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Archive for the ‘Trades’ Category

Why Cardinals dealt Keith Hernandez in 1983

Posted in Hitters, Trades on June 12, 2013| 6 Comments »

(Updated June 11, 2024)

Keith Hernandez was a World Series hero, the best-fielding first baseman in the sport, the most consistent hitter in the Cardinals’ lineup, winner of a league Most Valuable Player Award and a fan favorite.

keith_hernandez2To Whitey Herzog, none of that made up for what the Cardinals manager considered an unforgivable sin _ lack of maximum effort.

In a trade that remains one of the Cardinals’ most unpopular and contentious, Hernandez was dealt to the Mets on June 15, 1983, for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.

The deal, which Mets catcher John Stearns called “the biggest heist since the Thomas Crown Affair,” was made, in part, because of the Cardinals’ need for pitching. Their top two starters, Joaquin Andujar and Bob Forsch, were having subpar seasons and the Cardinals also lacked a reliable replacement for departed No. 5 starter Steve Mura. “Good arms are hard to come by,” Cardinals general manager Joe McDonald said to United Press International. “If Allen was not having a bad year, there’s no way we could have gotten him.”

Herzog told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “We had to decide if we were going to have enough hitting if we did this. Or did we have enough pitching if we didn’t do it? We need pitching.”

The primary reason for the deal, though, was the deteriorating relationship between Herzog and Hernandez.

Do the hustle

In his book “White Rat: A Life in Baseball,” Herzog was unsparing in his criticism of Hernandez, saying:

“Keith Hernandez was dogging it … He’s the best defensive first baseman I’ve ever seen. But on offense, he was loafing. He loafed down the line on ground balls and he wasn’t aggressive on the bases.

“What I couldn’t live with was his attitude. I’ve got two basic rules _ be on time and hustle _ and he was having trouble with both of them … His practice habits were atrocious. He’d come out for batting practice, then head back to the clubhouse to smoke cigarettes and do crossword puzzles … It was getting to the point where I was fed up with him.”

Herzog began clashing with Hernandez soon after taking over as Cardinals manager in June 1980. In a game at Atlanta during Herzog’s first series as manager, Hernandez didn’t run hard on a fly ball that was dropped. “Hernandez has the ability to be among the best players in the major leagues,” Herzog told The Sporting News, “but one little thing like that can make him a bad guy for a long time. When you’re out there, run hard.”

According to the Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals first offered Hernandez to the Mets after the 1980 season in exchange for Allen, second baseman Doug Flynn and pitcher Tim Leary, but the Mets declined.

Time to go

Early in the 1983 season, Hernandez came close to being dealt to the Astros. According to the Post-Dispatch, the Astros offered to swap first baseman Ray Knight and pitcher Vern Ruhle for Hernandez.

In an interview for the book “Whitey’s Boys,” Hernandez said, “I could tell a trade was coming (in 1983) because I knew I wasn’t in Whitey’s good graces.”

On June 15, 1983, Hernandez was taking batting practice at Busch Stadium when he was called into Herzog’s office. As he approached the office, Hernandez told the Post-Dispatch, “I knew I was gone.”

Herzog informed Hernandez of the trade to the Mets 20 minutes before it was announced. “It wasn’t an easy thing for him to tell me,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez called his agent to find out whether he could block the trade. “I wasn’t shocked I was traded,” Hernandez said. “I was shocked it was to the Mets.”

“I’m disappointed,” Hernandez told the Post-Dispatch. “I loved it here and the fans were great to me.”

When the deal was announced on the Busch Stadium scoreboard, fans booed.

Eight months earlier, Hernandez had produced seven hits and eight RBI in the last three games of the 1982 World Series. He sparked a Cardinals comeback in the decisive Game 7, driving in the tying run with a two-run single. He hit .299 in 10 years with St. Louis, won the 1979 National League batting title, shared the Most Valuable Player Award that year (with the Pirates’ Willie Stargell) and won five consecutive Gold Glove awards from 1978-82.

