RetroSimba

Dave Philley: Pinch-hitter deluxe against Cardinals

March 22, 2012 by retrosimba

In an 18-year big-league career, Dave Philley spent three seasons in the National League and did some serious damage against the Cardinals.

One of the all-time best pinch-hitters, Philley was a career .270 batter who finished with 1,700 hits. The team against whom he had the highest batting average was the Cardinals.

Philley batted .370 (30-for-81) in 37 career games against the Cardinals. In 1959, playing for the Phillies, Philley blistered Cardinals pitching at a .422 clip (19-for-45).

A switch hitter, Philley made his big-league debut with the White Sox in 1941, served in the military and returned to the majors in 1946. He was an outfielder and first baseman with the White Sox, Athletics, Indians, Orioles and Tigers until joining the Phillies in 1958.

From 1957 through 1959, Philley was one of the premier pinch-hitters in the game. His batting averages as a pinch-hitter in those years:

_ .436 (17-for-39) in 1957 (White Sox and Tigers).

_ .409 (18-for-44) in 1958 (Phillies).

_ .395 (15-for-38) in 1959 (Phillies).

In 1958, Philley hit safely in eight consecutive pinch-hit appearances. When he got a pinch hit in his first appearance of 1959, Philley extended the streak to a major-league record nine.

In 1959, when he turned 40 in May, Philley pounded Cardinals pitching. It began in spring training when Philley ripped a pinch-hit grand slam against Sal Maglie of the Cardinals on March 29 at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Some of Philley’s many highlights versus the Cardinals in 1959:

_ May 5, 1959, Phillies 8, Cardinals 7, at Philadelphia: The Cardinals took a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Philadelphia rallied for five runs against starter Vinegar Bend Mizell and relievers Larry Jackson and Jim Brosnan. Boxscore

Philley, pinch-hitting for catcher Jim Hegan, contributed to the comeback with a RBI-single off Brosnan.

Cardinals manager Solly Hemus told The Sporting News the bullpen collapse was “the worst exhibition I ever saw _ terrible.”

_ June 6, 1959, Phillies 4, Cardinals 3, at Philadelphia: In the 10th inning, Philley, pinch-hitting for catcher Valmy Thomas with two outs and the bases loaded, singled to right against Lindy McDaniel, scoring Richie Ashburn from third for the victory. Boxscore

_ Aug. 9, 1959, Phillies 4, Cardinals 2, at St. Louis: In the ninth inning of the second game of a doubleheader, Philley, pinch-hitting for pitcher Jim Owens, singled to left off Marshall Bridges, driving in Joe Koppe from third with the tie-breaking run. Boxscore

“I’m a better hitter now than I ever was,” Philley said in a 1959 interview with The Sporting News, “and if I had known 10 years ago what I know now, I would have been able to make a potful of money out of this game.

“Of course, as you get older you get smarter up there at the plate and figure the pitchers better, but the main thing is that I’ve cut down on my swing. When I first came up and, in fact, until a few years ago, I was trying to hit home runs. I swung too hard and I had too long a swing. Now I’ve cut my swing down and I have control of the bat and I can wait longer on a pitch.”

In his book “Stan Musial: The Man’s Own Story,” Musial said Philley became “an outstanding pinch-hitter past 40 because he worked so hard to stay in shape.”

Philley was a mentor to the rookie second baseman of the 1959 Phillies, Sparky Anderson. The Sporting News reported Anderson, the future Hall of Fame manager of the Reds and Tigers, “has been one of the most consistent seekers of advice from Philley and believes Dave has helped him in many ways. The two usually sit together on the club’s plane rides and talk baseball by the hour.”

Previously: Cardinals’ collapse part of Larry Jackson’s painful 1961 season

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Why Cardinals career had sour ending for Julian Javier

March 18, 2012 by retrosimba

(Updated March 24, 2019)

The second baseman who participated in one of the happiest periods in Cardinals history parted with the franchise in an unhappy manner.

Only three players _ Frankie Frisch, Julian Javier and Tommy Herr _ have been the everyday second basemen on three Cardinals pennant winners. Javier started for the National League championship clubs of 1964, 1967 and 1968.

