Stint With Cardinals Was Too Short For Ted Abernathy

The 1970 Cardinals found the closer they needed, but, following a familiar pattern, gave up on him too soon.

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Why Cardinals Acquired Julian Javier From Pirates

Opening the way to a pipeline of talent, second baseman Julian Javier was the first player from the Dominican Republic to play for the Cardinals.

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How Jim Frey Made A Bid To Be Cardinals Outfielder

Jim Frey was the Texas League batting champion when the Cardinals acquired him and gave him a chance to compete for a spot on their Opening Day roster. Frey didn’t get to the majors as a player, but he did as a manager.

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Why Cardinals Couldn't Hold On To Willie Montanez

The Cardinals had Willie Montanez in their organization, lost him, got him back, lost him again and made another attempt to reacquire him.

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Cardinals Paid Price For Giving Up On Ramon Hernandez

The Cardinals couldn’t figure out Ramon Hernandez when he pitched for them any better than they could when he pitched against them.

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Mike Shannon & The Illness That Ended His Playing Day

A routine physical exam at spring training revealed a serious medical problem for third baseman Mike Shannon.

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Gussie Busch Vs. Steve Carlson: Hard Heads Play Hardball

The strained relationship between Cardinals owner Gussie Busch and pitcher Steve Carlton had its roots in a dispute which occurred two years before the ill-fated trade of the future Hall of Famer.

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Why Ken Boyer Came Back To Cardinals

In his return to the Cardinals, Ken Boyer prepared to manage some of their best prospects while preparing veteran Joe Torre to play third base.

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Cubs To Cardinals: How About Ray Sadecki For Lou Brock?

Ray Sadecki was the player the Cubs wanted in exchange for Lou Brock, but the timing wasn’t right. Sadecki got hot at the same time as the trade talks did and the Cardinals opted to keep him.

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How George Culver Made Cardinals A Mod Squad

George Culver, a dapper dresser who threw a sharp slider, seemed suited for a spot in the starting rotation of the Cardinals until his season unraveled like a spool of cheap threads.

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Ron Fairly: Formidable Friend & Foe Of Cardinals

Ron Fairly tormented Bob Gibson as an opponent and helped him as a teammate.

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How Cardinals Unwittingly Gave Pirates As Elite Closer

The Cardinals never envisioned Dave Giusti to be a closer and neither did the Pirates. When Giusti transformed into one of the National League’s best saves specialists, he helped the Pirates become an East Division power

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Curt Flood Fought For Freedom After Trade By Cardinals

Center fielder Curt Flood wasn’t bluffing when he said he’d rather quit playing than accept a trade.

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How Garry Templeton Snubbed 1979 All-Star Game

Cardinals shortstop Garry Templeton, who played baseball like poetry in motion when he was at his best, was associated with some creative rhyme to express his displeasure with the all-star team selection process.

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How Cardinals Took A Chance On Vic Davalillo

A different role in a different league revived the playing career of outfielder Vic Davalillo.

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Why Cardinals Rated Expos A Diamond In The Rough

Stepping foot on foreign soil for the first time in the regular season, the Cardinals felt the ground shift beneath them.

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How Bill White Made An Encore With Cardinals

A friendship with general manager Bing Devine enabled first baseman Bill White to finish his playing career with the Cardinals.

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Why Cardinals Dealt An Ace To Get Bill White

To acquire Bill White, the Cardinals had to give up their best pitcher.

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Why Cardinals Were Offended By Talk From Gussie Busch

In a meeting with Cardinals players after they won two consecutive National League pennants and a World Series title, club owner Gussie Busch warned them about getting fat, greedy and selfish, and scolded them for backing union leadership he considered disrespectful to management.

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Why Cardinals Dealt Orlando Cepeda For Joe Torre

For such a straightforward deal, the trade of Joe Torre to the Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda took some twists and turns involving pitcher Nolan Ryan and center fielder Curt Flood.

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