” Cardinals left fielder Tom Lawless said.

Said Worrell: “You could slide a newspaper between the ball and the foul pole.”

Herzog immediately went to the mound and lifted Dayley for Worrell. The closer threw one pitch, a slider, which Sabo swung and missed by a foot, sealing the Cardinals’ 5-3 victory. Boxscore

“I’ll bet that was the easiest save he ever had,” Herzog said.

Said Dayley: “Whitey had seen enough. I don’t mind setting the table for him, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to feed him.”

Previously: Whiteyball: Willie McGee at shortstop; Ricky Horton in right

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