RetroSimba

Though speedy, Curt Flood was no Lou Brock as base stealer

December 26, 2013 by retrosimba

An email exchange among members of the Society for American Baseball Research offered a statistic about Curt Flood that surprised me.

In 1958, his rookie season with the Cardinals, Flood attempted 14 stolen bases and was caught 12 times.

Flood had speed. Even if some of the failed steal attempts were botched hit-and-run plays, he should have been successful more than twice in 14 tries in 1958.

In a March 5, 1958, article headlined “Flood Can Run _ Cards Hoping For Great Jump, Too,” The Sporting News reported Johnny Temple, Flood’s manager in the 1957 winter league in Venezuela, told Cardinals general manager Bing Devine that Flood “is one of the best I’ve seen in baserunning.”

But that speed didn’t transform him into a top base stealer.

Flood, 20, was caught stealing in his first attempt of 1958, was successful on his second and then had just one steal in his last 12 tries. He was unsuccessful in his last eight consecutive steal attempts.

Flood’s two steals in 1958 came against the Pirates and the battery of pitcher Bob Friend and catcher Danny Kravitz on May 24 Boxscore and against the Reds and the battery of pitcher Don Newcombe and catcher Ed Bailey on June 18. Boxscore

Bailey also nailed Flood twice that season (both times with Brooks Lawrence pitching).

Four other catchers also twice threw out Flood attempting to steal in 1958: Joe Pignatano of the Dodgers, John Roseboro of the Dodgers and Carl Sawatski of the Phillies. Don Drysdale was the pitcher who teamed with Roseboro on both plays.

Other catchers who caught Flood trying to steal in 1958: Del Crandall of the Braves, Joe Lonnett and Stan Lopata, both of the Phillies and Sammy Taylor of the Cubs.

Flood never developed into an exceptional base stealer. In 12 seasons with the Cardinals, Flood had 88 steals and was caught 72 times. That’s a success rate of 55 percent.

By comparison, his teammate, Lou Brock, had 888 steals in 1,173 attempts during his 16 Cardinals seasons. That’s a success rate of 75 percent.

In 1963, Flood had a single-season career high of 17 steals for the Cardinals. He was caught 12 times that year.

His most successful single-season rate was when he had 14 steals in 21 attempts for the 1966 Cardinals. That’s a success rate of 66 percent.

Previously: George Crowe: mentor to Curt Flood

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Cards turned from skeptics to supporters of Bob Tewksbury

December 23, 2013 by retrosimba

In 1988, Bob Tewksbury was a soft-tossing pitcher with a history of elbow and shoulder ailments. When the Cardinals signed him to a minor-league contract as a free agent in December that year, they had no idea they were acquiring an ace.

After stints with the Yankees and Cubs, Tewksbury had arthroscopic surgery in July 1988 to repair damaged cartilage in his right shoulder. Still aching, Tewksbury, 28, said he had considered retiring from baseball that winter. His wife convinced him to continue playing.

His signing by the Cardinals received little mention outside of a line of agate type in the transactions listings. He was assigned to Class AAA Louisville and placed in the starting rotation.

Displaying sharp control and an array of breaking pitches, Tewksbury was 5-1 in his first 10 starts for Louisville. In May 1989, Ted Simmons, the Cardinals’ director of player development, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Tewksbury was the minor-league pitcher most ready to join the Cardinals.

Others in the Cardinals organization didn’t agree. Tewksbury remained at Louisville. By mid-August, he was 11-4 with a 2.47 ERA in 24 starts.

Low velocity

Surprised by the Cardinals’ lack of interest, Vahe Gregorian of the Post-Dispatch wrote, “Maybe it’s because his fastball would bounce off a thin plane of glass. Maybe it’s because no one is certain he’s recovered from having the goop scooped out of his right shoulder last year.”

Tewksbury’s fastball usually was recorded at no better than 85 mph.

