April 21, 1961: The Cardinals Visit The Rock

   On April 21, 1961, a group of Cardinals visited Alcatraz on their off day in San Francisco. The group included players Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst, along with coaches Howie Pollet, Harry Walker, and Johnny Keane. As the article from the  Sporting News points out the trip brightened the day of many lives that more than likely lacked a lot of bright moments.

     Walker reflected on the trip in Larry Powell's book Bottom of the Ninth: An Oral History on the life of Harry "The Cat" Walker, by saying the group ate with the Warden, then toured the prison, which included visiting the cell that housed the Birdman of Alcatraz. After the tour they were taken to visit with the prisoners, and Walker's description of it was something else. He said that they were taken into a cell block, all the doors were opened, and the prisoners gathered around. "Murderers and all." Some of the prisoners ribbed the players saying that they needed to win, so they could stop losing their cigarettes after betting on the Redbirds, while others offered paintings to the players. For a brief moment in their lives these prisoners may have forgotten where they were as they chatted with the Redbird greats.

     Alcatraz housed more than 1,500 men over a 29 year span. I would imagine that the number of horror stories from the prison far outweigh the number of "feel good" stories such as this one. With that said, these men committed crimes that led to their incarceration and they had to pay a price. I am no one to judge, and I am glad to know that Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Howie Pollett, Harry Walker, and Johnny Keane felt the same way. They looked past their past, and brought those prisoners a ray of sunshine on that day in 1961.

April 20, 1910: Bases Loaded; All Aboard!!!

     On April 20, 1910, due to both teams having to catch a train, the Cardinals lost 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs in front of a home crowd in St. Louis. Both teams had agreed to end the game at 5 o'clock before the game began knowing that the trains had to maintain a tight schedule. This actually happened quite often in the age before air travel, but this game was quite different because it was called in the bottom of the eighth, with one out, and the bases full of Cardinals. The umpire, Hank O'Day, made the call to end it at the time which had been agreed on, which essentially saved the day for the Cubs. It was time to hit the rails.

 

April 19, 1900: Cy Young Leads The Cardinals To Victory

     On April 19, 1900, Cy Young struck out nine men and allowed just five hit on the way to an Opening Day 3-0 victory over the Pittsburg Pirates at Robison Field in St. Louis. The crowd of 15,000 was one of the largest attendance figure in baseball for the day, and they would leave the ballpark happy just one hour and fifty minutes after the contest began.

     For the most part this game was a true duel. Although, the Pirates suffered misfortune in having their starter Sam Leever knocked out by a scorcher that split the hurler's hand in the second. The injury led player/manager Fred Clarke into calling on Rube Wadell to take over. Wadell did not pitch bad; he just had a bad inning. It came in the fourth when Patsy Donovan, Dan McGann, and Jack O'Connor singled, before shortstop Bobby Wallace brought all three men into score with a triple. After that inning came to a close only one Cardinals batter scratched out a hit off of Wadell.

     Young's pitching line may seem dominant, but he had to work to win this game. With the offense failing to provide more of a cushion twice the Pirates found hope late in the ballgame. The first time came in the eighth, when Honus Wagner dropped in what appeared to be a single to center. However, Wagner was thrown out by the catcher Jack O'Connor after he was caught napping at first. The Buccaneers scratched out another hit off of Young in the inning, but no damage was done.

     The game looked to be over in the ninth, as Young set the first two men down in succession. He then gave up a double to Ginger Beaumont, and that was followed by what was described as an awkward bounder by Fred Clarke toward Lave Cross at third. Cross misplayed it and Beaumont wheeled over to third, while Clarke stood on first. In the words of the Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette here is how it came to a close "With Williams up and Wagner to follow things looked stormy. However, Williams was too anxious and went after Young's high ones three times in succession, ending the ballgame with his third strikeout." Young also struck out Bones Ely three times. It was a good way to start a new century of baseball in St. Louis.

   Cy Young spent just two seasons in St. Louis. In those two seasons he posted a 45-35 record with a 2.78 E.R.A. The majority of Young's 511 wins came as a member of the Cleveland Spiders (241 wins), and the Boston Red Sox (192 wins). His time in St. Louis may have been short, but it was surely something that should be remembered. It was appointment baseball. Drop what you're doing The Cyclone is on the hill.

April 18, 1987; Herr Celebrates Seat Cushion Night With a Slam

     On April 18, 1987, Tommy Herr's 10th inning grand slam off of Mets hurler Jesse Orosco led the Cardinals to a wild 12-8 win in front of more than 40,000 at Busch. The epic shot into the history books came on "seat cushion night" Busch, and once the ball cleared the wall the cushions flew as Herr was mobbed by his teammates.

     The Redbirds found themselves down 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth when they came storming back with five runs of their own. Herr batted twice in that fourth inning, as 10 men came to the plate. He led things off with a single, ended up scoring, then drew a bases loaded walk to tie it. Herr then put the Birds up 6-5 with an RBI double in the sixth, which is where they stood going into the top of the ninth.