By 1972, Javier, 35, no longer was prominent in the Cardinals’ plans. Ted Sizemore had taken over as St. Louis’ second baseman and Ed Crosby was seen as a capable backup.

On March 24, 1972, the Cardinals traded Javier to the Reds for pitcher Tony Cloninger. Bob Howsam, who’d been Cardinals general manager before taking the same role with the Reds, acquired Javier to back up Joe Morgan at second base and Denis Menke at third.

After the deal was made, Javier indicated he was unhappy with general manager Bing Devine and manager Red Schoendienst for not getting the chance to play more in spring training and compete for a starting job.

“I feel too good, like 20, to be sitting around,” Javier said to the Associated Press.

During the off-season, Devine and Schoendienst had talked with Javier about his future and were of the impression Javier had agreed to a reserve role in 1972, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. “I thought Bing and I had a perfect understanding with Hoolie,” Schoendienst said to The Sporting News.

At spring training, however, Javier asked the Cardinals for his release because he was upset Schoendienst was taking a look at other candidates for a reserve infield role, according to Post-Dispatch sports editor Bob Broeg.

Javier told Schoendienst, “I think I can play everyday for two more years,” the Dayton Journal Herald reported.

Javier’s complaints prompted an uncharacteristic blast from Schoendienst, a former all-star second baseman. “Hoolie wasn’t in shape, didn’t want to play and scarcely could get the ball from second base to first, yet he wants to say we didn’t use him,” Schoendienst told Broeg. “I’m tired of people who don’t want to play but say they do.”

In 12 seasons (1960-71) with the Cardinals, Javier twice was named an all-star (1963 and 1968), twice led National League second basemen in putouts (1963 and 1964) and collected 1,450 hits.

A right-handed batter, Javier hit .299 against left-handed pitching during his major-league career.

Javier’s role with the Cardinals changed after the 1970 season when the club acquired Sizemore from the Dodgers for first baseman Dick Allen.

Javier was found to owe back taxes to the U.S. government, leading to speculation the native of the Dominican Republic could become entangled in a legal case that might jeopardize his career. However, Javier worked out a settlement on his tax problems. When he reported to spring training in 1971, he was 10 pounds lighter (at 180) and performed more like the player he’d been on those championship teams.

Because of an injury to Dal Maxvill, Sizemore opened the 1971 season at shortstop and Javier remained the starter at second base. Javier batted .309 in the first two months of the season, slumped and entered July at .234. Maxvill returned to shortstop and Sizemore moved to second, replacing Javier.

At spring training in 1972, the Cardinals determined they were ready to move on without Javier. The trade to the Reds turned out to be a blessing for him. Javier had several key hits for the Reds and helped them win the 1972 NL pennant. Among the highlights:

_ Reds 11, Cardinals, 2, May 13, at Cincinnati: Facing Cloninger, the pitcher for whom he was traded, Javier delivered a RBI-single, scoring Johnny Bench. Boxscore

_ Reds 4, Giants 3, May 16, at San Francisco: Starting at third base, Javier hit a three-run home run against left-hander Ron Bryant. Boxscore

_ Reds 6, Phillies 5, June 3, at Philadelphia: Javier hit a two-run home run against left-hander Steve Carlton, a former Cardinals teammate. It was the 78th and last homer of Javier’s big-league career. Boxscore

_ Reds 8, Mets 2, June 17, at Cincinnati: Facing another former Cardinals teammate, left-hander Ray Sadecki, Javier hit a two-run single. Boxscore

Javier capped his career by appearing in four games for the Reds against the Athletics in the 1972 World Series.

Posted in Games, Hitters, Trades, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Steve Carlton vs. Nolan Ryan: Fateful 1971 finale of aces

March 15, 2012 by retrosimba

(Updated Sept. 28, 2019)

At the time, the Cardinals’ game against the Mets on Sept. 28, 1971, seemed of little importance. In retrospect, it was a significantly historic matchup because of the starting pitchers involved and what happened to them after the season.

In the next-to-last game of the 1971 season for both teams, attendance that Tuesday afternoon at Shea Stadium was 3,338. The Cardinals were assured of finishing in second place in the National League East Division; the Mets were battling the Cubs for third.