In a column about the trade, Kevin Horrigan of the Post-Dispatch wrote, “The Mets are getting a great hitter and a great first baseman, but they’re also getting a good guy, a man who has grown up a lot in the last three years.”

In exchange for Hernandez, the Cardinals got Allen (2-7, 4.50 ERA) and Ownbey (1-3, 4.67). Allen had told the Mets he thought he had an alcohol problem. Instead, he was diagnosed as suffering from stress.

“So the Cards had to enter the pitching market, which is so badly inflated it looks like it’s being run by an Argentinian junta,” Horrigan wrote in the Post-Dispatch. “Inflation touches us all. Ten grand for a Chevrolet? Outrageous. A buck for a hamburger? Absurd. Buck and a quarter for a gallon of gas? Ridiculous. A Keith Hernandez for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey? Outrageous, absurd and ridiculous.”

Said Herzog: “If Allen falls on his butt, then we got jobbed, but everybody in the organization … were in agreement this had to be done.”

Hernandez told Cardinals Magazine, “Whitey was the best manager I ever played for. That’s not a criticism of the others. Whitey made me a better player … He just basically taught us how to win.”

Mets make out

Mets general manager Frank Cashen called the acquisition of Hernandez “the biggest deal” he had made since joining the club, the New York Daily News reported. Cashen said the Cardinals initiated the trade. “Joe McDonald told me right off we could have Hernandez if we were willing to give up Allen,” Cashen told the Daily News.

The Associated Press declared the trade “a total surprise.”

Second baseman Tommy Herr told the Post-Dispatch, “I really don’t understand why they had to trade Keith. It’s difficult taking his bat out of the lineup.”

In remarks to the Daily News, Mets pitcher Tom Seaver said, “This may be the best deal the Mets have ever made because of the overall reaction Keith’s presence will create … The one thing we have not had is a consistent third-place hitter. There are not many more consistent players in baseball than Keith.”

Herzog said to Cardinals Magazine, “He might have been the best hit-and-run man I ever managed. I thought George Brett was good when I managed him and he was very good, but Keith Hernandez never, ever swung and missed a (hit-and-run) ball. He loved to hit-and-run, and we used it an awful lot with him.”

John Stearns spoke for many when he told Frank Dolson of Knight-Ridder Newspapers, “Were they (the Cardinals) drunk when they made that deal? I just couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Do they know something about Hernandez that we don’t? Is there a problem somewhere?’ ”

Turns out there was more of a problem than most knew.

Drug deal

In testimony two years later in a federal court case, Hernandez said he had used “massive” amounts of cocaine, starting in 1980 after he was introduced to the drug by Cardinals teammate Bernie Carbo, and had developed an “insatiable desire for more.”

Hernandez testified he broke his cocaine habit on his own just before the trade to the Mets. Hernandez said what motivated him to stop using was seeing teammate Lonnie Smith have a “bad experience” with the drug after a game at Philadelphia.

Herzog said he didn’t know Hernandez had been using drugs, but that he had become suspicious.

Meet the Mets

Hernandez would thrive with the Mets. At the time of the trade, the Mets had the worst record in the major leagues. Hernandez helped transform them into contenders by 1984 and World Series champions in 1986.

In his book “Mookie,” Mets center fielder Mookie Wilson said of Hernandez, “One thing I didn’t envision was what kind of clubhouse presence he would bring. Even before we saw what he could do on the playing field every day, it was his mannerisms and professionalism that made him stand out. He didn’t come in with the rah-rah stuff or any glitter. Instead, it was clear that he was a student of the game and learned a lot about leadership from guys like Lou Brock and some of the other great Cardinals veterans he played with.”

Allen was 20-16 with five saves in three seasons with St. Louis. Ownbey was 1-6 in two Cardinals seasons.

