Retro Simba

Carl Warwick seemed an unlikely candidate to shine for the Cardinals in the 1964 World Series. A week before the season ended, Warwick suffered a fractured cheekbone when he was struck by a line drive during pregame drills. He underwent surgery the next day. After the Cardinals clinched the National League pennant in the season finale, manager Johnny Keane opted to put Warwick … [Read more...] about Carl Warwick came through in a pinch for Cardinals

Looking for a good time in St. Louis when their team came to play the Cardinals, Reds fans rolled out the barrels and got busted. One hundred years ago, in April 1925, Reds owner Garry Herrmann and seven others associated with the Reds Rooters fan club were arrested at the Hotel Statler for possessing real beer. Home to breweries such as Anheuser-Busch and Falstaff, St. Louis … [Read more...] about Trouble brewing for Reds owner, fans in trip to St. Louis

During his time with the Cardinals, Juan Gonzalez lived up to his nickname, but not in the way he and the team hoped. Invited to try out for a spot as an outfielder on the 2008 Cardinals, Gonzalez was Juan Gone _ as in, headed home _ before spring training ended. In his heyday with the Rangers, Gonzalez was called Juan Gone because balls he hit frequently were sent into orbit … [Read more...] about Cardinals gave Juan Gonzalez chance for a comeback

When he was ready to leave the Athletics, Tony La Russa was intending to manage the 1995 Red Sox. “At the end of nine years, the A’s had given me permission to interview with the Red Sox, and I was going to Boston,” La Russa recalled to Cardinals Yearbook in 2014. “We even had a discussion about free agents … The one free agent we wanted was Larry Walker.” If La Russa had gone … [Read more...] about Tony La Russa nearly got detoured before going to St. Louis

While pitching in the Cardinals’ organization, Pete Mazar became known as much for his vocal cords as for his arm. Dubbed the “Frank Sinatra of baseball” for his singing, Mazar, like Ol’ Blue Eyes, was from New Jersey. Sinatra’s hometown was Hoboken, site of the first organized baseball game played in 1846 between the Knickerbocker Club and New York Nine. Mazar grew up in High … [Read more...] about Pete Mazar: Slinging, singing southpaw in St. Louis system