     This one was far from over, as Todd Worrell surrendered back-to-back walks to start off the inning. Worrell had worked out of an inherited jam in the eighth, but Whitey Herzog decided he would not be working his way out of this one, as he called on Bill Dawley who surrendered back-to-back two out singles that led to the Mets taking a 7-6 lead. If twitter would have existed people would have been falling off the proverbial ledge. #FireHerzog would have been trending.

     The momentum shifted in the bottom of the ninth when Ozzie Smith scored while trying to steal third. Gary Carter threw it away trying to nail him, and just like that it was 7-7. Free baseball was on the way. The rollercoaster in the tenth when Dave LaPoint threw wild pitch that brought in Al Pedrique to score the go ahead run.

     While some fans were surely making their ways to their cars, the good majority were still in the house throughout the finish. They would not regret staying, as Orosco gave up back-to-back one out singles before Herzog called on Tom Pagnozzi to pinch hit for Curt Ford. This was second time that Pags appeared in a big league contest, and he came through with his first major league hit to tie the ballgame at 8. At this point the electricity was flowing through Busch. The crowd  watched Orosco retire Vince Coleman who moved both runners over, then came The Wizard of Oz who drew a walk to load the bases. Herr walked up to the dish and took a cut at the first pitch that came his way. The letter high fastball was gone seconds later as it flew over the left field wall. In a frenzy, Herr rounded first base with his arms extended, as seat cushions flew through the air, with the fans celebrating the grand slam walk off winner.

     The home run was just the second walk off of Herr's career, and his lone grand slam. He hit just 28 home runs during his 13 year career. While he was not known for the big stick, he had a solid bat, and formed a deadly double play combination with Ozzie Smith on three pennant winning ballclubs, which included the Championship club in 1982. The night the seat cushions flew had to be one of the most memorable nights in his career. I know when I watch it the goosebumps run down the arms. I also know there is a lesson to be learned with a game like this one; Let it ride. Wait for something great to happen. Never give up until the final out has been recorded. In my eyes that is what sports, and in many ways what life is all about.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198704180.shtml

Note: the AP article in the picture had an error. Herr actually knocked in six runs during the contest.

April 17, 1956: Stan The Man Goes Yard On Opening Day

     On April 17, 1956, Stan Musial led the way to a 4-2 Opening Day victory with a ninth inning two-run blast at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. It was a blustery day in The Queen City, but that did not stop more than 30,000 fans from walking through the gate. They witnessed a pretty tight contest until Musial sent the ball sailing over the wall in the ninth.

     Vinegar Bend Mizell, who had not pitched for the club in two years due to being called into service was the winning pitcher, but it was not easy, as he and the Reds pitcher Joe Nuxall both surrendered 12 hits apiece. The two teams were tied up 2-2 after four innings, as they each worked around major damage. However, Nuxhall could not work his way around  Red Schoendienst and Stan The Man in the ninth. Schoendienst set the table with a two out single, and Musial cleaned the plate with the big blast into right.

     After Nuxhall got Hank Sauer to flyout Mizell came out to pitch the ninth. There was still work to do. Nuxhall was lifted for a pinch hitter in George Crowe who led things off by grounding out. Then shortstop Johnny Temple worked a walk out of him before Smokey Burgess singled into right. With two men on, one out, and the big bat of Ted Kluszewki coming up Mizell had to have broke a sweat  even with it being a chilly day. Big Klu had parked 47 in the seats the season before, however, he would have to wait for his first home run of 1956 because Mizell was able to retire him with a fly ball to center. One out to go, and another big bat on the way in Wally Post, the Cardinals skipper made a trip to the mound, and took the ball from Mizell. He had turned in an admirable performance after his extended hiatus from baseball. The ball was handed to a 41-year-old Ellis Kinder who struck Post out to get the save. It was an Opening Day to remember for Musial and the boys.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195604170.shtml

April 16, 1919: Five Cardinals Pitchers Involved a Car Accident

     On April 16, 1919, five pitchers from the St. Louis Cardinals were traveling in an automobile in St. Louis, when one of the hurlers, Lee Meadows, lost control of the vehicle and hit a street car. According to Cardinals Journal  by John Snyder, the accident happened on a rainy day, and when the collision happened the car flipped over. Meadows was said to have been thrown through the windshield upon impact, however, he and Bill Doak, Oscar Hortsmann, and Bill Sherdel walked away with bumps and bruises. Red Ames was the fifth pitcher in the car, and would be out until May 29th. Luckily, this tale did not end tragically.

April 15, 1899: The Perfectos Pummel The Spiders On Opening Day

     On April 15, 1899, Cy Young and the St. Louis Perfectos opened the season with a 10-1 victory over the Spiders in Cleveland. Young, along with the rest of the St. Louis starting lineup had all played in Cleveland the previous year, and posted an 81-68 record.  Meanwhile, the 1898 Browns posted an abysmal 39-111 record. The flip flop of rosters came after Frank and Stanley Robison purchased the Browns, and chose to send their best players to the Mound City. The Perfectos posted an 84-67 record with the revamped roster. The Spiders club went onto post the worst record in the history of Major League Baseball, winning only 20 games while losing 134. The fans in Cleveland turned their backs to the club, which led to the Robison's having the club playing 112 of their 154 games on the road. The Spiders disbanded following that season, while the Perfectos took on a new moniker in 1900. They would be known as the Cardinals.