June 14, 1934: Durocher Hits An Inside The Park Slam To Bury The Braves In St. Louis

     On June 14, 1934, Leo Durocher's fifth inning inside-the-park grand slam broke up a 6-6 tie, and propelled the Cardinals to a 12-9 over the Boston Braves at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. The contest was a hit festival, with the Gashouse Gang piling up 16 hits, which included three home runs, five doubles, and a triple.

     The group from Boston piled up 18 hits of their own, with 14 of those coming against Redbird starter Tex Carleton, who was charged with six runs, while seven men crossed the dish while he was on the bump. The inside-the-parker by Durocher came against Boston's Leo Mangum. He had come on in relief after starter Ben Cantwell did not pitch so well. Cantwell was yanked after two and a third after he giving up six runs on seven hits.

     Mangum went the rest of the way and took one on the chin when Durocher put good wood on the ball, then wheeled around the bases. The other big flies came off of Frankie Frisch's bat and catcher Bill Delancey's bat as well. Dizzy Dean cleaned up an inherited mess in the seventh, then picked up a three inning save. It was a wild contest that had a little bit of everything. It was a great day to be a hitter, a rough day to be a pitcher, and a great day to be a fan who got to witness an inside-the-park grand slam at the ole ballpark.

Side notes: The picture featured with today's fact is Durocher in 1937. He was no power hitter. However, he did have a solid 17-year career. Over the course of that time he hit 24 home runs total. Two of those were of the inside-the-park variety, with the one that came on this day being the first of those two. His second came the next season. Durocher wore the Birds on the Bat for five years. He did not lead the way in offensive categories, but he like every other man on that roster was important when it came to winning a championship. His career spanned well past his playing days, as he became a manager that won more than 2,000 games. If you would like to know more about the man they called Leo "The Lip" check out his SABR biography here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/35d925c7

You can also take a glance at his career numbers here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/durocle01.shtml

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN193406140.shtml

June 13, 1968: Schofield Comes Through In The 12th

     On June 13, 1968, Dick Schofield led the twelfth inning off with a solo shot off of knuckleballer Phil Niekro to spark the Cardinals to a 3-1 victory over the Braves in Atlanta. Niekro then walked Phil Gagliano, before Lou Brock knocked in an insurance marker. Steve Carlton put the Redbirds in position to win this one with a strong eight inning performance that included eight strikeouts and just four hits. Carlton not only helped them to the victory with his arm, he also hit the first of 13 career big league home runs with a solo shot in the third.

     The 23-year-old hurler shut the Braves down until they scratched a run across with an RBI off the bat of Joe Torre in the sixth. Carlton did not get a decision, however, he gave the Birds eight strong, before the bullpen took over and held the Braves in check until that extra inning rally put them in a position to win it.

     Schofield, a bench player, was only in the game after Roger Maris pinch hit for Dal Maxvill in the top of the ninth. After Maris failed to produce, the seasoned veteran took over at short. It was a fateful move that would lead to victory, as he walked to the dish and pounced on the Niekro pitch that sailed into the stands.

     Schofield began his career with the Cardinals in 1953. Other than the Cardinals, the man nicknamed "Ducky" played for the Pirates, Giants, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox and the Brewers. The '68 season was his second go around with the Cardinals and that home run was his lone homer of that season. He was a role throughout his career, only playing more than 100 games during four times during his 19 year big league career. With that said, he is an example of how important a role player can be for a team. He won a Championship with the Pirates in 1960, then helped the Cardinals get to the Fall Classic during that '68 campaign. While that season did not end with the top prize being awarded to the Cardinals, it was a thrilling season nonetheless, as the club repeated as Champions of the National League.

You can read all about the life of Dick Schofield here: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/072cd739

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL196806130.shtml

June 12, 1922: The Cards String Together 10 Consecutive Hits In Philly

     On June 12, 1922, the Cardinals tied a major league record by picking up 10 consecutive hits during a seven run sixth inning against the Phillies at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The Birds came into the frame down 6-3, before the hit festival began that ended with them up 10-6. The ten-hit inning was a part of a 23 hit day for the Redbirds, which included a 4 for 4 day by Rogers Hornsby who hit two doubles, stole two bases, scored two runs, walked twice, and hit a home run. Hornsby was also caught stealing three times. I guess he was human. Other offensive stars included shortstop Doc Lavan who went 5 for 5 with a double, a ribbie, and two runs scored, as well as center fielder Jack Smith who went 4 for 6, falling just a home run short of the cycle. If you're a fan that loves offense this would have been the contest for you.

Note: from what I could find, the record for ten consecutive hits was first achieved in 1901 by the Boston Red Sox. It was tied by a handful of teams, which included another Cardinals squad in 2007, until it was finally broken by the Colorado Rockies who strung together 11 in a row in 2011.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI192206120.shtml

Retrosheet actually provides a rundown of the entire inning here: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1922/B06120PHI1922.htm

June 11, 1917: Gonzalez Steals Home!!!