The starting pitchers were Steve Carlton for the Cardinals and Nolan Ryan for the Mets. What no one knew was this would be the last game each would play for his team.

In trades each team long would regret, the Mets sent Ryan to the Angels in December 1971 and the Cardinals dealt Carlton to the Phillies in February 1972.

Each pitcher would go on to enjoy a spectacular career that earned enshrinement into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Carlton finished with 329 wins, 4,136 strikeouts and four Cy Young awards. Ryan finished with 324 wins, 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters.

Their pairing on Sept. 28, 1971, hardly was viewed as a matchup of baseball giants who should have been the cornerstones of their franchises for the next decade or more.

Instead, Carlton, 27, was seen by some as an underachiever. He had 19 losses the season before. Although he had experienced a turnaround in 1971, with 19 wins heading into the game against Ryan and the Mets, he’d lost two of his previous three decisions.

Like Carlton, Ryan, 24, clearly had talent but too often disappointed. He began the 1971 season with a big-league career record of 19-24. Entering the game against Carlton and the Cardinals, Ryan had won two of his last 13 starts and had a season record of 10-13.

Ryan’s lack of command hurt him immediately against the Cardinals. He walked the first four batters _ Lou Brock, Ted Sizemore, Matty Alou and Joe Torre, forcing in a run. When Ted Simmons followed with a single to right, scoring Sizemore and Alou, manager Gil Hodges lifted Ryan.

Ryan’s final appearance as a Met resulted in five batters faced, four walks and a hit without recording an out.

“It was the most distressing day of my life,” Ryan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I never was so embarrassed.”

Said Hodges: “It seemed he was just throwing the ball because it had to be thrown.”

The Cardinals scored twice in the second inning. Carlton ignited the offense with a leadoff single. Handed a 5-0 lead, Carlton clamped down on the Mets. He pitched a seven-hitter, striking out eight, as St. Louis won, 5-2, for its 90th victory of the season. Boxscore

Carlton (20-9) became a 20-game winner for the first time in the big leagues and the first Cardinals left-hander to achieve the feat since Ray Sadecki in 1964. The complete game was Carlton’s 18th in 36 starts that season.

“There was a lot of skepticism about me before the season,” Carlton said to The Sporting News. “A lot of people didn’t think I could bounce back after last year (and the 19 losses).”

Carlton credited an effective slider with enabling him to beat the Mets.

“The Mets are like the Giants and the Reds for me _ they all wait for my fastball,” said Carlton. “My slider was good when I was warming up, so I decided to go with it.”

Ryan (10-14) was the subject of trade speculation soon after the season ended, but in an Oct. 9, 1971, story in The Sporting News headlined, “Mets Swap Ryan? ‘No Way,’ Says Gil,” Hodges denied the Mets wanted to deal the pitcher.

“We never have given any consideration to trade Nolan Ryan,” Hodges said. “You cannot give up this easily on a guy who has as much talent as he has. You would hate to give up on him and then see him develop into what he can be with some other club.”

On Dec. 10, 1971, Mets general manager Bob Scheffing traded Ryan, outfielder Leroy Stanton, pitcher Don Rose and catcher Frank Estrada to the Angels for Jim Fregosi, a shortstop whom the Mets planned to move to third base.

After the deal was made, Hodges reiterated to The Sporting News his belief Ryan had all-star potential. “When or if or how he’s going to do it, I don’t know. But he’s got ability,” Hodges said.

Fregosi hit .232 for the Mets in 1972 and was dealt to the Rangers a year later. Ryan earned 19 wins with nine shutouts, 329 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA for the 1972 Angels.

Two months after the Mets traded Ryan, Carlton made contract demands, angering Cardinals owner Gussie Busch, who ordered general manager Bing Devine to trade Carlton.

In his book, “The Memoirs of Bing Devine,” Devine said, “Mr. Busch had a meeting with me and Dick Meyer, his right-hand man at Anheuser-Busch. And the team brain trust, if that’s what you want to call it, decided we ought to trade Carlton because we didn’t have him signed and he wanted too much money. Basically, Mr. Busch wanted him gone. I don’t want to cop a plea here, but getting rid of Carlton was not a deal that I initiated or tried to talk anybody into. It was just the relationship between Carlton and Mr. Busch.”