Said Herzog: “People always say it’s the worst deal I’ve ever made, but I don’t believe that … Getting rid of Hernandez was addition by subtraction. I really feel that, if we had kept him, his attitude and his bull would have ruined our ball club. I know he never would have been as good for us as he has been with the Mets.”

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Cot Deal: Cards prospect hurled 20-inning complete game

Posted in Managers, Pitchers, Trades on May 27, 2013| 2 Comments »

Cot Deal spent 11 years in the Cardinals organization as a player, coach and manager. As a Cardinals pitcher, he yielded three consecutive home runs to the Reds in the ninth inning _ and won. In the minor leagues, he managed Bob Gibson.

cot_dealHis most memorable feat occurred in his first year in the Cardinals system with Columbus (Ohio) of the Class AAA American Association. In what The Sporting News described as “one of the greatest exhibitions of mound stamina in minor league history,” Deal pitched a 20-inning complete game.

Though his 50 years in pro baseball sent him across the country, Deal always returned to his native Oklahoma. He was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Arapaho, population about 400, in Custer County. His given name was Ellis Deal, but he was called Cot as a boy because of his cotton-top hair color.

Signed by the Pirates while in high school, Deal was a third baseman and outfielder for three years in the Pittsburgh system before he entered military service. After three years as a training instructor for the Army Air Corps, Deal was discharged, acquired by the Athletics and sent to Class AAA Toronto, where he was converted to a pitcher.

In 1947, the Red Sox acquired Deal and he spent parts of the 1947 and 1948 seasons with Boston, posting a 1-1 record and 7.02 ERA.

Deal, 26, opened the 1949 season with Louisville, a Class AAA affiliate of the Red Sox. In May, he was traded to the Cardinals for a minor-league infielder and assigned to Columbus.

Four months later, Sept. 3, 1949, Deal started against Louisville, pitched 20 innings and got the win in Columbus’ 4-3 victory. Deal also contributed four hits.

Columbus likely would have won in the 10th if not for a loose shoe. With the score 1-1 and Les Fusselman on first base, Deal doubled to right. As Fusselman rounded third, he lost a shoe, hesitated and hobbled on one shoe to the plate, where he was tagged out.

Each team scored twice in the 12th. Columbus snapped the 3-3 tie in the bottom of the 20th on an RBI-single by Roy Broome off Gordon Mueller, who pitched nine innings in relief of starter Jack Griffore.

During the Louisville-Columbus game the next afternoon, “Deal was applauded and cheered every time he stuck his head out of the dugout,” The Sporting News reported.

In 1950, Deal pitched in three games for the Cardinals, but spent most of the season at Columbus. A switch-hitter, Deal went back to being an outfielder for Columbus in 1951 and hit 18 home runs, but returned to pitching the following year. Sent to Class AAA Rochester, Deal was 14-9 in 1952 and 16-9 in 1953.

Deal opened the 1954 season with the Cardinals and was part of the bullpen that posted the worst ERA (5.46) in Cardinals history. He appeared in 33 games and had a 2-3 record and 6.28 ERA.

Deal’s first win for the Cardinals came on July 10, 1954, at St. Louis against the Cubs. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Vic Raschi and earned the win when Joe Frazier, pinch-hitting for Deal in the ninth, hit a two-run walkoff home run against Bob Rush for a 2-1 Cardinals triumph. Boxscore

Deal’s second and final win for the Cardinals occurred in a wild Sunday afternoon game at Cincinnati. Entering in the third inning, Deal held the Reds scoreless for five innings and St. Louis went into the ninth with a 14-8 lead.

After retiring the first batter in the ninth, Deal yielded consecutive home runs to Gus Bell, Ted Kluszewski and Jim Greengrass. Deal was lifted but got the win when the Cardinals held on for a 14-12 victory. Boxscore

In 1956, Deal was a player-coach for Rochester manager Dixie Walker. He replaced Walker as manager in 1957. In 1958, Bob Gibson was promoted from the Cardinals’ Omaha farm club to Rochester in June and thrived under Deal. Gibson, 3-4 at Omaha, was 5-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 20 games for Rochester.

