April 9, 1953: Busch Buys The Ballpark

     On April 9, 1953, it was announced that August A. Busch had purchased Sportsman's Park from the Browns for an estimated $800,000. By today's standards that would equate to more than $7 million. The Browns who were already trying to shift their club to Baltimore were financially strapped and it was reported that they were forced to sell the ballpark just to keep operating. After the purchase, Busch gave the ballpark a facelift. Under the Browns ownership the park had fell into disrepair. In his official statement Busch said "The park was not maintained on a scale we regard as meeting major league standards." The facelift included a name change, wider seats, and a huge neon Anheuser Busch Eagle over the scoreboard in left field that would flap its wings when a player hit a home run.
   
     The day the deal was announced Busch made it be known  that the name of the old ballpark would be changing to Budweiser Stadium. However, the name change was met with great disdain by a number of groups, as well as National League owners who did not want a park named after an alcoholic beverage, so the Cardinals owner then changed the name to Busch Stadium instead.  Less than a year after he decided to go with Busch Stadium, Busch Bavarian Beer was born (pretty slick move by Gussie).

     Along with the wider seats and the eagle over the scoreboard, Busch added new restrooms, concession stands, drinking fountains, turnstiles, ticket offices gate entrances, and improved the dugouts as well. One of the biggest improvements in the eyes of the players was a state-of-the-art drainage system. While the club was renting from the Browns the field was regarded as one of the worst playing fields in all of baseball. It was said that the Browns even let the tarp fall into such disarray that there were holes in it that would leave puddles on the field after a rain delay. The ballpark was also painted red, green, jade, and metallic blue, which were selected by a color specialist who proclaimed that the color scheme would enhance the atmosphere for the fans. Over a two-year period Busch invested an estimated $1.5 million into the park. It truly was a complete renovation.

     The Cardinals called Sportsman's Park home until 1966 when Busch Stadium II opened. The team had called the site home from 1882 to 1892, then again from 1920 until the day that it closed. It was the original Baseball Heaven. While I might be too young to remember the old ballpark, through pictures, and old films, it is easy for me to close my eyes and dream of the days when the boys played their ball at Grand and Dodier.

Check this out for a glimpse into baseball's past: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3cYftwIcc

April 8, 1927: Rogers Hornsby Sells His Stock In The Birds

     On April 8, 1927, Rogers Hornsby sold 1,167 shares of stock in the team back to Cardinals President Sam Breadon for an estimated $116,700. The former Cardinal who had been traded to the New York Giants just months after leading the team to their first championship was prohibited by rule to own stock in a team while playing for another. While many speculated that the transaction would be quick and painless, the negotiations came to a stalemate, until the Commissioner of Baseball Kennesaw Mountain Landis stepped in along with a group of National League Presidents to resolve the issue.

     Hornsby and his attorney met the group of National League executives, along with the commissioner at the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh. The commissioner had appointed a neutral committee to come up with a number that was fair for both sides. Hornsby was hardly willing to budge on the issue, and he had the control. There had been talk of the Giants organization selling the stock on the open market, but Breadon had an option in the original deal that stated he had the first opportunity to purchase it if it was sold; Breadon wanted it back in his hands.

     When the two parties met in Pittsburgh they spent two hours behind closed doors before an agreement had been reached. This statement by National League President John Heydler followed. "An agreement has been reached for the purchase of Hornsby's stock in the St. Louis club at a price satisfactory to all concerned. In bringing about this solution concessions were made by Hornsby, the St. Louis and New York clubs and the National League. The stock will revert to Samuel Breadon, President of the Cardinals, for the benefits of the St. Louis club."

     The concessions that Heydler spoke of were in large part on the side of the Cardinals owner Sam Breadon and the Giants club as well. Breadon paid $87,000, the Giants contributed $12,000, and each owner of a National League club contributed $2,000. After it was all said and done Breadon simply stated that he was happy to put it behind him. Hornsby did return to the Cardinals in 1933, but played just 46 games before being released by the club in July of that season. Hornsby stayed in St.Louis though he just changed uniforms as he signed with the Browns on the same day he was released.