     On June 11, 1917, first baseman Mike Gonzalez ended a three hour affair in the fifteenth inning at Sportsman's Park, by stealing home to give the Cardinals a dramatic 5-4  win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Bill Doak started for the Birds, and looked rough in the first, as the Phillies picked up four runs to start things off. Doak put that inning behind him quickly, and went the rest of the distance, striking out 10 men in the process. The Cardinals put a run on the board in the fourth, then three more in the sixth. None other than Rogers Hornsby led the offensive charge, as he went 4 for 6 and scored twice. Like Doak, Philly's starter Joe Oeschger settled down after his rough innings, and sailed into extra innings matching his counterpart pitch by pitch until Gonzalez made his break to win the ballgame.

     That game winning play was setup when Oechger surrendered a leadoff double to Gonzalez, who ended up on third when Dots Miller was retired on a groundout. The most feared batsman of the day, Rogers Hornsby was then walked, before Gozalez made his game-winning dash for home while Oeschger was in his windup. A reported 3,000 fans strolled through the gates that day. It is probably safe to say that a few fans may have made their way home or elsewhere by the time that Gonzalez scored the run that counted the most. Those that stayed witnessed a rare treat, which has been long considered the most exciting play in baseball. The only thing better than stealing home, is stealing home in walkoff fashion. In essence it is stealing a win.

     The Cuban born, Gonzalez spent parts of 17 years in the big leagues as a player, which began in 1912. After hanging up the cleats in 1932, he became a valuable and respected coach for the Championship winning Gashouse Gang in 1934. In 1938, Gonzalez became the first Cuban born manager in the history of major league baseball. Albeit on a temporary basis. He had another short stint as manager in 1940. To date there have been seven Cuban born men to manage at the major league level. Mark Tomasik over at Retrosimba.com  wrote a great piece about Gonzalez's managerial days. You could check that out here: http://retrosimba.com/2014/12/19/how-mike-gonzalez-became-1st-cuban-manager-in-majors/ It is well worth the read.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN191706110.shtml

Have a great day Cardinal Nation.

June 10, 1952: Presko Pitches 10 To Get The Win

     On June 10, 1952, Joe Presko led the way to a 10-inning  complete game 1-0 victory over the Dodgers, with a complete game victory, that was capped off with a walk off RBI triple by Red Schoendienst. The triple brought Solly Hemus into score the game winner, which sent the crowd of more than 18,000 into a wild frenzy at Sportsman's Park.

     "Little Joe" as Presko was called, scattered five hits in the contest, with only one of them going for extra bases, as Bobby Morgan was able to reach second against him in the fourth. When that fateful bottom of tenth rolled around, Presko was promptly lifted for a pinch hitter in player/manager Eddie Stanky to lead off the inning. The move failed to bring a result, as Stanky grounded out, so it may have looked like his effort would be wasted. The Dodgers starter Chris Van Cuyk had pitched a gem himself, allowing just six hits total in the contest. The wheels truly began to fall of his bus when he beaned Solly Hemus following the quick ground out by Stanky. Shoendienst followed by scorching one into left-center, then was off to the races. As the Ole Redhead touched third, Hemus touched the plate, and the crowd came alive, as the Cardinals had just snapped an eight game winning streak by the Brooklynites.

     Presko's time in the majors was brief. He appeared in 114 games for the Cardinals between 1951 and 1954. He posted a 24-36 record over the course of that time, which may make some fans glance away, then shrug him off as a player that never really shined. He did shine. Exceptionally bright on that day he went ten strong and blanked the team that was destined to win the National League pennant. They called him "Little Joe" because he stood just 5' 9" and weighed in at a buck sixty.  He posted double-digit wins for various minor league affiliates from 1948 to 1950, then got the call that every minor-leaguer wants to get. He was headed to the big leagues, where he would wear the Birds on the Bat.

     After spending 1955 and 1956 in the minors Presko's days ended with the Cardinals. The Detroit Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft. He appeared in 14 games for the club the calls The Motor City home, before spending the rest of his career in the minors. Presko hung up the cleats as a professional in 1959. Alive and well today, Presko calls Kansas City home. He is 86 and has surely made many memories in the years since. I bet if Mr. Presko had his memory jogged about this game he would crack a smile as he reflected on the day that he shut down the Dodgers at Sportsman's Park. It is a day to be remembered.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195206100.shtml

June 9, 1887: Curt Welch Decks Weyhing In Philly

     On June 9, 1887, the Browns knocked off the the Philadelphia Athletics by the score of 7-5 at Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia. The locals looked like they might just take one from the defending American Association Champs, as they scored two runs in the first, before allowing a run in the third and another in the fifth, which tied things up. That fifth inning was an interesting one to say the least, as St. Louis' center fielder Curt Welch ran all the way in from his the outfield when the A's pitcher Gus Weyhing looked like he had a sure double, only to have Welch stop him dead in his tracks by dropping him with a closed fist. Needless to say, the incident was shocking to the crowd and it may have shocked Weyhing as well, as he failed to hold onto a lead.