On Aug. 3, 1958, Deal lifted starter Lynn Lovenguth after one inning and brought in Gibson, who pitched eight innings, holding Miami to three hits and earning his first win for Rochester.

In his book ‘Stranger to the Game,” Gibson said, “Just like that, I was in the rotation. With regrets to Lovenguth, it was a good situation for me. Deal was actually a terrific guy, and black players were nothing new or objectionable to either Rochester or the International League.”

Deal returned to Rochester for a third season as manager in 1959. On Aug. 1, he resigned after Rochester lost 20 of 25 and was replaced by Reds pitching coach Clyde King. Reds manager Fred Hutchinson then hired Deal to be Cincinnati’s pitching coach.

Deal coached for 15 years in the big leagues, including serving as pitching coach for manager Johnny Keane with the 1965 Yankees.

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Why Cardinals traded Tommy Herr to Twins in 1988

Posted in Executives, Hitters, Trades, Uncategorized on April 19, 2013| 14 Comments »

(Updated June 11, 2024)

Desperate for a power-hitting right fielder and feeling the sting of the defection of free-agent Jack Clark, the Cardinals stunned nearly everyone when they traded second baseman Tommy Herr, a stalwart of their three pennant-winning teams of the 1980s, to the defending World Series champion Twins in 1988.

tom_herrAs he departed, Herr said he hoped to return to the Cardinals as their manager.

When he arrived in Minnesota, Herr told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, “I tried to take the trade like a man, but when the plane left St. Louis I cried like a baby for a half hour.”

Surprise move

On April 22, 1988, Herr was dealt to Minnesota for outfielder Tom Brunansky. The trade was announced after the Mets beat St. Louis, 4-0, dropping the Cardinals’ record to 4-11.

Joe Durso of the New York Times wrote, “It stunned Herr and his teammates as they came into the locker room. Herr was asked to step into manager Whitey Herzog’s office, where he received the news from Herzog and Dal Maxvill, the Cardinals’ general manager.”

Said Herr: “Sure, I’m shocked. I’ve loved my years as a Cardinal and it’s hard to say goodbye.”

Acknowledging it was difficult to inform Herr of the trade, Herzog told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Tommy always knew he was my type of player from day one. It was tough.”

Herr played 10 seasons (1979-88) with the Cardinals, batting .274 with 1,021 hits in 1,029 games. He was the starting second baseman on the pennant-winning clubs of 1982, 1985 and 1987. He was an all-star in 1985 when he placed third in the National League in both RBI (110) and doubles (38). Herr ranked among the top three second basemen in the league in fielding percentage six times.

“It’s not an easy thing trading a great ballplayer and a fine gentleman,” Maxvill said to the Associated Press.

Mets third baseman Howard Johnson told the Post-Dispatch, “I think the Cardinals have dealt themselves a blow. A guy like Tommy Herr is a pretty valuable part of your ballclub.”

Three factors prompted the trade:

Factor No. 1

The Cardinals’ top run producer, Clark, signed with the Yankees after the 1987 season. Jim Lindeman, the 1988 Opening Day right fielder, was headed to the disabled list because of back spasms. The Cardinals were averaging 2.8 runs per game. Brunansky, who hit 20 or more home runs in six consecutive seasons (1982-87) for the Twins, provided a much-needed power source.

“The deciding factor was our (poor) run production,” Maxvill said to the Associated Press. “Brunansky can help.”

Cardinals pitcher John Tudor told the Post-Dispatch, “It was kind of pleasant to see that they’re trading to win instead of sitting on their attendance.”