     This story about Hornsby's relationship with the Cardinals is one of money and business. If you take a step back and look at the bigger picture you will quickly realize it is just one chapter in a book that ended with a plaque in Cooperstown. He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to step on the field as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Over thirteen years with the club, Hornsby hit .359, knocked in more than a 1,000 runs. From 1920 to 1925 he did not bat under .370, during that span he won two triple crowns. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what he accomplished with a Cardinals uniform on, as he is at or near the top in many offensive categories still today.

You can view those stats here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/leaders_bat.shtml

Here is a story I did about the trade in December of '26 that sent Hornsby to New York. While I was researching this fact I ran across other articles that revealed Breadon had issues with Hornsby's attitude on the field, as well as gambling allegations. Albeit, Hornsby was betting on horses, yet it still caused great dissention between him and the Cardinals owner which led to the trade. There were also investigations into Hornsby's off-field activities that I will sure to be cover in great detail on another day.
http://onthisdayincardinalnation.blogspot.com/2013/12/december-20-1926-hornsby-for-frisch.html

April 7, 1987: The Birds Open The Season With A Win At Wrigley

     On April 7, 1987, with 38,240 in the stands on Opening Day at Wrigley Field in Chicago the Cardinals christened the new season with a 9-3 win over the Cubs. There were a handful of heroes in this game which included: Tito Landrum, Ozzie Smith, Jim Lindeman, and John Tudor who all had two RBIs in the contests, along with pitcher Bill Dawley who was virtually untouchable in four innings of relief.

     John Tudor got the call to start the game for the Birds. He had to overcome a rough start after giving up three runs in the first two frames. The early deficit was erased in the third when the Cardinals bats rocked Chicago starter Rick Sutcliffe with a five-run third inning. Sutcliffe opened the inning with a quick out before losing his control. After he walked Ozzie Smith, Tommy Herr singled, then Sutcliffe issued another free pass to Jack Clark to load the bases. Jim Lindeman delivered with a single that scored Smith and Herr. Still trying to hold onto the slim 3-2 lead, Sutcliffe remained wild and issued a free pass to Tony Pena. The wheels were falling off the Cubs bus.

     With the bases loaded and one out it looked like a crooked number would be posted on the Cardinals side of the scoreboard. Sutcliffe was able to get Terry Pendleton to fly out, but then he walked Tito Landrum which tied the ballgame. Next man up was John Tudor, so all Sutcliffe needed to do was set down the Cardinals pitcher to hold onto the tie; Tudor had other ideas. He rapped a single into right to score Lindeman and Landrum and the Birds were up 5-3. Sutcliffe issued one more free pass before being yanked from the ballgame. The Cubs hurler was charged with all 5 runs and he had walked 7 men.

     The results posted by Tudor were far less ominous than those of Sutcliffe, although, it was not the strongest start of his career. After getting 91 pitches out of his starter, Whitey Herzog called on Bill Dawley to pitch the sixth. Dawley was in cruise control right out of the gate as he retired the first nine batters he faced, and only gave up 1 hit as he earned a four-inning save. In the seventh, the Cardinals added four more runs on RBIs by Landrum, Smith, and Herr. It was all Cardinals from there with Dawley mowing down batter after batter.

     After the game Tudor said that the only thing he contributed was the two RBIs in the fifth, and that Dawley was the one who should have recorded the win. Dawley credited pitching coach Mike Roarke with his success for helping him straightening some flaws in his delivery. The win was the first of 95 wins for a team that would go onto win National League Pennant.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN198704070.shtml

April 6, 2001: Vina Goes 5 for 5 and Pujols Hits His First Dinger

     On April 6, 2001, Fernando Vina went 5 for 5 which included a triple, and three ribbies as the Cardinals knocked off the Diamondbacks 12-9 on Opening Day in Arizona. The big inning for the Birds came in the fifth when they broke a 2-2 tie by scoring eight runs in the frame. One inning before the offensive explosion a 21-year-old rookie by the name of Albert Pujols hit the first home run of his career, it was a 2 run shot that gave the Cardinals their first lead of the day. Pujols parked 445 balls in the seats while wearing the Birds on the Bat.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ARI/ARI200104060.shtml
   

