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Tony La Russa: Proud pupil of mentor Paul Richards

October 31, 2011 by retrosimba

(Updated April 4, 2025)

To get insights into what made Tony La Russa a Hall of Fame manager, I recommend the book “The Wizard of Waxahachie.” Written by Warren Corbett, it is a well-researched biography of Paul Richards, a baseball innovator who had a long career as a player, manager and executive in the minors and majors.

Richards managed the White Sox and Orioles. He was director of player development for the White Sox when La Russa began his managerial career in the Chicago farm system. Richards became a mentor to La Russa.

In an interview with Cardinals Yearbook in 2014, La Russa said, “Managing is about preparation and leadership. It’s a message Paul Richards preached and it’s more true now than ever before.”

La Russa wrote the introduction to Richards’ biography. Reading it provides a link to the philosophies La Russa followed.

“During the three-year period from 1978 to 1980, when I’d managed in AA, AAA, and the White Sox, Paul’s influence was a career maker for me,” La Russa said. “He continually provided lessons on baseball fundamentals, strategies and leadership.

“To this day his emphasis on playing the game correctly and what that meant has been a key to my survival as a manager in baseball. His explanation of different offensive and defensive strategies has helped put my teams in a position to compete. And his leadership advice set the foundation for my contributions as a decision maker that I am expected to provide.

“My favorite example of a ‘Paulism’ was his principle that a manager should make decisions by ‘trusting your gut, not by trying to cover your butt.’ A manager’s decision must avoid the temptation of taking the popular or conventional path that your bosses, fans and media expect. Instead your responsibility as a manager is to decide what you think is your team’s best shot and then take it.”

La Russa was true to that principle throughout his Cardinals career.

An example of how La Russa applied Richards’ teachings is how he handled an incident in Game 2 of the 2006 World Series. Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers appeared to be caught doctoring the baseball. La Russa told the umpires about the foreign substance on the ball but didn’t ask them to inspect Rogers. Critics claimed La Russa was protecting his friend, Tigers manager Jim Leyland. Instead, it was La Russa following a principle he learned from Richards, and later manager Sparky Anderson.

In the book “Tony La Russa: Man on a Mission,” author Rob Rains explained, “It was Anderson and Paul Richards who taught him the difference between having a strategy and a philosophy, and those thoughts filled his head as he watched Rogers pitch.”

La Russa explained, “I had the luxury and good fortune of teachers who taught me the difference between philosophy and strategy. In that situation, I might have strategized, ‘Hey, I can get this guy thrown out of the game.’

“Strategies have their place, but they don’t replace philosophy, because philosophy is what you represent, and what you want your team to represent … We want to win within our philosophy. Part of that philosophy is abhorring BS baseball. I don’t like it … I believe in the beauty of the competition. Let’s play the game. We get ready, they get ready. You play as hard as you can, and there’s a winner and a loser.

“I was so appreciative of all the teachers I had over the years, and in the end you just have to believe in the lessons you have learned about their philosophies.”

Posted in Managers | Leave a Comment »

Cardinals twice mirrored Game 6 in regular seasons

October 30, 2011 by retrosimba

(Updated May 30, 2020)

Among the factors that make Game 6 of the 2011 World Series an instant classic is the extreme rarity of the type of comeback mounted by the Cardinals.

The Cardinals twice were a strike away from elimination but rallied to score twice in the ninth to tie and twice in the 10th to tie before winning, 10-9, in the 11th on a home run by David Freese. Boxscore

Until Game 6 against the Rangers, only twice before had the Cardinals rallied from two-run deficits in the ninth and 10th innings to win games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Both of those occurred in regular-season games.

Here’s a look at both:

CARDINALS vs. PADRES

On May 30, 1982, at St. Louis, the first-place Cardinals scored three in the ninth to tie the score and three in the 10th to beat the Padres, 6-5.

With the Padres ahead, 3-0, the Cardinals’ Keith Hernandez and George Hendrick each singled off Gary Lucas in the bottom of the ninth, and Lonnie Smith doubled, scoring Hernandez.