Factor No. 2

The Cardinals feared Herr would depart for free agency. Herr was in the final season of a four-year contract. After losing reliever Bruce Sutter and Clark to free agency, the Cardinals were determined to get value in return for Herr before he could depart.

Herzog told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, “We just can’t keep losing players like that. It was something we felt had to be done right now.”

“I could see the writing on the wall,” Herr said to the Post-Dispatch, “but I didn’t think it would happen this soon.”

Said Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez, who played with Herr on the 1982 World Series champion Cardinals: “If they had Clark, Tommy Herr’s on the team.”

Herzog told the Post-Dispatch, “If they’d tell me they were going to re-sign him, then who knows what we’d do?”

Regarding whether the Cardinals ever did have interest in re-signing him before he became eligible for free agency, Herr said, “I knew I’d find out sooner or later what the thinking was here. It was sooner rather than later.”

Factor No. 3

The Cardinals had a replacement for Herr. Luis Alicea, a first-round selection of the Cardinals in the 1986 draft, was promoted from Class AAA Louisville to replace Herr at second base.

“We think we have a fine young man who is ready to be an everyday player here in Alicea,” Maxvill said to United Press International.

Timely chat

Twins general manager Andy MacPhail told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune he made a social phone call to Maxvill on April 21. “At the time, I didn’t think there was any chance of a trade,” MacPhail said.

As the conversation evolved, MacPhail mentioned the Twins needed a left-handed batter for the top of their order.

“He made it clear he couldn’t trade Willie McGee or Vince Coleman,” MacPhail said.

Herr, a switch-hitter, fit the need.

MacPhail said Maxvill asked about third baseman Gary Gaetti and outfielder Kirby Puckett.

“I told him I wouldn’t trade Gaetti and that my house would be burned to the ground if I traded Puckett,” MacPhail said.

Familiar foe

The Twins had defeated the Cardinals in a seven-game World Series in October 1987. Six months later, they were swapping position starters.

“I will miss Tom Brunansky,” Gaetti said. “It’s like a cold shower and a slap in the face at the same time.”

Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Sid Hartman reported, “Twins officials maintain Brunansky’s speed is down from last year, that he hasn’t covered the ground in right field as well and that his arm is not as strong.”

Herzog told the Post-Dispatch, “To tell you the truth, the only time I’ve ever seen Brunansky play in person was in the World Series, but over the last 10 years he’s always had pretty good bat potential and he’s had good power statistics. He’s always been a good outfielder with a good throwing arm.”

Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Dan Barreiro wrote, “Brunansky had his limitations, we all know how streaky he could be, but he still was a hitter with power numbers.”

For Brunansky, the trade was the chance for a new adventure. “It’s going to be exciting,” he said.

For Herr, the trade took him away from his professional roots and a place he had hoped to grow his career. “I’m proud of the accomplishments I’ve had here,” Herr said before leaving. “I wanted to play my whole career here. That dream has gone. It’s been a good time. Maybe I’ll be back and manage this ballclub.”

Years later, when asked about Herzog, Herr told Cardinals Magazine, “Whitey had a profound effect on me. He was the guy who gave me my shot as a regular … The confidence he showed in me really put me over the top.”

 

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Why Cardinals dealt ace Dizzy Dean to Cubs

Posted in Opponents, Pitchers, Trades on April 12, 2013| 1 Comment »

(Updated April 16, 2020)

Dizzy Dean was a weakened pitcher who was feuding with his manager, but when the Cardinals traded him to the Cubs on the eve of a season opener it was a surprise to nearly everyone.

dizzy_dean4On April 16, 1938, Dean was dealt to the Cubs for $185,000 and three players, pitchers Curt Davis and Clyde Shoun and outfielder Tuck Stainback.

“The deal hit like a lightning bolt from the blue, for there had not been even the slightest indication the famous and eccentric pitcher had been on the block,” the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported.