The Cardinals sent Carlton to the Phillies for pitcher Rick Wise on Feb. 25, 1972. Wise was 16-16 for the 1972 Cardinals. Carlton, pitching for a last-place Phillies team, was 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA, 329 strikeouts, nine shutouts and 30 complete games.

Previously: Mets messed with Steve Carlton’s sub-2.00 ERA

Posted in Games, Pitchers, Trades | 2 Comments »

As all-stars, only two hit Bob Gibson more than once

March 13, 2012 by retrosimba

Two players who battled Bob Gibson in World Series competition had the most success against him in All-Star Game showdowns.

Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski and Tigers catcher Bill Freehan are the only players to get more than one hit against Gibson in the six all-star appearances made by the Cardinals pitcher.

In 11 All-Star Game innings, Gibson gave up 11 hits to nine players.

Yastrzemski was 2-for-3 against Gibson in all-star competition. He had singles in the 1967 and 1970 games, and grounded out in the 1972 game.

In the 1967 World Series, Yastrzemski hit .273 (3-for-11) against Gibson, with two singles and a double.

Like Yastrzemski, Freehan also was 2-for-3 against Gibson as an all-star. He had a single in 1965, struck out in 1967 and delivered a RBI-single in 1969.

In the 1968 World Series, Freehan hit .111 (1-for-9) and struck out five times against Gibson, but the hit (a Game 7 double) drove in a run.

Here are the players who got hits against Gibson in all-star play:

_ Tom Tresh, Yankees (double, 1962)

_ Bill Freehan, Tigers (single, 1965; single, 1969)

_ Tony Oliva, Twins (double, 1965)

_ Carl Yastrzemski, Red Sox (single, 1967; single, 1970)

_ Don Mincher, Angels (single, 1967)

_ Sal Bando, Athletics (single, 1969)

_ Willie Horton, Tigers (single, 1970)

_ Brooks Robinson, Orioles (triple, 1970)

_ Reggie Jackson, Athletics (double, 1972)

Of the nine, Yastrzemski, Robinson and Jackson, like Gibson, are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Gibson earned his first all-star selection in 1962. In his book “Stranger to the Game,” Gibson expressed how important that selection was to his career: “To the surprise of many, including myself, I was named to my first National League all-star team. With that, the rehabilitation of my confidence was nearly complete … I loved the recognition _ it was bound to help me as a pitcher, I figured, by establishing my credentials in the eyes of the batters _ and soaked up the hoopla.”

In the 1965 All-Star Game, Gibson earned the save, holding the American League scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings of a 6-5 National League victory. Boxscore

The National League catcher was the Braves’ Joe Torre, who later became a teammate and friend of Gibson, but, at that time, Torre, like all opponents, was viewed as the enemy by Gibson, who never fraternized. Torre said Gibson wouldn’t speak to him during the All-Star Game.

In the clubhouse after the game, Torre offered his congratulations to Gibson, but “he didn’t acknowledge I was even in the neighborhood. … Baseball was war for him,” Torre told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Gibson was 0-0 with a 3.27 ERA and 10 strikeouts as an all-star. Among his strikeout victims were Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew of the Twins and Luis Aparicio of the White Sox, and sluggers such as Rocky Colavito of the Tigers and Tony Conigliaro of the Red Sox.

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How Stan Musial helped Cardinals rookie Howie Nunn

March 11, 2012 by retrosimba

In a short stint as a Cardinals pitcher, Howie Nunn benefitted from a couple of timely slugging performances by Stan Musial.

Nunn spent five seasons (1954-58) as a successful pitcher in the Cardinals’ minor-league system, posting a 79-33 record (including 23-7 for Class C Fresno in 1956).

At 23, he earned a spot with the Cardinals, opening the 1959 season in the bullpen and joining a staff with fellow rookies Bob Gibson and Ernie Broglio.

A right-hander, Nunn initially struggled with the Cardinals. After eight appearances, he was 0-1 with a 6.94 ERA.