On a groundout by Mike Ramsey, Hendrick held third and Smith held second. Julio Gonzalez followed with a grounder to shortstop Mario Ramirez, who flipped the ball to third baseman Luis Salazar. As Hendrick broke for home plate, Smith got caught in a rundown and collided with Salazar in the basepath. Smith appeared to have been tagged out, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, but Salazar was called for obstruction by umpire Joe West. Smith was awarded third base, Gonzalez took second and Hendrick scored, cutting the Padres’ lead to 3-2.

“If we execute the play right, then we’re OK,” Padres manager Dick Williams told United Press International. “It was a routine rundown play, but we didn’t execute it.”

With first base open, Lucas intentionally walked David Green, loading the bases.

Tommy Herr, batting for pitcher Doug Bair, hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Smith with the tying run. Ozzie Smith grounded out, ending the inning.

In the 10th, the Cardinals turned to closer Bruce Sutter, who gave up two runs on a pair of singles, a double and a walk.

After Lucas retired the first two Cardinals batters in the 10th, Hendrick singled, Lonnie Smith drove him in with a double and Ramsey singled in Smith with the tying run.

Rattled, Lucas hit Gonzalez with a pitch and was relieved by rookie Floyd Chiffer. Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog countered by sending Dane Iorg to bat for Green.

“What I didn’t want to have happen eventually did,” Williams said to the Associated Press. “… I didn’t want to face Iorg with a right-handed pitcher.”

Said Iorg: “I was calm. I was probably the calmest player out there.”

With the count 1-and-1, Chiffer delivered a high, inside pitch. Iorg swung, breaking his bat, and hit a soft liner to center for a single, scoring Ramsey from second and giving the Cardinals a 6-5 victory. Boxscore

“As long as I have a line drive stroke, it doesn’t make any difference where it hits my bat,” Iorg said.

CARDINALS vs. PHILLIES

On June 6, 1990, at St. Louis, a struggling Cardinals team scored twice in the ninth to tie and three times in the 10th to beat the Phillies, 12-11.

The Phillies went ahead, 9-7, in the top of the ninth on a two-run home run by Ron Jones. “As the ball landed in the right field seats, lightning cracked over the rim of Busch Stadium,” the Philadelphia Daily News reported, “and thunder rumbled and a full moon broke through the dark and stormy skies.”

In the bottom half of the ninth, the Cardinals had Dave Collins on second with two outs when Phillies manager Nick Leyva replaced Pat Combs with closer Roger McDowell.

The move backfired. Ozzie Smith singled, scoring Collins. Smith stole second, Willie McGee walked and Pedro Guerrero drove in Smith with a single, tying the score at 9-9. After a walk to Terry Pendleton, Todd Zeile grounded out, forcing extra innings.

In the 10th, the Cardinals turned to Frank DiPino, who gave up a two-out, two-run single to Sil Campusano.

Undaunted, the Cardinals began the bottom of the 10th with singles by Milt Thompson and Jose Oquendo against McDowell. Denny Walling singled, scoring Thompson.

After Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog sent in Rex Hudler to run for Oquendo, Vince Coleman executed a sacrifice bunt, advancing Hudler to third and Walling to second. Leyva ordered McDowell to walk Ozzie Smith, loading the bases.

With Willie McGee up next, Leyva replaced McDowell with Terry Mulholland and positioned his outfielders to play shallow. McGee responded with a double over the head of center fielder Len Dykstra, scoring Hudler and Walling for a 12-11 Cardinals victory. Boxscore

“That might be the screwiest game I’ve ever seen,” Herzog told the Post-Dispatch.

Said McGee: “The only better game I’ve played in was against Chicago in 1984 when Ryne Sandberg hit two home runs off Bruce Sutter (and McGee hit for the cycle).”

DiPino, amazed he earned the win, said, “I almost fainted in the dugout.”

Posted in Games, Hitters | 2 Comments »

Power personified 2011 World Series champ Cardinals

October 29, 2011 by retrosimba

(Updated Oct. 28, 2017)

In a 2011 World Series jammed with dramatic moments, the Cardinals’ championship was defined, in large part, by the home run.