Dean, 28, had a 134-75 record in seven Cardinals seasons, including 30-7 in 1934 when he carried them to a World Series title. Dean won twice in the 1934 World Series against the Tigers, including a six-hit shutout in the decisive Game 7.

Reasons to deal

From 1935-37, the Cardinals finished second, second and fourth. When the Cubs approached Cardinals owner Sam Breadon and executive Branch Rickey about a deal for Dean during spring training in 1938, there was interest because:

_ Damaged arm. During the 1937 All-Star Game, a ball hit by Earl Averill of the Indians struck Dean on the left foot and broke his toe. Dean pitched again too soon after the injury. Compensating for the damaged toe, he altered his pitching motion and weakened his right arm, essentially losing his devastating fastball.

In the book “Ol’ Diz: A biography of Dizzy Dean,” author Vince Staten wrote, “Rickey was convinced Diz’s career was over and he was upfront with the Cubs about Diz … The Cubs knew they were getting damaged goods.”

When informed of the trade, Giants manager Bill Terry told the Chicago Tribune, “I do not believe Branch Rickey would get rid of the pitcher Dean was two years ago. If he were still a man who could win 20 to 30 games, I think he would have stayed with the Cardinals. Rickey must know he is through as a great pitcher and has got what he can for him.”

_ Feuds with Frisch. Dean and Cardinals manager Frankie Frisch feuded often. After they had a couple of run-ins during spring training in 1938, the Cardinals decided to act.

“The pitcher and his manager … were embroiled in more than the usual amount of bickering during the training season, with the result that the Cardinals believed that Dizzy’s value to them was dubious, at best,” International News Service reported. “The situation finally reached a point where either Dean or Frisch had to go.”

Wrote The Sporting News: “Renewed trouble with manager Frankie Frisch … finally moved Sam Breadon and Branch Rickey to sell their star of stars.”

On the day of the trade, the Associated Press reported Dean saying to Frisch, “Frankie, I want you to know I’ve enjoyed playing for you.”

Replied Frisch, “Diz, I’m sorry to see you go.”

A Cardinals player, witnessing the exchange, said loud enough for others to hear, “Bunk.”

_ Bigger than team. Rickey and Breadon decided Dean was taking too much credit for team successes and focusing too much attention on self.

“Even when he’s good, one pitcher doesn’t make a club,” Rickey said.

Said Breadon: “I think the team will be a 23-player club now and not a Dizzy Dean club.”

Cubs come calling

When the Cubs first approached the Cardinals about Dean, they offered two players and $150,000, The Sporting News reported. The Cardinals countered with a demand of two players and $200,000. A compromise was reached when the Cubs added Stainback to the deal, giving the Cardinals three players, plus $185,000.

The deal was completed in a phone call between Rickey and Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley while the Cardinals were defeating the Browns, 10-7, in an exhibition game at St. Louis on April 16. The trade was announced immediately after the game, stunning Cardinals players.

“There goes our pennant and World Series money,” Pepper Martin said.

Said fellow outfielder Terry Moore: “Yeah, we’d have been a cinch with Diz.”

Dean told his teammates, “I hate to leave you guys, but I bet that fellow Wrigley will give me more money than I was getting here.”

Replied Martin: “Yeah, maybe Wrigley will buy you a yacht, too, so you can float around on Lake Michigan.”

Informed the Cardinals got a lot of money from the Cubs in the deal, Martin told the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, “You can’t play cash on the baseball field.”

Cubs manager Charlie Grimm told the Chicago Tribune the trade was “a dandy” and said, “We now have a stop pitcher and that’s something we lacked.”

Dean told the Associated Press, “The deal came as a surprise and I haven’t quite got over it yet, but I’m tickled to be playing under Grimm.”

Money ball

In his book, Staten wrote, “The trade would help both clubs in other ways. The $185,000 covered the Cards’ entire season payroll. And Diz helped the Cubs fill the seats at Wrigley Field.”