“I don’t know if he can make some kind of difference here (in St. Louis),” Cardinals general manager Dal Maxvill said. “He’s performed decently down there, but I don’t know that he could come here and replace somebody in our rotation. He’s not a velocity guy, so it’s difficult to project what he’d do here.”

Said Tewksbury: “I’m the type of pitcher you have to see more than once to appreciate. I’m not going to impress you the first time you see me because I don’t throw hard. But I know how to pitch and now I just need to get over that hump.”

Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog never had seen Tewksbury pitch, but seemed unenthused when asked about Tewksbury in mid-August. “My people tell me he would have to be perfect to come up here,” Herzog said. “I don’t want to sound like I’m down on the guy, but no other teams have expressed an interest in him either. There’s just such a big difference between Triple A and the big leagues.”

Tewksbury finished the minor-league season at Louisville with a 13-5 record and 2.43 ERA in 28 starts. He was promoted to the Cardinals in September. Said Herzog: “I don’t know if Tewksbury can pitch up here … but we ought to take a look.”

Take that, Whitey

On Sept. 5, 1989, Tewksbury made his Cardinals debut, pitching an inning of scoreless relief against the Expos at St. Louis. “He was exactly what we’d heard about him,” Herzog said. “He throws a lot of breaking balls.” Boxscore

After two more relief appearances, Tewksbury was given a start against the Pirates in a game that had been rescheduled because of a rainout. “I don’t really expect too much out of him,” Herzog said.

Undeterred, Tewksbury limited the Pirates to a run in 4.2 innings before he was lifted with the score tied at 1-1. The Pirates won, 4-3, but Tewksbury impressed.

“Tewksbury did his job,” Herzog said.

Said Tewksbury: ” I was satisfied. I wanted to keep us in the game and I did that.” Boxscore

Five days later, Tewksbury pitched a four-hit shutout, earning his first Cardinals win, in a 5-0 St. Louis victory over the Expos at Montreal. Tewksbury also produced his first big-league hit and RBI with a sixth-inning single off Andy McGaffigan that scored Todd Zeile from third.

“Tewksbury befuddled the Expos with a variety of off-speed pitches,” reported the Post-Dispatch.

Said Herzog: “He did a hell of a job tonight. He got his breaking ball over all the time. He throws a curve and a slider and not too many guys do that.” Boxscore

In seven games for the 1989 Cardinals, Tewksbury was 1-0 with a 3.30 ERA.

Less than a year after contemplating retirement, Tewksbury had established he was a big-league talent. “The one thing that’s gotten me this far is perseverance,” he said.

Tewksbury posted double-digit wins in each of the next five seasons for St. Louis. He was named an all-star in 1992 and led the National League in winning percentage that season at .762 with a 16-5 record.

In the six seasons he pitched for the Cardinals (1989-94), Tewksbury was 67-46 with a 3.48 ERA in 154 games.

“Tewksbury doesn’t have the greatest fastball in the world, but he knows how to use it,” catcher Tom Pagnozzi told Cardinals Yearbook in 1993. “He just jams a lot of guys when he’s throwing 83 mph to 86 mph. It looks faster because nobody gets a good swing at it.”

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Collision with Cardinal almost cost Mark Ellis a leg

December 20, 2013 by retrosimba

Mark Ellis nearly lost a leg when injured playing against the Cardinals.

Less than two years later, a healthy Ellis has joined the Cardinals as a reserve infielder and mentor to second baseman Kolten Wong.

Ellis, 36, a free-agent second baseman, signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Dec. 16, 2013. In 11 big-league seasons with the Athletics, Rockies and Dodgers, Ellis has a .265 batting average and 1,311 hits. He ranks third in fielding percentage among active major-league second basemen at .9907, behind Placido Polanco (.9927) and Dustin Pedroia (.9909).

On May 18, 2012, Ellis was playing second base for the Dodgers against the Cardinals at Los Angeles. In the seventh inning, with the score tied at 4-4, Tyler Greene was the baserunner at first for the Cardinals when Shane Robinson grounded to shortstop.