_ Albert Pujols hit three home runs in Game 3.

_ David Freese hit a walkoff 11th-inning home run in Game 6.

_ Allen Craig hit three home runs, including a go-ahead shot in Game 7.

_ The eight home runs hit by the 2011 Cardinals established the franchise record for most in a World Series. The previous mark was set in 1968 when the Cardinals hit seven home runs in a World Series against the Tigers.

_ The nine home runs allowed by the 2011 Cardinals are tied for the second-most in the franchise’s World Series history. Only the Yankees, with 10 in 1964, hit more home runs against the Cardinals in a World Series.

_ The 17 total home runs by the Cardinals and Rangers are the most in a World Series involving the Cardinals. The previous high was 15 total home runs _ in the 1964 World Series between the Cardinals and the Yankees and again in the 1968 World Series between the Cardinals and the Tigers.

Here are the home run totals in World Series involving the Cardinals:

YEAR…….CARDINALS HRS…….OPPONENT HRS…….TOTAL HRS

1926………4………………………….4…………………………8

1928………1………………………….9…………………………10

1930……..2………………………….6………………………….8

1931……..2…………………………..3…………………………5

1934……..2………………………….2………………………….4

1942……..2………………………….3………………………….5

1943……..2………………………….2………………………….4

1944……..3………………………….1………………………….4

1946……..1………………………….4………………………….5

1964……..5………………………….10……………………….15

1967……..5…………………………8………………………….13

1968……..7…………………………8………………………….15

1982……..4…………………………5………………………….9

1985……..2…………………………2………………………….4

1987……..2…………………………7………………………….9

2004…….2…………………………4…………………………..6

2006…….2…………………………4…………………………..6

2011……..8…………………………9………………………….17

2013…….2………………………….4………………………….6

Posted in Hitters, Opponents, Pitchers | 4 Comments »

Yadier Molina: Most RBI in Series game by a Cards catcher

October 23, 2011 by retrosimba

(Updated Dec. 21, 2024)

Lost amid the historical splendor of Albert Pujols’ performance in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series was the achievement of Yadier Molina.

Though it paled in comparison to the hitting of Pujols (the first Cardinals player with three home runs, five hits and six RBI in a World Series game), Molina also accomplished a franchise standard in Game 3.

Molina became the first Cardinals catcher with four RBI in a World Series game.

Molina produced a two-run double in the fifth inning off Scott Feldman, a sacrifice fly in the sixth off Mike Gonzalez and a RBI-double in the eighth off Mark Lowe in the Cardinals’ 16-7 victory over the Rangers Oct. 22. Boxscore

The performance by Molina continued a remarkable year for him at the plate. In the regular season, Molina hit a team-best .305, with 32 doubles, 14 home runs and 65 RBI.

Asked about his hitting approach, Molina said to Stan McNeal of Cardinals Yearbook in 2019, “One thing my dad told me was never strike out. Try to hit the ball. That’s something that has stayed with me. When I get two strikes, I just try to hit the ball.

“Right now, players want to hit the ball so hard, but they’re striking out too many times. Why? If you hit the ball 100 mph but strike out more than 100 times, why don’t you hit the ball 95, 90 mph and get base hits? They’re trying to hit the ball 450 feet, but you can hit it 380 and still get a home run.”

Recalling how Yadier learned to hit as a youth in Puerto Rico, his brother Bengie Molina, who also played in the majors, said in an article he did for the 2019 Cardinals Yearbook, “Our game was tape ball. We’d get a newspaper and scrunch it into the shape of a ball, then wrap it with electrical tape. For hitting, we’d cut a broomstick down to the length of a bat.

“We also learned to hit by doing a really challenging drill with my dad. He would sit in a chair and flip corn kernels or dried beans to us, which we tried to hit with a broomstick … The more we practiced that drill, the better our hand-eye coordination got. I believe that’s one reason Yadi has never struck out much.”

