August 6, 1964: Bill White and Dick Groat Put The Birds In The Win Column

     On August 6, 1964, despite being outhit 11 to 5, the Cardinals beat the Cubs 5-3 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Bob Gibson worked out of jam after jam, which included a bases loaded situation in the first. The Redbirds were helped by an error in the bottom of the first, as the Cubs' shortstop Andy Rodgers had what looked like a sure out by Curt Flood get by him. Lou Brock moved Flood to second with a sac bunt, and moments later Dick Groat came through with a single that brought Flood around to score. Ken Boyer was the next man up, and he came through a double that scored Groat and the Birds were off and flying. Ron Santo cut the 2-0 lead in half with an RBI single in the third, but the momentum shifted back to the Cardinals in the bottom of the frame, when Groat came through with a two out double, which was followed by an intentional walk to Boyer. Bill White was the next man up, and he made the Baby Bears pay for passing Boyer by ripping a double that brought both men into score. The true hero of this contest was Groat, as he added to his totals with another RBI with a two out single in the seventh. Santo was the only man that could come through when it mattered on the Chicago side of the ball, as he knocked in another run in the eighth, then drew a bases loaded walk in the ninth, before Barney Shultz was called on to face one batter. That one batter, was Ernie Banks and he struck him out to end it.

     It was a wild contest that was witnessed by just 8,258 fans. The Cardinals were seven games out after the game was put in the books, and would slide down in the standings into late August. reaching as far as eleven games back. Then came run at glory and epic collapse in Philadelphia. It could be said a perfect storm came together for the Redbirds that season, and you can honestly point at each win of the campaign and see that they were all truly important.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196408060.shtml

I would also like to wish my friend Jame Nolde a.k.a. Captain a Merry Birthmas. He was born on that day, so he kicked things off the right way. I hope you have a great birthday my friend.