Dee Gordon fielded the ball and tossed it to Ellis, covering second. Greene slid into Ellis, who landed hard on his lower left leg.

Ellis remained in the game and lined out leading off the bottom of the seventh. When the pain and swelling in his leg increased, Ellis was replaced before the start of the eighth. The Dodgers won, 6-5. Boxscore

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly called the play “clean” and “a good, hard slide,” reported Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Greene said he wasn’t trying to hurt Ellis. “There’s nothing going on there,” Greene said. “You’re trying to break up the double play. I don’t think he anticipated me being there as soon as I was. The way he came off the bag into the baseline he almost went right in front of it. I think he mistimed it.”

The next day, before the Cardinals played the Dodgers, Ellis told trainer Sue Falsone the leg still was causing pain. After an examination, Falsone and the Dodgers medical staff got Ellis to a hospital.

Doctors determined Ellis needed an emergency fasciotomy. Surgeons cut a six-inch incision into Ellis’ left calf to drain blood and fluid, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Mattingly said he was told by the team’s physician, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, that Ellis might have required amputation of the leg had he not undergone the urgent fasciotomy, MLB.com reported.

“Doc said that if that thing goes another six or seven hours (Ellis) has a chance to lose a leg,” Mattingly said.

Ellis spent five days in the hospital. When the swelling went down, Ellis was diagnosed with a sprained medial collateral ligament, according to the Orange County Register.

On July 4, 2012, Ellis returned to the Dodgers’ lineup and resumed being the everyday second baseman. He played 110 games in 2012 and produced 107 hits. In 910.1 innings at second base that season, Ellis committed only three errors.

Previously: How Cardinals pursued trade for Don Mattingly

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Frank Thomas let his bat do talking vs. Cardinals

December 18, 2013 by retrosimba

(Updated Jan. 8, 2014)

Frank Thomas spent his 19-year big-league career in the American League, which is fortunate for the Cardinals, because they were limited to facing him in interleague competition.

In 12 games against the Cardinals from 1997-2000, the White Sox slugger punished St. Louis pitching. His .372 career batting mark versus the Cardinals (16-for-43) is his highest against any opponent whom he has 50 at-bats against.

Thomas, a first baseman and designated hitter for the White Sox, Athletics and Blue Jays from 1990-2008, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Jan. 8, 2014.

A two-time winner of the American League Most Valuable Player Award, Thomas hit .301 with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI in his big-league career. He won an American League batting title (with .347 in 1997) and four times topped the league in on-base percentage.

Thomas’ last game against the Cardinals was one of the best of his career. He tied a career-high with six RBI in a 15-7 White Sox victory on July 15, 2000. Boxscore

It was one of only two times Thomas achieved six RBI in a game. He first did it on May 15, 1996, against the Brewers. Boxscore

Thomas got his six RBI against the Cardinals on two swings: a three-run home run in the first inning off Darryl Kile and a three-run double in the seventh off Mike Matthews.

The performance showed how Thomas had emerged as a White Sox leader.

In 1999, Thomas had feuded with White Sox manager Jerry Manuel. The two also got into a shouting match during spring training in 2000, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“Manuel essentially challenged Thomas to take an active role in the club, to be a teammate to the young players,” the Post-Dispatch reported.

Thomas rose to that challenge in what was a contentious Cardinals-White Sox series in July 2000. Three Cardinals batters (Fernando Tatis twice and Fernando Vina once) were hit by pitches in the July 14 game against the White Sox. Boxscore

The next day, Tatis and teammate Eduardo Perez were hit by pitches and so, too, were Magglio Ordonez and Jose Valentin of the White Sox. It was after Valentin was plunked that Thomas hit his bases-clearing double, capping his six-RBI performance, and sending a message to his teammates.

“Being the leader has definitely been my role,” Thomas said. “I had to embrace that. It’s been a challenging year for me … Maybe I was down for a while and wasn’t motivated. I said to myself I was going to give my best, day in and day out, and be the best possible teammate I can be.”

