How Mike Torrez Nearly Had No-Hitter For Cardinals

Mike Torrez, a big guy with big talent, capped a hot personal stretch for the Cardinals with his most dominant pitching performance.

RetroSimba

Ernie Broglio Dies At 83

Former Cardinals pitcher Ernie Broglio, who was the other half of the trade that brought Hall of Famer Lou Brock to St. Louis, died Tuesday night after battling cancer, according to social media posts from his family. Broglio was 83.
St. Louis Official Site

Curve-balling righthander Ernie Broglio tied for the National League lead in victories in 1960 with Milwaukee’s Warren Spahn when he won 21 for the Cardinals in his second big-league season. Broglio also won 18 for the 1963 Cardinals team which challenged for, but fell short of, the National League pennant.
Post-Dispatch

Mudcat Grant Was Music Man Of Cardinals Bullpen

Mudcat Grant began the 1969 season as the top starting pitcher for the Expos and ended it as the top right-handed relief pitcher for the Cardinals.

RetroSimba

Benny Valenzuela: From Mexico To Cardinals

Benny Valenzuela, a pioneering Mexican-born ballplayer, emerged from a humble start in professional baseball and reached the majors, but the Cardinals were the wrong club for a rookie third baseman.

RetroSimba

Why Steve Carlton Didn't Get Start In 1968 World Series

In 1968, Steve Carlton was a National League all-star and he ranked second among the Cardinals in shutouts and strikeouts, but manager Red Schoendienst decided not to start him in a game during the World Series against the Tigers.

RetroSimba

How World Series Hero Bob Kuzava Landed With Cardinals

Seeking a left-handed reliever to help their pennant push, the Cardinals got Bob Kuzava, a proven producer under postseason pressure. The price, though, was steep: To open a roster spot for Kuzava, the Cardinals cut loose a future Hall of Fame pitcher.

RetroSimba

The Day Warren Spahn Shocked Stan Musial

Given a choice of facing Del Ennis or Stan Musial with runners in scoring position and the game on the line, Warren Spahn did what no other big-league pitcher had done before him: He opted to pitch to Musial.

RetroSimba

Steve Carlton, Richie Allen, & A Fiery Night In Philly

On May 21, 1970, Steve Carlton, a future Phillie, and Richie Allen, a former Phillie, delivered dramatic performances for the Cardinals against the Phillies, but it wasn’t enough to produce a win.

RetroSimba

Larry Jaster & His Sparkling September With Cardinals

With complete-game wins in his first three big-league starts, Larry Jaster transformed from a perceived disappointment to a promising starter for the Cardinals.

RetroSimba

The Short, Intriguing Cardinals Career Of Frank Barnes

Perhaps the most significant achievement in the Cardinals career of pitcher Frank Barnes is that he was chosen to be the pinch-runner for Stan Musial after the St. Louis slugger got his 3,000th hit.

RetroSimba

Brewers Haven't Had Much Luck In St. Louis

With the Milwaukee Brewers trailing the Cardinals by five games with 12 to play and finding the Pittsburgh Pirates between themselves and the top of the National League Central Division, the Brewers’ three-game series with the Cardinals beginning at Busch Stadium Tuesday night certainly represents something of a showdown.

Post-Dispatch

How Steve Carlton Models The Way For Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright has the lowest earned run average before the All-Star Game break for a Cardinals starting pitcher since Steve Carlton in 1969.

RetroSimba

Why The Cardinals Fired Warren Spahn

Less than a year after offering him their big-league pitching coach job, the Cardinals fired Hall of Fame left-hander Warren Spahn as manager of their Class AAA team.

Retro Simba

Joel Pineiro's Bizarro Three-True-Outcomes Night

Following Todd Wellemeyer, whom we’ve cited in this space for his three-true-outcome pitching propensity, in the rotation, Joel Pineiro took the mound against the Mets and pitched to contact. A lot of it. Pineiro got the Mets to put the ball in play, but kept it in the park, facing 30 batters en route to the team’s 5-2 win Wednesday.

Fungoes

In Memory Of Former Cardinals: 2008

Our annual feature remembering 17 former St. Louis Cardinals that passed away during the past year.

The Birdhouse