April 11, 1962: Stan The Man Ties Mel Ott's Runs Scored Record

     On April 11, 1962, Stan Musial tied New York Giants legend Mel Ott's all time runs scored record by scoring his 1,859th in an 11-4 win over the Mets on Opening Day in St. Louis. The game was the first regular season game in the history of the Mets organization, but it would be remembered far more for what the 41-year-old future Hall of Famer did at the dish with a 3 for 3 performance that included, a couple of ribbies and a run scored as well. Musial shared the spotlight with Julian Javier who recorded four hits in four trips, Bill White who knocked in three, and Larry Jackson who went the distance in the Redbird victory. However, it was Musial's name that grabbed the headlines, as he proved he still had gas left in the tank by tying Ott's record that had been set in 1947.

     Musial had stuck yet another feather in his cap by tying the mark, which meant he owned or shared 38 different National League records. He then set his sights on Honus Wagner's National League hit record of 3,340. Just 27 away from that mark, The Man said with a smile "Let's get that one real quick. Two hits at a time. You never know when fate might step in." That '62 season was something special for Musial. His numbers had been in declining for several seasons, however, he ripped out a .330 average, knocked in 82, and blasted 19 homers. One season later he hung up the spikes and called it a career. At the time of his retirement he held or shared 29 National League records, 17 Major League records, and 9 All Star game records.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN196204110.shtml

   

April 10, 2002: Eduardo Wins It In The Eleventh

     On April 10, 2002, Eduardo Perez ended a three hour and thirty-one minute affair with a walk off blast that beat the Brewers 6-5 in eleven innings at Busch Stadium. The Brew Crew looked like they came to play, as they hammered Andy Benes through the first three innings and jumped out to a 5-0 lead. However, the Birds started pecking away in the bottom of the third by plating three runs. They scored another in the fourth, then tied it in the ninth to set the stage for the eleventh inning heroics.

     Perez hit 79 home runs in his career. 25 of those came with the Birds on the Bat across his chest. The walk off  in 2002 was the second game ending home run of his career. The first came in 1993 as a member of the California Angels. He hit one more in 2005 as a member of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN200204100.shtml

April 9, 1979: Lou Brock Announces His Retirement

     On April 9, 1979, the end of an era was announced as Lou Brock told the media his playing days would be coming to close at season's end. The famed base burglar was in his 19th season at the time and just 100 hits shy of the coveted 3,000 hit mark. The '78 season had been a disappointment for Brock, as he recorded a .221 average and picked up just 66 hits, which led him to telling the press that he would be retiring no matter if he hit the mark or not.  Brock quickly put the '78 season behind him as he flew out the gate putting the bat on the ball. By the end of May he had 45 hits in 118 at bats, and by mid August he recorded that 3,000th hit. On September 30, 1979, Brock's journey as a player on a big league diamond came to a close. After taking off his uniform one last time Brock knew no other player in the Cardinals organization would wear the number 20 on his back.

Stats of a legend: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brocklo01.shtml

Read Brock's SABR Bio here: sabr.org/bioproj/person/cb8af7aa

April 8, 1997: Walk It Off Willie!!!

     On April 8, 1997, Willie McGee hit the first walk off home run of his career, with a ninth inning, two out, pinch hit blast, that propelled the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over the Montreal Expos at Busch Stadium. The 38-year-old veteran of the game was not known for his power. He had spent 16 seasons on a big league diamond up to that point, and until he put that one over the wall he had 73 home runs to his credit. The 74th of his career was one that he would surely remember, as it even surpised him, while his skipper Tony LaRussa called it something right out of The Natural. Willie hit another walk off blast on July 2nd of that same year. He finished his career with 79 home runs. Coincidentally the last three, in 1998, came against a trio of future Cardinals in Julian Tavarez, Darryl Kile, and Dave Veres.

   
     1997 was a rough year for the Cardinals. They lost 89 games. The walk off winner by McGee was the first win of that season, and it was the seventh game of the year. It amounted to the worst start in the franchise's history This came after winning the Central division the previous season, and after an overconfident Tony LaRussa guaranteed the club would take the title again. While the season was an overall disappointment there were bright moments as well. One of them came with two outs, in the bottom of the ninth, and Willie McGee swinging the stick.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN199704080.shtml

April 7, 1971: The Cards Steamroll The Baby Bears at Wrigley

     On April 7, 1971, the Cardinals exploded for 12 runs through the first four innings of a 14-3 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley. Jose Cardenal and Joe Hague led the way in the 13-hit-attack with four RBI's apiece. However, nine of the Cardinals 14 runs were unearned, as the Cubs defense melted down behind their pitcher. They committed five errors before it was put in the books. While the Cardinals starter, Steve Carlton was touched for a couple of late homers it was a great start for the hurler who put the ghost of 1970 to bed by going the distance in the tilt. The '70 season was tough one for the big lefty, as he led the league with 19 losses, and only recorded 10 wins. He turned it around big time in '71, as he posted a 20-9 record, with the first of those 20 wins coming on that day in  Chicago.

      An article that was featured in the  Southeast Missourian had Carlton attributing the strong performance to him shelving his slider. He had realized he had been hanging it, which led to the poor performance that had come the previous season. Carlton regained control of his slider as time marched on, however, he truly mastered the pitch in the City of Brotherly Love the following season after being dealt to the Phillies for Rick Wise in February of '72.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN197104070.shtml

April 6, 1982: The Cardinals Roll Over The Astros On Opening Day

   

     On April 6, 1982, the Cardinals opened the season with a 14-3 romping of the Astros at the Astrodome in Houston. The game was highlighted by first inning three run home run by Darrell Porter, which was delivered to him by future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The three runs were the first of five runs in that first inning, as the Cardinals came out of the gate flying. The Ryan Express pitched just three innings, and gave up six runs, before being lifted for a pinch hitter, while Bob Forsch gave the Cardinals eight innings as they sailed to victory. Other offensive stars of the game included Keith Hernandez who legged out two doubles and a single. Hernandez also scored three times, and knocked in three runs as well. The game was also the regular season debut for Ozzie Smith in a Cardinals uniform. The Wizard went 2 for 5 and knocked in two.

Check out the box score here: www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198204060.shtml

Sidenote: the article was featured in The Southeast Missourian the day after the game was played. While reading the account I caught an error, which was they referred to Dane Iorg as Garth, who was Dane's brother. Garth played for the Toronto Blue Jays for parts of nine seasons.

April 5, 2005: Jimmy Ballgame Helps Lead The Way On Opening Day

     On April 5, 2005, the defending N.L. Champion Cardinals opened up the season with a 7-3 win over the Astros in Houston. The NLCS rematch was highlighted by a three-run home run by Jim Edmonds in the first inning. In the end all three Cardinals outfielders put one in the seats, as Reggie Sanders and Larry Walker both joined Jimmy Ballgame in the home run department. The win was the first of 100 wins for the Cardinals, and it snapped an 18 game home winning streak for the Astros.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU200504050.shtml