April 14, 1914: Chief Wilson Leads The Birds To Victory

     On April 14, 1914, in front of 7,500 fans at Robison Field in St. Louis, the Cardinals opened up the season with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game winning run came in the bottom of the ninth when Chief Wilson hit a walkoff single that scored Art Butler from third base. Wilson was making his debut with the club that day. He had spent the first six years in Pittsburgh before a trade landed him in St. Louis. Wilson is best known for setting the still standing record for triples in a season with 36, which is something he accomplished in 1912. When he joined the Cardinals in 1914, his numbers were in decline. Despite that fact he still rocked out 12 triples that season, which was good for 2nd best in the National League. Wilson spent three seasons with the Cardinals before his days in the majors came to an end after the 1916 season.

     The game was a well fought battle on both ends. Babe Adams toed the rubber for the Buccos, while Dan Griner got the call for the Birds. Adams was tagged for six hits, and Griner gave up just five. According to the Pittsburgh Press the following day Griner got hit hard, but the Cardinals defense came up big behind him. The Cards grabbed a run in the first inning, before Pittsburgh grabbed their only run of the contest, that came on an error when Cardinals outfielder Cozy Dolan overthrew his target in the second inning. What should have been a single off the bat of Ed Konetchy (who was part of the Wilson deal) ended with the former Cardinal at third base. The Bucs second baseman Jim Viox then knocked Konetchy in with a double to right. Since the error put Konetchy in position to score the run was not charged to Griner who would go on to earn a complete game shutout.

     With the score knotted at 1 the Birds went to work in the bottom of the ninth. Miller Huggins picked up a base hit to lead things off, before Lee Magee flied out.  The Cardinals shortstop Art Butler come to the plate hoping to win it, but ended up hitting into a fielders choice that retired Huggins. However, Butler did some damage on the basepaths and stole second base to set the table for Wilson who laced one right up the middle that brought Butler into score. The Birds got the season started the right way.

     The 1914 season in Cardinal Nation was one in which the club surprised the National League. The team had been cellar dwellers in 1913 as they had posted a National League worst 51-99 record. In 1914 they went 81-72 and were in the thick of the pennant race until late August.  The team was still a number of years off when it came to bringing postseason glory to the fans in St. Louis, however, they were simply writing the early chapters for what has become one of the greatest history books that baseball has ever seen.

Read about the life and career of Chief Wilson here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ed5711f8

You can view Wilson's career numbers here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wilsoch01.shtml

April 13, 1954: Tom Alston Breaks The Cardinals Color Barrier

     On April 13, 1954, the Cardinals opened up the season with a disappointing 13-4 loss to the Cubs in St. Louis. While the numbers in the runs scored column leaned toward the wrong team, the game was notable for many reasons which included Wally Moon hitting a home run in his first major league at bat, Stan "The Man" Musial hitting a solo shot, and perhaps the most notable thing to happen that day was Tom Alston was penciled in at first base. The moment Alston took to the field he became the first African American player to suit up for the Cardinals in a regular season contest.

     The next day Moon was the headliner in the newspapers. The young centerfielder was filling the shoes of Enos Slaughter who had been traded to the New York Yankees. Moon would later say that he was much more nervous in the field than he was at the plate. His comfortability at the plate showed after being issued two balls before connecting on the third Paul Minner pitch that sailed 350 feet and over the wall. Moon proclaimed "It was quite a thrill." He was just the second Cardinals player to accomplish the feat in his first at bat. To date, eight Cardinals have hit a home run in their first at bat, with the latest coming in 2008 off the bat of Mark Worrell.

     The debut of Tom Alston with the Cardinals came seven years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Brooklyn. Alston was regarded as a can't miss prospect when he was purchased from the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast league for an estimated $100,000. However, he played in career high 66 games during that '54 season, and would only hit .244 over four years in the big leagues. Regardless of what he did on the field, or at the plate, Alston is a very important figure in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals. While the Cardinals ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard on that day in April, Alston helped opened the door for men like Bob Gibson, Bill White, Curt Flood and countless other African American as well as Latino players who have worn the birds on the bat. A new era had begun in St. Louis.

You can view the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195404130.shtml


   

April 12, 1953: Things Get Heated at The Ole Ballpark

     On April 12, 1953, tempers flared at the newly christened Busch Stadium as the Browns and Cardinals came to near blows during the second inning of a contest that had the Browns come out on top 8-5. (The article appeared in the Milwaukee Sentinel the following day.)

April 11, 1952: The Pride of St. Louis Premieres

     On April 11, 1952, the life story of Dizzy Dean titled "The Pride of St. Louis" premiered at the Missouri Theatre in St. Louis. The Mayor of St. Louis Joseph Darst declared the entire week "Dizzy Dean" week in the city to celebrate the film that had Dan Dailey playing Dizzy, Joanne Dru playing his wife Patricia, and Richard Crenna playing his brother Paul. After the premiere Dizzy Dean joined Mayor Darst, Bill Veeck, Rogers Hornsby, along with the entire cast of the film on stage to take a bow. What followed the premiere was an over the top celebration, that included a six-mile long parade that began on Washington Avenue through downtown to Grand Avenue where they headed to the gates of Sportsman's Park.

You can watch the movie here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY4UWpUjNaI

April 10, 1968: Gibby Starts Strong and Ricketts Comes Up Big

     On April 10, 1968, with 34,740 fans in the stands at Busch the Cardinals kicked off the season with a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Braves. The game was highlighted by dominant performance by Bob Gibson who pitched seven strong innings, and Dave Ricketts who won the game with a pinch hit walk off single in the bottom of the ninth. This game marked the beginning of what was a legendary season for Bob Gibson and the Cardinals.

     The only run the Braves put on the board came on an error by Lou Brock in the second inning of  the game where the Cardinals struggled to find an offensive spark. In fact, they didn't pick up their first hit off of the Braves starter Pat Jarvis until Gibson laced a single into right in the sixth. When Gibby was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh he had allowed just 3 hits, walked a man, and despite being dominant he did not record a strikeout.

   

     On the Braves side of the diamond Jarvis remained strong. He kept the Birds off the board until Orlando Cepeda doubled in the bottom of the eighth that scored Curt Flood from first base. It was a whole new ballgame, and Ray Washburn who took over pitching duties for Gibson gave the team two perfect innings as they battled their way to victory. With Jarvis still on the mound in the ninth Dal Maxvill slapped a one out double into left that set the table for Ricketts who was called on to pinch hit for Washburn. When Red Schoendienst made the switch he also called on Dick Simpson to pinch run for Maxvill. The Braves skipper Lum Harris countered with a pitching change, bringing in Ken Johnson to face Ricketts. The Cardinals batter who recorded all of five RBIs during that '68 season came up big with RBI number one that sent the fans in the stands home happy.

     The Opening Day start was a bit unusual for Gibby since he didn't finish the ballgame. He went onto complete 28 of his 34 starts on his way to posting a 22-9 record, and that included 13 shutouts. The eye popping number that came out of the '68 season is the 1.12 earned run average that Gibson put on the back of the baseball card. It was the third lowest e.r.a. since 1900, and it still stands as the lowest e.r.a. posted in the modern era. The win by the club marked win #1 out of 97. They would lockdown the National League Pennant and fought a hard seven-game battle with the Detroit Tigers in the Fall Classic, which included Gibson's famous 17 strikeout performance in Game 1 of the Series. While the Tigers took the crown, the season was one to remember, and it began on this day with Bob Gibson on the bump.

Check out the box score: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196804100.shtml

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