Until Game 3 of the 2011 World Series, Molina had played in 10 World Series games over three years (2004, 2006 and 2011) and had produced one RBI. That came on a double in Game 4 of the 2006 World Series against the Tigers. Boxscore

Tim McCarver and Joe Garagiola had held the club record for most RBI by a catcher in a World Series game, with three. McCarver did it twice. As a broadcaster on the telecast of the Cardinals-Rangers Game 3, McCarver witnessed Molina’s performance.

Here’s a look at the three-RBI games by McCarver and Garagiola:

TIM McCARVER

In each World Series game in which McCarver drove in three runs, one swing produced the RBI each time.

In Game 5 of the 1964 World Series, McCarver hit a three-run home run off Yankees reliever Pete Mikkelsen in the 10th inning, snapping a 2-2 tie and carrying the Cardinals to a 5-2 victory. Boxscore

Four years later, McCarver launched a three-run, fifth-inning home run off reliever Pat Dobson in the Cardinals’ 7-3 Game 3 victory over the Tigers in the 1968 World Series. Boxscore

JOE GARAGIOLA

One of three Cardinals in the game to get four hits (Whitey Kurowski and Enos Slaughter were the others), Garagiola drove in his three runs off three relievers in St. Louis’ 12-3 victory over the Red Sox in Game 4 of the 1946 World Series. Boxscore

Garagiola had a RBI-single off Jim Bagby in the third inning, a RBI-double off Bill Zuber in the seventh and a RBI-single off Mace Brown in the ninth.

Posted in Games, Hitters, Records | Leave a Comment »

Jaime Garcia: Lone Cardinals lefty with 7 scoreless, no win

October 22, 2011 by retrosimba

Jaime Garcia is the fifth Cardinals left-hander to pitch seven scoreless innings in a World Series game, but the first not to record a win for doing so.

Garcia held the Rangers without a run for seven innings in Game 2 of the 2011 World Series but got no decision when Texas scored twice against the bullpen in the ninth and won, 2-1.

The other Cardinals left-handers to pitch at least seven scoreless innings in a World Series game _ Bill Hallahan, Ernie White, Harry Breechen and John Tudor _ all earned wins in those starts. Hallahan and Breechen each did it twice.

BILL HALLAHAN

In 1930, Hallahan, 28, led National League pitchers in strikeouts (177) and walks (126) while compiling a 15-9 record and 4.66 ERA.

After the Athletics won the first two games of the 1930 World Series, Hallahan started Game 3. In the first inning, the Athletics loaded the bases with two outs before Hallahan struck out Bing Miller.

The Athletics reached base in seven of nine innings, but Hallahan kept them from scoring. In the ninth, the Athletics put two on with two outs. Hallahan struck out Jimmy Dykes to end the game and preserve the Cardinals’ 5-0 victory. Boxscore

Hallahan gave up seven hits, walked five and struck out six. In the first inning, Hallahan yielded two singles and a walk, but struck out the side.

“We had plenty of chances to score in the opening inning while Hallahan was wild,” Athletics manager Connie Mack told the Associated Press. “Unfortunately, however, when he did get it over he was unhittable.”

In 1931, Hallahan again led NL pitchers in strikeouts (159) and walks (112) while posting a 19-9 record and 3.29 ERA.

And, again, Hallahan shut out the Athletics in the World Series.

In Game 2 of the 1931 Series, Hallahan pitched a three-hitter in the Cardinals’ 2-0 victory. Boxscore

Hallahan retired the first 11 batters before issuing a walk to Mickey Cochrane with two outs in the fourth.

The Athletics got their first hit in the fifth, a Bing Miller single. Philadelphia loaded the bases with one out before Hallahan induced pitcher George Earnshaw to ground into a double play.

The Cardinals almost blew the game in the ninth. The Athletics had two on with two outs when Hallahan struck out Jimmy Moore, who swung at a pitch in the dirt that catcher Jimmie Wilson mishandled.