April 5, 1974: The Birds Win a Wild Season Opener

     On April 5, 1974, a single off the bat of Ted Sizemore capped off a 6-5, 10 inning win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Opening Day. The Cardinals came into the bottom of the frame trailing 5-4 after Willie Stargell singled in Richie Hebner in the top half of the inning. Hebner had one helluva day as he had hit a pair of home runs off of Bob Gibson earlier in the ballgame, before picking up a double in the tenth that led to the go ahead run. Hebner's day would be spoiled in what turned out to be a wild finish at the ole ballpark.

     Bake McBride opened up the bottom of the 10th with a bunt single off of Dave Guisti. The speedster darted to third when Kenny Reitz picked up a single, then was knocked in by Tim McCarver, who snuck one by second baseman Rennie Stennett to tie the ballgame. Following McCarver's ribbie Jose Cruz came into pinch hit for Al Hrabosky and found his way to first base with a bunt single to load the bases. The bunt single by Cruz ended Guisti's day, and Ramon Hernandez took over pitching duties for the Bucco's. The first man Hernandez had to face was Lou Brock who was hoping to send the fans home happy.

     Unfortunately for Brock, he hit into a bizarre double play that will leave you scratching your head. It started with a liner into right that was trapped by Gene Clines. The baserunners not knowing if it was caught or not held up, and an alert Clines fired the ball to the plate to force Jim Dwyer who had come into run for Reitz. The Pirates catcher Mike Ryan then fired the ball to Hebener at third base to force McCarver, then Hebner threw it to second where Stennett put a tag on McCarver rather than step on the bag. If he would have stepped on the bag it would have been a triple play with Brock standing at first while Cruz was trying to get to second in time to avoid being forced. With the triple play disaster averted Sizemore shot a single into left to give the Birds their first win of the campaign.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197404050.shtml

April 4, 1988: Joe Magrane Goes Deep on Opening Day

     On April 4, 1988, Joe Magrane became just the second Cardinals pitcher to hit a home run on Opening Day. The only other time it was accomplished was by Jack Powell in 1901. Magrane's big blast was a three-run shot that came in the fourth inning and propelled the Birds to a 4-1 lead. Unfortunately for Magrane and the Birds, errors would haunt them as the Reds came back to tie it, then win the game with an RBI from Kal Daniels in the 12th inning. Daniels had also hit a solo shot earlier in the ballgame. While most days I would pick a fact that involves a win over a loss, I was surprised to learn that only Magrane and Powell were the only two Cardinals pitchers to accomplish the Opening Day feat. When Powell did it on 1901 the team lost 8-7, so maybe it is best for a pitcher to simply pitch the ballgame on Opening Day rather than breakout the boomstick.

Check out the box score along with the play by play:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN198804040.shtml

April 3, 1969: Welcome Back Bill White

     On April 3, 1969, Bing Devine sent utility infielder Jerry Buchek and catcher Jim Hutto to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for first baseman Bill White. It was the second go around for White with the Cardinals organization. White played in just 49 games that season, primarily as a pinch hitter, before calling it a career.

     He had been acquired by the club in 1959 in a swap with the San Francisco Giants and would go onto enjoy his best years in the Gateway City, which included  the 1964 Championship run. In October of  '65, White along with Bob Uecker, and Dick Groat were sent to Philadelphia  in exchange for Art Mahaffey, Alex Johnson, and Pat Corrales. None of the players involved in that deal panned out for the Birds, however, White was also in a downturn when it came to his career. He hit .258 in his 3 years in Philly before being sent back to the Cardinals.

     In 8 years with the Cardinals, White hit .298 and parked 140 balls in the seats. He is also 1 of 18 Cardinals to hit for the cycle, a feat he accomplished in 1960. After his playing career came to a close he spent 18 years behind the mic, before taking a job as President of the National League in 1989. It was a post he held until 1994.

Check out Bill White's numbers here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitebi03.shtml