July 7, 1953: Repulski Provides The Punch; Staley Stops The Rally

     On July 7, 1953, Cardinals rookie center fielder Rip Repulski led the club to a 7-6 victory over the Reds at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, with two solo shots, and a three run bases clearing double. While Repulski tore it up at the plate, the Cardinals barely hung onto this one, until reliever Gerry Staley came up big to preserve the victory in the ninth.

     Repulski's first big blast opened up a 3-0 lead, just moments after Enos Slaughter parked a two run shot in the seats in the second. The lead did not stand for long, as the Reds plated a run in the bottom of the inning, then jumped on top with a three run third.  Repulski struck again with a lead off blast in the seventh that knotted things up at 4-4, then looked to bury the hometowners with the three run double in the eighth that put the Redbirds up 7-4.

     The Reds were not going away. In fact, they loaded the bases with three consecutive singles off of Hal White in the eighth, before Al Brazle was called on to clean up the mess. Brazle walked out of the jam unscathed, however, that was not the case in the bottom of the ninth. As they say, those final three outs are the toughest to get, and Brazle could not pick up one of them. He walked the leadoff man, hit the next guy, then surrendered an RBI single, before Gerry Staley took over on the mound. Staley walked the bases loaded right out of the gate, and disaster seemed imminent. Staley was able to pick up an out next man up, but it was a prductive, as it plated the sixth Reds run of the day.

     The heat was on, and Staley looked like he may be faltering under the pressure, as he walked another man to fill the bases back up. Perhaps the biggest out of the game followed, as Cincy's shortstop Roy McMillian grounded out to Pete Castiglone at third, who alertly fired the ball to home plate to take away the tying run. Staley then sat down pinch hitter Bob Marquis, wiped the sweat from his brow, and shook the hands of his teammates as the man who saved the ballgame.

     Two names from the Cardinals past, that everyone may not know, Staley and Repulski were quite interesting figures. Staley spent eight years with the Birds, and won 89 games. He won 18 that season as a starter, which was one shy of his career high that he set in 1951. Repulski, came in fourth in rookie of the year voting. He hit 15 home runs that season, then topped double digits in that department through the 1958 season. Although, his tenure with the Redbirds ended after the '56 campaign. If you would like to learn more about these men click on the links provided below to read their SABR biographies.

Repulski: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/6175a94a

Staley: http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ea19c639

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN195307070.shtml

July 6, 1929: The Cardinals Score A Record Setting 28 Runs At The Baker Bowl In Philly

     On July 6, 1929, after dropping the first game of a doubleheader to the Phillies by the score of 10-6, the Cardinals ended an 11 game skid by scoring 28 runs en route to a 28-6 victory at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia. The offensive explosion set a modern major league record that stood until the Boston Red Sox put 29 runs on the board against the St. Louis Browns in June of 1950. That record was broken in August of 2007, when the Texas Rangers scored 30 runs against the Baltimore Orioles.

       It looked like those Redbirds were tired of not being in the win column right out of the gate, as they put 10 runs on the board in the first. They put another one on the board in the second, two more in the fourth, then broke out with another 10 run explosion in the fifth. Up 23-4, as they rolled into the eighth, five more Cardinals crossed the plate to cap off the day's scoring. The Phillies did plate two more of their own, but it did not matter, as the Cardinals pounded them into submission.

     Jim  Bottomley and Chick Hafey each hit grand slams in the contest. Bottomley had three homers on the day. He belted two in the first battle, then the grand slamwich in the historic beatdown. The Cardinals hurler in that beatdown was Frank Frankhouse. He not only picked up a complete game victory, he also got in on the fun with four hits and four RBI's. The record setting performance by that group of Redbirds has not been matched or surpassed by any member of the National League since. It truly was one of the greatest games to ever be played in Cardinal Nation.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI192907062.shtml

You can look over the highest scoring contests in the history of Major League Baseball here: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=most_runs_game

July 5, 1961: Bob Gibson and Bill White Steal The Show In L.A.