On May 6, 1959, at Philadelphia, Nunn was brought in to face the Phillies, who led, 6-4, and pitched a scoreless seventh. In the eighth, Musial led off with a home run against Ray Semproch, sparking a four-run rally. The Cardinals held on for an 8-7 victory, earning Nunn his first big-league win. Boxscore

The Cardinals were home the next night to play the Cubs. Nunn relieved in the seventh with the score tied 3-3 and shut out Chicago over three innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Musial led off with a homer, the 400th of his career, against Don Elston, giving St. Louis a 4-3 victory and delivering to Nunn his second win in two nights. Boxscore

Musial became the sixth big-league player to achieve 400 homers, joining Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Mel Ott, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.

“That’s a lot of home runs for a singles hitter,” Musial said to the Associated Press. “I don’t pretend to be a home run hitter.”

On May 8, 1959, Cardinals manager Solly Hemus, indicating Nunn would replace Jim Brosnan as closer, utilized the rookie for the third night in a row. With one out and the bases loaded, Nunn entered in the eighth, looking to protect a 2-1 lead for starter Gary Blaylock. Nunn walked the first batter he faced, Randy Jackson, forcing in the tying run. The Cubs won, 3-2, scoring a run off Brosnan in the 10th. Boxscore

The blown save seemed to set back Nunn. In his last five appearances for the Cardinals, Nunn yielded nine earned runs over four innings. In June, the Cardinals dealt Brosnan to the Reds and demoted Nunn to Class AAA Rochester. Nunn was 2-2 with a 7.59 ERA in 16 games for St. Louis.

At Rochester, Nunn went 8-9 with a 4.03 ERA and made unwanted headlines in September when he and outfielder Gene Green were suspended by manager Clyde King for “their condition and conduct” on a late-night team flight to Montreal. Nunn and Green apologized and were reinstated the next day.

In April 1960, the Cardinals sold Nunn’s contract to the Reds, where he was reunited with Brosnan. In 1961, Nunn was 2-1 in 24 games for a Reds team that won the National League title.

In his book about that championship season, “Pennant Race,” Brosnan wrote about his colleague and road roommate. An excerpt:

Nunn is a small, slight-built right-hander who wears glasses and has a prominent, bobbing Adam’s apple. To keep his glasses free from sweat, Nunn wears a thick white band on his forehead. He’s called “The Apache.”

Nunn, as if to compensate for his slight stature, is particularly intense in his pitching delivery. Disregarding classic, or Spalding Guide, form, Nunn throws all of himself into his pitches. His neck wobbles, his hips jerk, his elbows fly about, his front foot stomps the mound, and he stares, mouth agape, toward the plate after each pitch. Fortunately, he gets pretty good stuff on his pitches, the sight of which is not so funny to the batter…

After six appearances for the 1962 Reds, Nunn’s big-league career was finished. His career totals: 4-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 46 games.

Previously: Stan Musial’s 400th homer showed flair for dramatic

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The pitfalls of Cardinals rookie manager Vern Rapp

March 8, 2012 by retrosimba

In 1977, Vern Rapp, a first-time big-league manager, got off to a rocky start with the Cardinals and never fully recovered.

Rapp, adhering to a policy of no facial hair for players, feuded with several Cardinals veterans, most notably reliever Al Hrabosky and outfielder Bake McBride, during his first season as Cardinals manager. Unable to improve his relationship with core players such as Ted Simmons and Lou Brock, Rapp was fired on April 25, 1978.

Giants want Rapp

After the Cardinals finished 72-90 in 1976, manager Red Schoendienst was fired. Wire service reports indicated the Cardinals were considering hiring Joe Altobelli to replace Schoendienst. Altobelli managed the Orioles’ Rochester farm team to an International League title in 1976.

Rapp, who managed the Expos’ Denver farm team to a division championship in 1976 and got named minor league manager of the year by The Sporting News, was reported to be the top choice of the Giants to replace manager Bill Rigney. United Press International reported Rapp would get the job because Giants owner Bob Lurie “was impressed with Rapp’s reputation as a winner, a no-nonsense field leader and a man able to relate to today’s younger players.”