Previously: As player, Robin Ventura was tough on Cardinals

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Tom Glavine, Cardinals composed postseason classics

December 16, 2013 by retrosimba

(Updated June 16, 2023)

Tom Glavine was at the center of some of the biggest postseason highs and lows for the Cardinals during Tony La Russa’s era as manager.

Glavine was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Jan. 8, 2014.

In a big-league career for the Braves and Mets from 1987-2008, the left-handed pitcher had a 305-203 record, won two Cy Young awards, led the National League in wins five times and posted double-digit wins 14 years in a row (1989-2002).

Glavine dominated the Cardinals. His 20-6 career record against St. Louis in the regular season represented a .769 winning percentage, Glavine’s highest versus any National League foe.

From September 2000 to September 2008, Glavine allowed one regular-season home run to a Cardinal. It was hit on May 18, 2004, by Mike Matheny. Boxscore

In the postseason, Glavine was 2-3 against the Cardinals. His most memorable playoff performances versus St. Louis occurred in the National League Championship Series of 1996 and 2006.

Big hit in big game

Glavine was the starting and losing pitcher for the Braves in Game 3 of the 1996 NL Championship Series. Donovan Osborne started for St. Louis and was the winner in a 3-2 Cardinals victory. Boxscore

Game 7 was a rematch of Osborne vs. Glavine _ and Glavine delivered with his arm and his bat.

In the first inning, the Braves were ahead, 3-0, and had the bases loaded with two outs and Glavine at bat. Andy Benes was warming up in the bullpen and ready to relieve, but La Russa stuck with Osborne.

Said La Russa to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “I second-guess myself as much as anybody, but there’s no way I’d get Osborne out with the bottom of the lineup up.”

Glavine lined an Osborne pitch to left field. Ron Gant attempted a diving catch but missed. The ball got past Gant and into the corner. Glavine raced to third with a three-run triple, giving the Braves a 6-0 lead and deflating the Cardinals.

“That base hit was a big base hit in the ballgame,” Glavine said. “If St. Louis gets out of it trailing only 3-0, they’re still in the ballgame.”

Said Gant: “It was one of those plays that was do or die. If you let it drop, they’re going to score a couple runs anyway. Just go all out. See if you can get to it. An inch away, I think.”

Glavine shut out the Cardinals on three hits for seven innings before he was relieved and the Braves coasted to a 15-0 victory, winning the pennant and advancing to the World Series against the Yankees.

“I don’t think we expected to be as dominant as we were,” Glavine said. Boxscore

Old Man River

Ten years later, Glavine, 40, was pitching for the Mets against the Cardinals in the 2006 NL Championship Series. He was superb in Game 1, keeping the Cardinals off balance with a mix of changeups and fastballs on the outside corner. Glavine pitched seven scoreless innings, limiting St. Louis to four hits, and got the win in a 2-0 Mets victory. Boxscore

In his book, “Baseball for Brain Surgeons and Other Fans,” broadcaster and former Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver said, “Glavine is so consistent that he can throw two inches off the plate and get strike calls. When hitters move toward the plate to be able to reach those pitches that are being called strikes, he comes inside enough to keep them honest.

“In the absence of velocity, Glavine relies on a controlled fastball and, for deception, a circle change. He’s like a golfer who never gets much distance on his drives but is always in the fairway.”

With the best-of-seven series squared at 2-2, Glavine was paired against his Game 1 counterpart, Jeff Weaver, in the pivotal Game 5. It would be Glavine’s 35th postseason start, a major league record.

Glavine cruised through the first three innings. The Mets led, 2-0, as the Cardinals came to bat in the bottom of the fourth.

With one out, Albert Pujols crushed a home run off Glavine and snapped the Cardinals out of their funk.

Wrote Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz: “The Cardinals began taking pitches. They started to stroke the ball to the opposite field.”