     On July 5, 1961, Bob Gibson and Bill White teamed up to take down the Dodgers 9-1 in Los Angeles. Gibby allowed just four hits in the tilt, while White hit three home runs, and drove in four. Gibson also smashed a big fly of his own, which was the first of 24 home runs in his 17 year career in the big leagues. Gibson's big blast got things going in the first. It was a two run shot off of Johnny Podres, who would become White's first victim, as he took him deep with a solo shot in the second. His second victim of the day was future Cardinal Roger Craig, who along with White and Gibson would become a hero of '64. On this day however, Craig was on the wrong side of the diamond, as he served up a fourth inning two run shot to the hot hitting White, who opened up the eighth with his third home run of the game off of Jim Golden. Bill White hit 20 home runs for the first time in his career that season, which was a plateau he would reach for six consecutive years, with five of those coming with the Birds on the Bat across his chest.  That three home run day was definitely one to be remembered, and today we do exactly that.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN196107050.shtml

July 4, 1985: 14 Wins For Andujar

     On July 4, 1985, Joaquin Andujar locked down his 14th victory of the season, with a complete game 3-2 Independence Day win over the Dodgers in front of more than 38,000 fans in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals catcher Tom Nieto was the offensive star of the day, as he knocked in two of the Cardinals runs, which included the game winner in the eighth inning. Nieto went 2 for 4 in the tilt, which was matched by Ozzie Smith and Terry Pendleton. Both Smith and Pendleton scored a run in the ballgame, with Pendleton's coming in that eighth inning when Nieto came through with a single to right. In an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Andujar proclaimed that he was so tired when he went out to pitch the ninth that he could not see home plate. However, he got the job done by retiring the side in order. The second of those three outs came when Terry Whitfield got greedy by going for second after picking up a single, only to be gunned down by Vince Coleman who came up firing from left field. Andujar then set down pinch hitter Al Oliver with a ground out and his 14th victory was in the books. Andujar went onto win 21 games for that pennant winning squad.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN198507040.shtml

On this day I would also like to extend thanks to all of the men and women in our armed forces. I often write about heroic feats on the playing field, however, the true heroes in this country are the heroes that protect our freedoms. I hope each of you have a great 4th of July, and I hope everyone is safe out there.

July 3, 1946: The Cardinals Snap a Losing Streak In Grand Fashion With a 16-0 Win Over the Reds

     On July 3, 1946, the Cardinals put a stop to a four game losing streak by pounding the Reds to the tune of 16-0 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. 10 of the 16 runs came in the fourth inning, as  the Cardinals batted around in the inning, which was capped off with a three run blast by Whitey Kurowski. Enos Slaughter and Stan The Man both picked up two hits apiece in the big inning. The big bat of the day belonged to Slaughter, as the man they called "Country" knocked in six men by going 3 for 5 on the day.

     The Birds scored four more in the sixth, then two more in the seventh, then sat back and watched starting pitcher Kenny Burkhart pick up a complete game shutout. The dominating performance was a sign of things to come for that group of men, as they embarked on a championship season that will forever be remembered among every member of Cardinal Nation.

     The Cardinals came into this game more than ready to end that four game skid, and they proved that on the diamond in very pretty dramatic way. Those boys knew if they were going to compete with the Dodgers they would have to win, and win often. The victory on that fine day put them seven games back of those Bums from Brooklyn.

     A couple of years ago I wrote about this ballgame and referred to it as a turning point in the season. It may have been; it may not of. However, what I do know is that the team did heat up, and when Brooklyn came to town on July 14th to face off against the Birds in a four game set, they held just a four and a half game lead in the standings, and by the end of that four game set the Cardinals had swept them out of town and trailed by a half a game. The heat was on. The race was on.

     It was quite the race. Just a few days after that 16-0 beatdown was played the Redbirds took the lead in the National League, but the Dodgers would not go away. From July 24th to August 21st the Brooklynites maintained a narrow advantage, never leading by more than two and a half games. Then the tables turned, and the Cardinals held the advantage from August 28th to September 25th. Besides the 26th, when the Cardinals jumped ahead by a game, the two clubs had been locked in a tie atop the standing in that week between the 21st and 28th.

     Like the Cardinals, the Dodgers kept battling, and they finally caught the Redbirds during the final three days of the season. When the regular season came to an end they were tied. Both clubs had posted 95 wins and 68 losses, and for the first time in the history of Major League Baseball the word playoff was used. It was going to be a three game set to decide who would meet the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic.

     The President of the National League, Ford C. Frick flipped a coin to decide where the games would be played, which ended up going the Dodgers way, as Sam Breadon picked the wrong side of the coin, giving the Dodgers a chance to start the series in Flatbush. Rather than take that option they made the decision to start the series in St. Louis, so they would be able to play at home for the second game, and the third if need be. I guess the idea was they would surely win one, so they might as play the tiebreaker at home.