Also, Rickey had a personal incentive to trade top players for cash because his contract called for him to get a percentage of the sale as remuneration in addition to his salary.

According to the St. Louis Star-Times and St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Rickey tried to acquire fireball pitcher Van Lingle Mungo from the Dodgers after dealing Dean, but it didn’t work out. Rickey also contacted the Phillies about pitchers Claude Passeau and Bucky Walters, but came up empty there, too, the Star-Times reported.

Though sidelined for most of May, June and July, Dean was effective when he pitched in 1938. He was 7-1 with a 1.81 ERA in 13 games for the 1938 Cubs, who won the National League pennant.

The Cardinals stumbled to a sixth-place finish and Frisch was fired in September before the season ended.

Dean, however, never regained the form that made him a sensation with St. Louis. He was 9-7 over the next three seasons with Chicago.

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The story of how Mark Whiten joined Cardinals

Posted in Games, Hitters, Pitchers, Trades on March 18, 2013| 6 Comments »

In a tragic twist of fate, a deadly boating accident during spring training led the Cardinals to acquire outfielder Mark Whiten.

mark_whitenOn March 22, 1993, Indians pitcher Steve Olin was killed and pitchers Tim Crews and Bob Ojeda were injured severely in a boating accident on a Florida lake. Crews died the next day.

After the accident, Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill called his counterpart with the Indians, John Hart, who asked whether pitcher Rene Arocha was available. Maxvill replied, “No.”

“He said, ‘We really need pitching now,’ ” Maxvill told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I said, ‘Which one of our pitchers are you interested in?’ And he said, ‘Anybody, really.’ ”

Maxvill wanted an outfielder to back up projected starters Ray Lankford, Brian Jordan and Bernard Gilkey. Maxvill was about to make a deal for Braves outfielder Keith Mitchell, who was ticketed to open the 1993 season in the Atlanta farm system.

Hart was offering to trade Whiten, the Indians’ starting right fielder, to the Cardinals if Maxvill would offer a pitcher Hart liked.

Maxvill and Hart had discussed a possible deal during the winter meetings in December 1992. At that time, Hart asked about pitcher Mark Clark, who was 3-10 with a 4.45 ERA for the 1992 Cardinals.

Remembering that exchange, Maxvill offered Clark to the Indians. Hart wanted a second player added to the deal. When Maxvill suggested minor-league infielder Juan Andujar, Hart accepted.

Maxvill contacted the Braves and nixed the proposed trade for Mitchell. On March 31, seven days before the 1993 season opener, the Cardinals sent Clark and Andujar to Cleveland for Whiten.

“It was a shock for me,” Whiten said of the trade.

Whiten, 26, was joining his third major-league club. (He had played for the Blue Jays before joining the Indians.) He had a strong throwing arm, speed and power, but generally was considerd a raw talent. “I’m still learning,” Whiten conceded.

The acquistion of Whiten ended Ozzie Canceso’s spring training quest to make the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster as a reserve outfielder. Canseco produced four home runs and 14 RBI for St. Louis in spring training exhibition games, but admitted, “My defense is lacking … It’s something I realize I have to improve.”

Whiten became a standout for the 1993 Cardinals, generating 25 home runs, 99 RBI and 15 stolen bases. On Sept. 7, 1993, in the second game of a doubleheader at Cincinnati, Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 while batting sixth in the order. Whiten, who hit a grand slam, two three-run home runs and a two-run home run, tied the major-league single-game RBI record established by Cardinals first baseman Jim Bottomley in 1924. Boxscore

Clark finished 7-5 with a 4.28 ERA for the 1993 Indians. In three seasons with Cleveland, Clark was 27-15. Andujar never reached the big leagues.

In two seasons with St. Louis, Whiten had 39 home runs and 152 RBI. On April 9, 1995, the Cardinals traded Whiten and pitcher Rheal Cormier to the Red Sox for third baseman Scott Cooper and pitcher Cory Bailey.

