Retro Simba

When a proposed trade between the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox involving Gaylord Perry hit a snag, the Cardinals swooped in and snatched the pitchers the Indians wanted. Fifty years ago, on Dec. 7, 1973, the Cardinals acquired John Curtis, Mike Garman and Lynn McGlothen from the Red Sox for Reggie Cleveland, Diego Segui and Terry Hughes. It was the second major trade … [Read more...] about Lynn McGlothen was key to Cardinals deal with Red Sox

Red Sox pitcher Wes Ferrell won games with his bat as well as his arm. Ferrell slugged walkoff home runs in consecutive days against the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns. A right-hander, Ferrell holds the record for regular-season career home runs hit by a pitcher. According to baseball-reference.com, the top six are Ferrell (38), Bob Lemon (37), Warren Spahn (35), Red … [Read more...] about Fantastic finishes: Wes Ferrell was pitcher with best bat

For pitcher Pete Richert, fatigues became as much a part of his wardrobe as a baseball uniform in 1968. In April, he served with the National Guard, trying to quell riots in Washington, D.C. In the fall, he went to Vietnam, looking to boost the spirits of U.S. troops. In between, he pitched in relief for the Baltimore Orioles. Among those who accompanied Richert to … [Read more...] about How Pete Richert, Bing Devine bonded in Vietnam

Johnny Klippstein was 16 when he pitched his first season of professional baseball in the Cardinals’ system. When he got to the big leagues at 22, it was with the Cubs, not the Cardinals. A right-hander who converted from starter to reliever, Klippstein spent 18 years in the majors and pitched in two World Series _ one for the Dodgers and the other against … [Read more...] about Wild thing: Cardinals paved way for Johnny Klippstein

When Dennis Higgins first got to pitch for the Cardinals, it seemed like a dream come true. They’d been his favorite team when he was a youth in his hometown of Jefferson City, Mo. Recalling boyhood summers pitching in amateur leagues in central Missouri, Huggins told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “I’d have signed with the Cardinals and played for … [Read more...] about How Cardinals fan Dennis Higgins became their pitcher