     The problem for the Dodgers is they would not win one. The Cardinals won the first game at Sportsman's Park with a 4-2 victory, then traveled to Brooklyn and won 8-4. They were the Champions of the National League, and would be facing powerhouse 104 game winning club led by Ted Williams. A formidable foe, it took the Cardinals seven games to beat Teddy's club, and when they did they forever cemented themselves into baseball history as World Champions.

     As I look back today, I have a hard time saying if that 16-0 victory over the Reds was a true turning point. However, that 16-0 win was crucial. Anytime a team hits a skid, it is important to remember that all it takes is one game to end it, and all it takes is one game to start a winning streak. While we will never know what the Cardinals manager Eddie Dyer said to his men behind closed doors, I would imagine he let them know exactly that. Let's win one, then we will win another. Just get out there and play ball like you know you can, and good things will come; great things will come.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN194607030.shtml

The picture features Whitey Kurowski, Enos Slaughter, Marty Marion, and the one and only Stan The Man Musial. It was taken after the championship game in Brooklyn. Proud to say it is hanging on my wall.

July 2, 1965: Gibby Sets'em Down At Shea

     On July 2, 1965, Bob Gibson struck out 13 Mets batters, as he led the way to a 6-3 Cardinals win at Shea Stadium in New York. While the score was close in this one, the Cardinals had control throughout. Gibby's heater was blazing by his opponents. He was provided with run support in the second when Tito Francona hit a two run shot off of Frank Lary, then watched the boys plate two more in the third to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead. Gibby surrendered a run in the bottom of the third, which came after a pair of walks and a wild pitch. He put the misfortune behind him and went back to work by striking out the side in the fourth. Gibby did give up a run in the fifth, before the Birds came right back with a pair of run in the bottom of that inning to make it 6-2. From there Gibson cruised. He gave up just one hit over the course of the last three innings, which came in the ninth, when Chuck Hiller parked one in the seats with just one out to go in the ballgame. Gibson then picked up that one out, and his tenth victory of the campaign.

     Gibby would win 20 games for the first time in his career that season. He accomplished that feat four more times. He also struck out 270 men during the '65 campaign, which is just four shy of his career high, that came in 1970. He struck out more than 200 men in nine of his seventeen big league seasons, as he put together a resume that would forever be celebrated at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN196507020.shtml

July 1, 1934: Dizzy Dean and Tony Freitas Pitch 17 Innings Before The Redbirds Take The Cake In The 18th

     On July 1, 1934, a pitching duel like no other took place during the first game of a doubleheader at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, as Dizzy Dean and Tony Freitas both pitched 17 innings in what proved to be an 18 inning 8-6 Cardinals win over the hometowns Reds.

     It was a bit of a seesaw battle once the fourth inning rolled around, as both teams plated a run.. Then in the fifth the Reds scored twto take a 3-1 lead, but the Birds tied it right back up with a pair of runs in the sixth. The momentum swing was short lived. The Cincy squad scratched a run across in the bottom of the sixth that looked like it may have been the decider, until the Cardinals plated a run in the ninth.

     From there a baseball marathon ensued. Dean and Freitas locked horns until the seventeenth when the Cincinnati hurler gave up a long ball to Ducky Medwick, which sailed over the wall in left. It looked like it was over, but the Reds came right back,. Their third baseman Tony Piet doubled, then scored on a single by by second baseman Gordon Slade. With the scored tied at 6-6 it may have seemed like the game would never come to an end.

     Both starting pitchers were finally pulled eighteenth. Freitas was replaced by Paul Derringer, while Dizzy was replaced with a pinch hitter by the name of Pat Crawford, who scored an all important run, as the Birds plated the last two runs of the ballgame on RBI's by Jack Rothrock and Frankie Frisch. Once again it looked liked it was going to be put in the books, but the man who relieved Dizzy, Jim Lindsey, got himself into a bases loaded jam, before Medwick made a spectacular play in the outfield, stealing what looked like a sure hit that essentially stole the game, after he snagged a Jim Bottomley drive to lright in front of the scoreboard  in left to put an end to the four hours and twenty-six minutes affair. Had the ball gotten by Frisch, it is very likely all three base runners would have scored, and this historic contest would have ended up with the Reds celebrating when it was put in the books.

     There really was no time to celebrate. The two teams got ready to play another ballgame in a haste. Frisch went right back to work in the second tilt, belting a two run home run in the first inning, but the Reds tied it in the second, and the sun dropped out of the sky by the end of the fifth. Six hours after the players took to the field that trotted to their respective locker rooms all tied up. The day was over, however, the day belonged to the Dizzy Dean and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Check out the box score here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN193407011.shtml
Always a little odd to see a box score with batters that had eight plate appearances.