The Cardinals surprised the Giants by offering their job to Rapp, who accepted. (The Giants then called Altobelli, who was in St. Louis and being offered a position in the Cardinals’ organization, and gave him the San Francisco managerial job).

St. Louis background

Rapp cited his connections to the city and the team for his decision in choosing the Cardinals instead of the Giants. Rapp, a St. Louis native, had been signed by the Cardinals as a catcher in 1946. He played in the Cardinals’ minor-league system from 1946-50 and from 1953-54.

From 1965-68, Rapp managed the Cardinals’ Class AA teams, leading Tulsa (1965) and Little Rock (1968) to Texas League championships. Among the future Cardinals he managed were pitchers Larry Jaster, Ron Willis, Wayne Granger and Jerry Reuss.

(Rapp left the Cardinals’ organization to become Class AAA manager of the Reds in 1969, joining Cincinnati general manager Bob Howsam, who had been general manager of the Cardinals when Rapp became a St. Louis minor-league manager in 1965. Rapp told the Associated Press he left the Cardinals for the Reds because “I felt stymied in Double-A.” During his tenure as Reds Class AAA manager from 1969-75, Rapp was credited with helping the careers of pitcher Gary Nolan and outfielder Ken Griffey Sr.)

After being selected to replace Schoendienst, Rapp told reporters, “This is like a dream come true.”

Conflict among Cardinals

The dream had its nightmare moments:

_ After feuding with Rapp, McBride was traded to the Phillies in June 1977.

_ Rapp suspended Hrabosky when the pitcher ignored a request to meet.

_ Later, Hrabosky ignored Rapp’s ban on facial hair and grew back his Fu Manchu moustache and beard. Team owner Gussie Busch ordered Rapp to lift the ban.

_ Rapp insulted Brock when he sent the veteran to pinch-hit, then removed him for Mike Anderson (a .221 hitter) when the opposing team changed pitchers.

_ During a team meeting, Brock urged Rapp to be less rigid in his dealings with players. Rapp told Brock, “I’ll never change,” and abruptly ended the meeting, The Sporting News reported.

Still, the 1977 Cardinals finished 83-79, improving their win total by 11 over the 1976 showing. After the season, Hrabosky was traded to the Royals.

Losing control

With Hrabosky and McBride gone and with Rapp having had a season of experience in the big leagues, it was hoped the turmoil would end in 1978. Not so. It boiled over on April 15 after the Phillies handed the Cardinals a 3-2 loss in 10 innings at St. Louis. Boxscore

Tensions were high in the clubhouse after the defeat. Catcher Ted Simmons turned on the stereo and music blasted across the room. “I was just trying to cool people off, keep ’em loose,” Simmons told The Sporting News days later.

Rapp was livid, thinking Simmons and the Cardinals were unfazed by the loss. Rapp beckoned Simmons into the manager’s office and an argument ensued. Rapp called Simmons “a loser” _ a label teammates and fans never would have associated with the hard-playing catcher.

Rapp eventually apologized. “There’s no one who has more individual capabilities of leadership than Ted Simmons,” Rapp told reporters days later. (When he was hired to manage the Cardinals, Rapp had said to The Sporting News, “Being an ex-catcher, I believe Simmons has the ability to handle the responsibility of being a leader on the field. I just want him to know that publicly.”)

Rapp’s stinging rebuke of Simmons had been heard by players _ and the friction wasn’t repairable. Days after the incident, Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck broke the story, telling listeners about it as a way to explain the Cardinals’ poor play. With the Cardinals’ record at 6-11, general manager Bing Devine fired Rapp, citing “unrest on the ballclub” and calling the move “inevitable.”

Ken Boyer, the former Cardinals all-star third baseman, coach and minor-league manager who had left the organization after being passed over for the big-league job in favor of Rapp, was hired to replace the ousted manager.

“Things like this happen in this profession,” Rapp said to the Associated Press.

In 1979, Rapp joined the coaching staff of Expos manager Dick Williams and remained there through the 1983 season. Rapp was named manager of the Reds in 1984. In August, with Cincinnati at 51-70, Rapp was fired _ and replaced by Pete Rose.

Posted in Managers | 9 Comments »

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