Moore, thinking the game over, started toward the dugout as fans poured onto the field. Athletics coach Eddie Collins shouted at Moore to head to first base. As he did, Wilson grabbed the ball and inexplicably fired it to third base. All hands were safe. The bases were loaded.

The next batter, Max Bishop, uncorked a twisting fly ball into foul territory down the right field line. First baseman Jim Bottomley gave chase, stumbled into the Athletics bullpen, caught the ball and fell into the stands, completing a dramatic ending.

Hallahan walked seven and struck out eight.

In his syndicated column, Cardinals second baseman Frankie Frisch said of Hallahan, “He was effective because he had great speed, a fine breaking fast curve and good control of his change of pace slow curve.”

ERNIE WHITE

White, 26, rode a hot streak into the 1942 World Series, winning his last three regular-season starts and finishing 7-5 with a 2.52 ERA.

In Game 3 of the Series, White limited the Yankees to six hits, walked no one and struck out six in the Cardinals’ 2-0 victory. Boxscore

White set the tone in the first inning when, with Phil Rizzuto on second and two outs, he struck out Joe DiMaggio. White also benefitted from a spectacular catch by each outfielder: Stan Musial, Terry Moore and Enos Slaughter.

It was, White told the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, “the greatest game I ever hope to pitch.”

HARRY BREECHEN

After posting a 16-5 record in 1944, Breechen, 29, started Game 4 of the World Series against the Browns. Breechen held the Browns scoreless for the first seven innings as the Cardinals built a 5-0 lead. In the eighth, the Browns scored on a double-play grounder.

Though the Browns reached Breechen for nine hits and four walks, they were limited to that lone run as the Cardinals evened the Series with a 5-1 victory. Boxscore

In 1946, Breechen lost four of his first five decisions. He won his last two regular-season starts to finish 15-15 with a 2.49 ERA.

In Game 2 of the World Series against the Red Sox, Breechen pitched a four-hit shutout in the Cardinals’ 3-0 victory. Boxscore

Ted Williams was 0-for-4 with a strikeout versus Brecheen. In the ninth, Dom DiMaggio led off with a single, but Breechen retired Williams on a pop-up and got Rudy York and Bobby Doerr each to fly out.

“He (Breechen) certainly fooled me,” Williams said. “Somebody had told me he never threw a screwball. All of a sudden, Breechen would rear back and toss one of them at me.”

JOHN TUDOR

After limiting the Royals to a run and beating them in Game 1 of the 1985 World Series, Tudor, 31, did even better in Game 4, shutting out Kansas City on five hits in a 3-0 Cardinals victory. Boxscore

Tudor, who was 21-8 with a 1.93 ERA during the regular season, walked one and struck out eight, including George Brett twice on breaking pitches. Tudor retired the side in order in five innings, including the ninth. The Royals’ only extra-base hit was an eighth-inning double by Lynn Jones.

“I did just about everything right tonight,” Tudor told The Milwaukee Sentinel. “… I mixed pitches up and got them over the plate. I knew I had good stuff when I was warming up.”

JAIME GARCIA

Garcia, 25, held the Rangers to three singles and a walk in Game 2 of the 2011 Series. Texas was hitless until Michael Young singled with two outs in the fourth.

Garcia, a 13-game winner in 2011, stood to get the win when Allen Craig, batting for Garcia in the seventh, slashed a RBI-single to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, but Texas scored twice in the ninth, winning 2-1. Boxscore

“I’ve been working a lot to keep the ball down, get ahead early in the count,” Garcia told MLB.com.

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Arthur Rhodes: 1 of 5 Cardinals age 40 in a World Series

October 21, 2011 by retrosimba

(Updated Feb. 4, 2023)

When Arthur Rhodes pitched for St. Louis in Game 1 of the 2011 World Series, he became the fifth Cardinals player _ and the first in 29 years _ to appear in a Fall Classic at age 40 or older.

All five Cardinals age 40 or older to play in a World Series were pitchers:

_ Grover Cleveland Alexander, 41, in the 1928 World Series.

_ Jesse Haines, 41, in the 1934 World Series.