Previously: Mark Whiten, Josh Hamilton: Same feat, different path

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Cardinals gambled, lost with Ray Busse at shortstop

Posted in Games, Hitters, Trades on March 5, 2013| 4 Comments »

(Updated Nov. 27, 2018)

In 1973, the Cardinals lost a gamble when they selected Ray Busse as their starting shortstop.

ray_busseBusse was a top prospect in the Astros system when he hit .271 with 13 home runs in 92 games for Class AAA Oklahoma City in 1971. Bob Kennedy, the Cardinals’ director of player development, rated Busse the best shortstop in the minor leagues that year, The Sporting News reported.

Misfortune struck in 1972. Busse’s father committed suicide. Busse suffered a shoulder injury. Limited to 70 games, Busse hit .207 and committed 27 errors for Oklahoma City in 1972.

Cardinals general manager Bing Devine went to baseball’s winter meetings in November 1972 determined to find  “a shortstop with some sting in his bat,” The Sporting News reported. The Cardinals were seeking a replacement for Dal Maxvill, who they traded to the Athletics in August 1972.

Harry Walker, who joined the Cardinals as a hitting instructor after managing the Astros, recommended Busse. So did Kennedy.

On Nov. 28, 1972, the Cardinals dealt catcher Skip Jutze and infielder Milt Ramirez to the Astros for Busse and infielder Bobby Fenwick.

“Walker considers Busse a good gamble because of his age (24) and his batting potential,” Devine told The Sporting News.

Said Kennedy: “He (Busse) has a fine arm, good range and could become a good hitter.”

Busse went to spring training in competition with Mick Kelleher, Mike Tyson, Dwain Anderson and Ed Crosby for the starting shortstop position and “quickly took charge of the shortstop sweepstakes,” The Sporting News reported.

In his first spring training at-bat for the Cardinals, Busse singled in a run. Soon after, he hit a three-run home run against the Mets’ Ray Sadecki. Busse completed spring training as the Cardinals’ leader in RBI (11) and hit .254.

Though he ended spring training in an 0-for-18 slump, the Cardinals named him their starting shortstop. “He’s done a real fine job,” Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst told Larry Harnly of The State Journal-Register of Springfield, Ill. “He’s done everything expected of him … If you make a mistake on Busse, he’ll hit that ball.”

The Cardinals opened the 1973 regular season on April 6 at Pittsburgh with an all-rookie left side of the infield (Ken Reitz was at third base).

It was a disaster for Busse from the beginning.

Busse made an error on the first ball hit to him _ a grounder by Pirates leadoff batter Rennie Stennett in the first inning. Busse went 1-for-4, made two errors and the Pirates won, 7-5. Boxscore

The Cardinals lost 20 of their first 25 games. Busse took much of the blame.

On May 14, 1973, fans booed Busse and Reitz throughout a 10-5 Phillies victory at St. Louis. The loss dropped the Cardinals’ record to 8-23. Busse was batting .143 with 21 strikeouts in 24 games and he had committed 11 errors. Boxscore

After the game, Reitz shrugged off the boos when approached by reporters. Busse responded to the booing by saying, “Often I wonder what we come to the ballpark for. When you’re down, it’s pretty easy for somebody to get down on you, but that’s when you need them (the fans) the most.”

Busse never appeared in another game for the Cardinals. Schoendienst named Tyson the starting shortstop. Busse remained on the bench until the Cardinals traded him back to the Astros for infielder Stan Papi on June 8, 1973.

Asked by The Sporting News whether he had been given a fair shot by the Cardinals, Busse replied, “No, but that’s nobody’s fault but my own.”

Astros manager Leo Durocher said, “We’re tickled to get him back.”

Busse never recovered. He hit .059 in 15 games for the Astros in 1973 and .206 in 19 games for them in 1974, his last season in the major leagues.

 

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