The Cardinals tied the score in the fourth and went ahead, 3-2, in the fifth, knocking Glavine out of the game. The Cardinals went on to a 4-2 victory. Boxscore

Under the headline “Cardinals Put Mets’ Aging Artist on Canvas,” Miklasz observed, “The more intelligent the Cardinals’ approach, the more Glavine gave way. By the end of his start, the classy future Hall of Famer was like one of those old barges on the Mississippi River, stalled on a sandbar.”

It was only the second time Glavine had lost a postseason game in which he was given a lead of two runs.

Inspired, the Cardinals dispatched the Mets in seven games and went on to defeat the Tigers in five to earn their first World Series championship in 24 years.

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How the Cardinals battled Greg Maddux

December 12, 2013 by retrosimba

(Updated Jan. 8, 2014)

Greg Maddux lost to the Cardinals more than he did against any other club.

That doesn’t diminish the career accomplishments of Maddux, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America on Jan. 8, 2014.

Rather it’s a tribute to the Cardinals for often solving a pitcher who dominated the sport throughout the 1990s.

The Cardinals beat Maddux 22 times _ 20 in the regular season and twice in the postseason. The Phillies came closest to matching St. Louis, beating Maddux 20 times in the regular season and once in the postseason.

Maddux, who pitched for the Cubs, Braves, Dodgers and Padres from 1986-2008, was 26-20 with a 2.84 ERA versus the Cardinals in the regular season and 1-2 in the postseason.

The right-hander had the most regular-season wins in his career against the Mets (35) and Giants (31).

In his 23 seasons in the big leagues, Maddux was 355-227 in the regular season. He won four consecutive Cy Young awards (1992-95), 18 Gold Glove awards and led the National League in ERA four times. He posted at least 15 wins in 17 consecutive seasons (1988-2006).

Several players who spent at least parts of their careers with the Cardinals hit well against Maddux. Among the best: Pedro Guerrero, .405 (17-for-42); Albert Pujols, .341 (14-for-41); Vince Coleman, .328 (20-for-61); Jose Oquendo, .317 (13-for-41); Edgar Renteria, .314 (16-for-51) and Scott Rolen, .314 (22-for-70).

Power vs. pitching

Ray Lankford hit four career home runs against Maddux (three as a Cardinal; one as a Padre) and Pujols hit three homers (all as a Cardinal) versus Maddux.

One of those home runs by Pujols came in a game when the Cardinals hit three off Maddux.

On July 9, 2004, Renteria, Pujols and Jim Edmonds each hit a solo homer against Maddux in a 6-1 Cardinals victory over the Cubs at St. Louis. Maddux yielded four runs and eight hits in six innings.

“I tip my hat to Renteria and Edmonds,” Maddux said to the Chicago Sun-Times. “I didn’t think they were bad pitches. Pujols, I left that up. It’s not surprising he hit it out.”

Bernie Miklasz, columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, credited Cardinals manager Tony La Russa for the rare rout of Maddux that night.

Wrote Miklasz: “La Russa protested after home plate umpire Derryl Cousins gave Cubs starter Greg Maddux a strike zone so large you could have driven the team bus through it. La Russa got ejected, which, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, prompted laughter from Cubs manager Dusty Baker. It might have been a coincidence, but the strike zone narrowed and the Cardinals teed off on Maddux.” Boxscore

Fast and effective

The best game Maddux pitched against the Cardinals was a two-hit shutout on Aug. 20, 1995, in a 1-0 Braves victory at St. Louis.

“That’s probably the best I’ve ever thrown,” Maddux told the Post-Dispatch. “That’s as good as I can throw the ball.”

Brian Jordan singled in the fifth and Danny Sheaffer doubled in the sixth for the lone St. Louis hits. It was the quickest big-league game of the 1995 season, finishing in 1:50.

“That happened so fast I don’t even think my wife made it in time,” Jordan said. “She usually doesn’t get here until the later innings.” Boxscore

Previously: Near no-hitter by Alan Benes became crushing loss

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