_ Dazzy Vance, 43, in the 1934 World Series.

_ Jim Kaat, 43, in the 1982 World Series.

_ Arthur Rhodes, 41, in the 2011 World Series.

Haines and Vance pitched in the same game.

Alexander, Haines, Kaat and Vance were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Here is a look at their World Series performances for the Cardinals after they turned 40:

GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER

The right-hander was a hero of the 1926 World Series, winning two starts and sealing the Cardinals’ Game 7 victory against the Yankees with an iconic save. It was a different story for Alexander and the Cardinals in the 1928 World Series.

At 41, Alexander still was effective. He made 31 starts, completing 18, for the 1928 Cardinals and was 16-9 with a 3.36 ERA for the National League champions.

So it was somewhat surprising when the Yankees pummeled him in the World Series. Alexander started Game 2 and lasted 2.1 innings, allowing six hits, four walks and eight runs, including a three-run, first-inning home run to Lou Gehrig. The Yankees won, 9-3. Boxscore

In Game 4, the Yankees led 4-1 with one out in the seventh when Alexander relieved starter Bill Sherdel. Alexander yielded three runs, including solo homers to Babe Ruth and Cedric Durst, and the Yankees went on to a 7-3 victory, sweeping the Series. Boxscore

Alexander ended the 1928 World Series with a record of 0-1 and a 19.80 ERA, allowing 11 runs in five innings.

JESSE HAINES

The right-hander started games for the Cardinals in the 1926, 1928 and 1930 World Series. At 41 in 1934, he primarily was a reliever. He appeared in 37 games, 31 in relief, during the regular season, posting a 4-4 record and 3.50 ERA.

In his lone appearance in the 1934 World Series, Haines entered Game 4 against the Tigers with one out in the eighth. He yielded a RBI-single to third baseman Marv Owens, and then struck out outfielder Pete Fox and pitcher Elden Auker. Boxscore

DAZZY VANCE

When the Reds placed Vance on waivers after the right-hander went 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA for them in 1934, it appeared his career was done at 43. The Cardinals, however, claimed him on June 25, bringing him back for a second stint with the club, and he was a productive member of the staff. Vance was 1-1 with a 3.66 ERA in 19 games, 15 in relief, for St. Louis.

A 16-year big-league veteran, primarily with the Dodgers when he led the National League in strikeouts seven seasons in a row, Vance made his only World Series appearance in Game 4 of the 1934 Series. He relieved starter Tex Carleton with two outs in the third. Though he yielded a RBI-single to Hank Greenberg, he pitched 1.1 innings, striking out three, including Tigers player-manager Mickey Cochrane. Boxscore

JIM KAAT

In the 1965 World Series, Kaat made three starts for the Twins and was matched each time against the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax. Kaat won one of those three.

Seventeen years later, at 43, Kaat was an effective situational left-handed reliever for the Cardinals. During the 1982 regular season, Kaat appeared in 62 games and was 5-3 with a 4.08 ERA.

In the 1982 World Series, Kaat pitched in four of the seven games and had a 3.86 ERA, helping St. Louis to its first Fall Classic championship in 15 years.

In his book “Still Pitching,” Kaat wrote of Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog:

“Herzog was the most brilliant and the brightest manager I ever played for. The way he used me, and the way he ran a game, he was the best.”

ARTHUR RHODES

In his 20th big-league season, Rhodes, 41, made his first World Series appearance in Game 1 in 2011.

Entering with two outs in the eighth, Rhodes retired Josh Hamilton on a flyout to center and held the lead for closer Jason Motte, who sealed the Cardinals’ 3-2 victory over Texas. Boxscore

Rhodes turned 42 during the World Series _ on Oct. 24, 2011 _ and pitched in Game 7 on Oct. 28. Overall, Rhodes made three appearances in the 2011 World Series and didn’t allow a base runner in a total of one inning.

Rhodes had been released by the Rangers Aug. 8 and was signed by the Cardinals three days later.

Posted in Games, Pitchers | 1 Comment »

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