Retro Simba

On a Big Red Machine team of Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Pete Rose and Tony Perez, the player who consistently confounded the Cardinals was Don Gullett. A left-handed pitcher, Gullett was 14-3 versus the Cardinals, including 7-0 at Busch Memorial Stadium. He also liked to hit in St. Louis. His batting average there was .281. Gullett played for six pennant winners in nine … [Read more...] about Cincinnati Kid: Don Gullett was ace of diamonds vs. Cards

In a spring training camp with Reggie Jackson, Rick Monday and Sal Bando, another hitter who caught the eye of Joe DiMaggio was Tony La Russa. In 1968, DiMaggio was in a green and gold Oakland Athletics uniform, giving instruction to players. La Russa was trying to make the team as a reserve infielder and return to the majors for the first time in five years. DiMaggio became … [Read more...] about How Joe DiMaggio helped Tony La Russa

In the same year Bob Gibson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, he was fired by the Mets. Rather than close the door to baseball jobs, the dismissal gave Gibson a chance to explore other possibilities. Those options included: _ Working for Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. _ Replacing Dave Duncan as pitching coach of an American League … [Read more...] about Yankees made a pitch to hire Bob Gibson

Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst had a high regard for Pirates pitcher Al McBean; so much so that there was talk of a swap involving him and Curt Flood. A right-hander from the Virgin Islands who pitched 10 years (1961-70) in the majors, McBean was a good pitcher (67-50, 63 saves) who was as effective with a bat as he was with his arm against the Cardinals. McBean twice hit … [Read more...] about Al McBean: Swashbuckling pitcher impressed Cardinals

An introduction to the big leagues with the 1966 Cardinals was about as challenging as it gets for Jimy Williams. A middle infielder whose professional baseball experience consisted of one season at the Class A level of the minors, Williams got his first at-bat in the majors against none other than Sandy Koufax. His second plate appearance also came against a future Hall … [Read more...] about How Jimy Williams jumped from Class A to Cardinals