     It appears that Welch stayed in the game despite the fact he decked another player. He even grabbed a hit in the contest. The A's did retake the lead with a run in the sixth, but St. Louis' bats woke up in the latter innings, as the club plated two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead. Philly came back with two runs in the eighth to make it 6-5, before St. Louis grabbed another run in the bottom of the inning. An 18-year-old Nat Hudson who had started the game for the Browns, finished it as well with a scoreless frame in the ninth.

     Hudson had won 16 games at the age of 17 for the club, and while he only started 9 games during that 1887 campaign he rebounded with a 25 win season in 1888. When it came to Curt Welch, he was quite the ballplayer. He is often referred to as the best center fielder of his time. With that said, he played the game in an aggressive manor, and in more than one instance that would cause him a bit of trouble. This was one of those days.

June 8, 1987: Coleman Runs Wild Against Philly

     On June 8, 1987, Vince Coleman got on base four times with two singles, a triple and a walk. The speedster made the most of it by stealing four bags and scoring three runs, as he helped lift the Cardinals to a 12-8 win over the Phillies at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia.

     The Birds got to work quickly scoring seven runs in the first three innings off of Philly's starter Don Carman who walked nine men and gave up a long ball to Jack Clark in the third, which put the Redbirds up 5-0. The Phillies plated a couple of runs in the bottom of the third, but that was followed by a four run fourth for the Cardinals. Coleman tripled to lead that inning off, then Carman walked Ozzie Smith. Then Carman walked to the showers before he even could get an out in the inning. That was followed by an implosion of sorts for Philadelphia reliever Tom Hume who walked three men, with the last one coming with the bases loaded before he made use of the showers. The Cardinals scored another run in the inning that ended with them up 9-2.

     Those three runs the Phillies scored were scored against starter Tim Conroy, who only lasted three and a third before handing the ball over to reliever Ricky Horton after a two out triple narrowed the lead to 9-3. The Cardinals got that run back in the fifth, which started with Coleman singling, stealing second and third, before Tommy Herr knocked him in with a sac fly to left. It was 10-3 and it looked like this one was all Cardinals.

     The Phillies got something going in the seventh, after Von Hayes led things off with a single. He moved over to third on an error, then scored  on a sac fly by Lance Parrish. If those Phillies were going down, they were going down with a fight. The problem for them was the Cardinals kept fighting as well. A pair of eighth inning RBI singles by Terry Pendleton and Jose Oquendo looked to be the one that nailed this thing shut. The lead was 12-4 at that point. However, the Phillies kept swinging the stick, as they tried to battle back.

     Horton got into trouble in the bottom of the eighth, surrendering back-to-back singles, a triple, and a walk, which led to two of the three runs he was charged with. Horton was able to come up with a double play following the triple, with the runner being retired at home in the process. That was big because the next batter, Chris James parked one in the seats to make it 12-7. Whitey left Ricky on the bump long enough to watch him walk Von Hayes, then Horton got to test out the showers at The Vet. Pat Perry took over for him, got the last out of the frame, then made the ninth interesting by giving up a one out walk to Glenn Wilson. Perry then threw two wild pitches that led to Wilson moving all the way to third. Moments later he scored on a groundout. Perry needed one more out to put this one to bed and he got it when Rick Shu flied out to Oquendo in right, which sent the rest of the Cardinals toward the lockeroom with smiles on their face.

     The team was on fire. They were off to their best start in 20 years after the contest, as they sat at 34-20. The skipper was surprised to learn that was the case because he felt like they were having to score too many runs to win all those ballgames. He was concerned with Conroy's performance, and as it turned out Conroy's day on a major league diamond ended eight days later. He had a surgery the year before and never seemed to recover from it. With that said, the team was built to win and win they did. They held first place from from May 22nd until the final day of the season. On July 10th the club had a 10 game lead in the standing, but they would have to fight to win that pennant, as they lead shrank to as little as one game before they took the N.L. East by three games over the Mets.

     Coleman was instrumental in helping them win that title, as he stole 109 bags. The base burglar was making a name for himself, topping the 100 stolen base mark three years in a row. That season would be the last season he topped 100 stolen bases, but he did lead the National League in stolen bases over the next three seasons. Coleman spent his first six seasons with the Redbirds. He stole 217 of his 346 stolen bases over the course of that time. A part of two pennant winners, Coleman suffered a freak injury in '85 that eliminated him from the playoffs, then when the club returned to the Fall Class during that '87 campaign he stole six bags, but struck out 10 times, and hit just .143 as Minnesota celebrated as champions. Coleman was granted free agency at the end of the 1990 season, then spent time with the Mets, Royals, Reds, and Tigers. While he wore different uniform, ole Vince will always be a Cardinal. Those three seasons that began a career that spanned 13 seasons were something else, as he flew from bag to bag bewildering his opponent, while making the fans in St. Louis jump out of their seats.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI198706080.shtml