The Best No.1 Draft Pick In Every Team's History

As the June 10-11 MLB Draft approaches, it's a great time to look back at the best first-round selections in each club's history. With the help of each of the 30 MLB.com beat writers, here's a look at a list that includes All-Stars, MVP Award winners, Cy Young Award winners and Hall of Famers who began their professional journey when they heard their name called in the first round of the MLB Draft.

St. Louis Official Site

Every Club's Player Who Dominated The 1980's

We just finished up a decade, and we wrote many, many stories commemorating the end of it, including an All-Decade Team. But now that we all have some more time on our hands, baseball-wise, it might be time for some other decade-looks-back.

St. Louis Official Site

How Larry Walker Hit Three Homers In A Game At St. Louis

Larry Walker, who completed his career with the Cardinals, had one of his greatest games as their opponent.

RetroSimba

Will Clark Received Nostalgia Award & Talks About Trade To Cardinals

Brian P and Bob Burnes “nostalgia” award winner Will Clark recounts his conversation with Baltimore’s general manager in 2000 upon being told the @Cardinals wanted him.

“I told him, do you want me to buy the plane ticket or do you want to buy it?”#2020stlbbwaa pic.twitter.com/EwF5vjMNwI

— St. Louis BBWAA (@StLouisBBWAA) January 20, 2020

Will Clark:
“The vibe in St. Louis is different. It’s different in the stands, it’s different on the field. Thank you to all of you fans for that. I have been in a lot of organizations, and it’s different.”

— St. Louis BBWAA (@StLouisBBWAA) January 20, 2020

Ted Simmons To Be Honored At Baseball Dinner

Newly named Hall of Famer Ted Simmons, the Cardinals’ star catcher for more than a decade, heads the list of honorees for the 62nd annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner, on Jan. 19 at Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.

Post-Dispatch

Jack Flaherty Will Be Among Those Honored At Baseball Writers' Dinner

Cardinals righthander Jack Flaherty, whose remarkable second half earned him Cy Young Award consideration, will be among those honored on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the 62nd annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner. It takes place at the Marriott Grand Hotel.

Post-Dispatch

Video: Rick Ankiel Talks Will Clark 8-21-19

Rick Ankiel caught a lot of grief when he was a rookie by Will Clark, including the time The Thrill wanted to stay hydrated: "He's like, 'listen to me when the game's over you better have two cold beers sitting at the top of my locker and the first one better be label out.'" pic.twitter.com/VPb7ppp4gh

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) August 22, 2019

Video: Will Clark Reflects On Playing For Cardinals 8-20-19

Will Clark reflects on playing with the #STLCards his final season before retiring: "If I was gonna go out, I was going out on top of the mountain and St. Louis provided me that. Just the whole experience was phenomenal." #TimeToFly pic.twitter.com/l03ceWtJbI

— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) August 21, 2019

A Scout, A Backup Catcher, Albert Pujols, & A Trade That Would Have Changed Cardinals History

In the years after his playing days, as he grabbed a radar gun and began a second career ballpark-hopping with other scouts and swimming in their tales, Ben Johnson started hearing the lore of his role in a trade that, as one Cardinals executive recently put it, “could have changed baseball history.”

Birdland

Cardinals Add 12 Dates To 2019 Theme Schedule

The St. Louis Cardinals have announced six Budweiser Bash theme dates for the 2019 season. The club also added six dates to the 2019 Theme Ticket schedule, including three first-time events.

St. Louis Official Site

Lee Smith Earns Election To Hall Of Fame

Lee Smith was perhaps the most feared reliever of his generation and helped define the closer's role in the modern game during 18 seasons in the Majors. Harold Baines was far different, stoic and shy, a craftsman who produced 2,866 hits with one of the sweetest swings of his day.
St. Louis Official Site

He led the league in saves with five different teams, retired as the all-time leader in saves, and then Lee Smith watched the role he helped define change, shorten, and his support for the Hall of Fame change, shrink.
Bird Land

As it was with his signature slow, deliberate walk to the mound, it took Lee Smith a little longer than expected to get to Cooperstown, but it was always clear he belonged.
Post-Dispatch

Since he retired in 1997, the stats for Lee Smith have not changed but today the vote finally did as the former St. Louis Cardinals reliever was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
STL Baseball Weekly

Hall Of Fame Case For Will Clark

On Monday, December 9, the Today’s Game committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, which covers the years 1988-2018 — will vote on candidates for the 2019 induction class. Between now and then we will take a look at the ten candidates, one-by-one, to assess their Hall worthiness.

NBC Sports

Lee Smith Hopes Long Wait For For Hall Of Fame Will End

Lee Smith was the major league career saves leader for 13 years from 1993-2006. Surely, he thought, this would merit strong Hall of Fame consideration. But he never received more than 51 percent of the vote in any of the 15 elections for which was eligible in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, a period that ended last year.

Post-Dispatch

Ten Named To Today's Game Era Ballot For Hall Of Fame

The Today's Game Era ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame was revealed Monday, comprised of a combination of 10 players, managers and an owner who will receive consideration to be enshrined in baseball's most historic and distinguished place in history.
St. Louis Official Site

Former St. Louis Cardinals closer Lee Smith is among the group of 10 finalists under consideration for the Today’s Era Hall of Fame ballot, which will be voted upon at the Baseball Winter Meetings next month.
STL Baseball Weekly

How Cardinals Tried To Revive Bobby Witt

The Cardinals hoped a reunion of pitcher Bobby Witt and coach Dave Duncan would yield the kind of results they produced in their first go-around, but it didn’t work out.

RetroSimba

Eric Hosmer, Potential Cardinal: Perception Vs. Reality

Let’s take a break from Giancarlo Stanton Mania to inspect alternative BIG BAT candidates for your St. Louis Cardinals.

101 ESPN

Adam Wainwright Faces Orioles After Bounceback Start

Wane? Wrong.

Hochman

Will Clark & Mark McGwire Each Received Less Than Five Votes For 2017 Hall Of Fame

Hall Of Fame Official Site

Breaking Down The Today's Game Hall Of Fame Candidates: Will Clark

On Monday, December 5, the Today’s Game committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame — the replacement for the Veterans Committee which covers the years 1988-2016 — will vote on candidates for the 2017 induction class. This week we are looking at the ten candidates, one-by-one, to assess their Hall worthiness. Next up: Will Clark

Hardball Talk

Will In-Depth Numbers Support Will Clark's Cause?

Maybe, just maybe, time has provided enough opportunity for perspective and analysis that will give Will Clark a legitimate chance of gaining election to baseball's Hall of Fame.

San Francisco Official Site