Fans of St. Louis basketball found out in a hurry how gifted Jerry West was as an all-round playmaker. Whether facing the St. Louis University Billikens as a college senior or the St. Louis Hawks as a NBA rookie, West performed with excellence, totaling consistently impressive numbers of points, rebounds and assists. A 6-foot-3 guard who played three varsity seasons at West … [Read more...] about Jerry West could give St. Louis the basketball blues
How 28 equaled 30 for Cardinals’ Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean was plenty good for the 1934 Cardinals, but he needed a helping hand from an influential source to achieve 30 wins. In two June relief appearances Dean made for the 1934 Cardinals, National League president John Heydler credited him with wins in both, even though other pitchers appeared to qualify instead. If not for Heydler’s unconventional decisions, Dean would … [Read more...] about How 28 equaled 30 for Cardinals’ Dizzy Dean
How Dizzy Dean found a way to beat the heat
In 1934, the double whammy of the Great Depression and an extreme drought inflamed by excessive heat spread misery throughout the United States. For some, the antics of pitcher Dizzy Dean provided an amusing diversion from the problems they were facing. A 30-game winner for the 1934 Cardinals, Dean was an enthusiastic entertainer whose showmanship extended beyond his … [Read more...] about How Dizzy Dean found a way to beat the heat
Joining Cardinals became a career saver for Ken Dayley
When the Cardinals acquired Ken Dayley, they thought they were getting a top of the line starting pitcher. Then they were worried he might be a dud. As it turned out, Dayley developed into one of the top left-handed relievers in the National League during the 1980s. Forty years ago, on June 15, 1984, the Cardinals traded third baseman Ken Oberkfell to the Braves … [Read more...] about Joining Cardinals became a career saver for Ken Dayley
St. Louis became hitter’s haven for Bob Skinner
During his core years with the Pirates, Bob Skinner did a convincing impersonation of Stan Musial whenever he played against the Cardinals in St. Louis. An outfielder who batted from the left side, Skinner had a level swing admired by teammates and foes alike. In a six-season stretch from 1957-62, these were the numbers Skinner produced for the Pirates in games at St. … [Read more...] about St. Louis became hitter’s haven for Bob Skinner