photo: Tim McCarver (St. Louis Cardinals)
The pending passing of one year to another brings the sobering task of remembering members of the St. Louis Cardinals community who departed this life during the prior 12 months.
Among the almost two dozen Cardinals to pass away during 2023 are two mainstays of the 1960’s teams and team Hall of Famers, catcher Tim McCarver and outfielder-third baseman-broadcaster Mike Shannon.
Those former Cardinals still with us, however, include 1954 pitcher Bill Greason, the oldest living former Cardinals player. The right-hander celebrated his 99th birthday on September 3rd.
A short remembrance of each of the 23 follows in chronological order. We conclude with a look at the St. Louis Browns, as is our annual custom. Fortunately, at least that section is short this year.
2023 Cardinals deaths
January 6, Bill Campbell, age 74
After a tour in Vietnam, the right-hander reached the majors with the 1973 Twins. Campbell became one of the better relievers in the game, and in his best seasons, he received top 10 placements in the 1976 and 1977 Cy Young and MVP voting.
Campbell moved to the Red Sox as a free agent for 1977, then to the Cubs and Phillies before a trade brought him to the Cardinals for the 1985 season. After posting a 3.50 ERA in 50 games, the then-36-year-old logged a 1.42 ERA in six postseason appearances. It was his only playoff action in 15 big league seasons.
After just one year with St. Louis, Campbell was released, finishing his 700-appearance playing career with Detroit and Montreal. He later coached in the Brewers and Red Sox systems. Campbell passed after battling cancer.
January 12, Ted Savage, age 86
A native of Venice, Illinois, the US Army veteran signed with the Phillies in 1960. Savage reached the majors in 1962 and was traded to the Pirates that fall. Two years later, the part-time outfielder moved to St. Louis in another trade.
Savage spent the 1965 and 1966 seasons in the Cardinals organization, primarily in Triple-A, before his contract was sold to the Cubs in May 1967. He had been a Pacific Coast League All-Star in 1966. Over his partial two-plus years, he had 111 plate appearances with St. Louis, batting .160.
From there, Savage played for the Dodgers, Reds, Brewers and Royals to close out his nine-year MLB career.
Savage later served nine years as athletic director at Harris-Stowe University followed by 25 years in the Cardinals’ Community Relations department before retiring in 2012.
February 16, Tim McCarver, age 81
The catcher-turned-broadcaster from Memphis and Red Jacket Club member was one of the last links to the glory days of the 1960s. After playing 21 years over four decades, McCarver then covered a record 23 World Series in the booth before finishing as a part time analyst on FOX Sports Midwest.
Signed in 1959, McCarver spent most of the next four years in the minors before becoming St. Louis’ starting catcher at the age of 21 in 1963. He was a key cog in the Cardinals World Series teams of 1964, 1967 and 1968. McCarver was a National League All-Star in 1966 and 1967 and the latter year, he finished second to teammate Orlando Cepeda in the NL MVP balloting. Amazingly, the catcher led the NL in triples in 1966.
McCarver moved to the Phillies in the 1969 Curt Flood trade and was with Philadelphia for two different stints covering eight seasons. In between, he returned to the Cardinals for 1973 and 1974, also playing a year with Montreal and parts of two seasons with the Red Sox.
He entered the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2017 and retired from broadcasting in 2022 before passing due to heart failure.
February 28, Fred Marolewski, age 94
We move from perhaps the most famous name on this list to the most obscure.
Fred Marolewski appeared in just one game in the majors, with the 1953 Cardinals. On September 19, the first baseman was an end-of-game defensive replacement, but neither touched the ball in the field nor appeared at the plate as the visiting Cubs won in the 12th inning.
Signed in 1948, Marolewski spent three years in the minors before missing two more due to military service in Korea. In 1953, he hit 23 home runs in Triple-A, earning his very brief cup of coffee with St. Louis.
In his eight-year minor league career, he hit 144 home runs over 1,077 games. Post retirement, Marolewski entered the insurance business in his hometown Chicago.
April 6, Hobie Landrith, age 93
The catcher played 13 years in the majors, including two with St. Louis, 1957 and 1958. Landrith first signed with the Reds in 1949 and was with Cincinnati from 1950 through 1955. He moved to the Cubs in 1956 and was dealt to the Cardinals that winter.
In his two years with St. Louis, Landrith appeared in 145 games, batting .232 with a .635 OPS.
After the 1958 season, Landrith became a Giant in a multi-player trade in which Ernie Broglio joined St. Louis. He was one of the original Mets, moved to the Orioles and finished with the 1963 Senators. Landrith coached one year before getting into automobile sales management.
April 24, Dennis Ribant, age 81
The native of Detroit signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1961 and the pitcher made his major league debut with the Mets upon his acquisition in 1964. Ribant began the life of a baseball journeyman as he moved to the Pirates, then Detroit, the White Sox, back to Detroit and to the expansion Royals.
Coming out of spring training 1969, Kansas City sold Ribant to the Cardinals. With St. Louis, he pitched in one game, allowing two runs in 1 1/3 innings, and pinch-ran for Joe Torre in another contest before being sent down to Triple-A. That June, St. Louis traded him to Cincinnati.
Ribant finished his playing career in the minor league systems of Pittsburgh, San Diego and Philadelphia from 1970-1972.
April 27, Dick Groat, age 92
The former Duke multi-sport star went on to an accomplished 14-year MLB career as a shortstop, earning eight All-Star Game selections, primarily with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1952, Groat was signed by then-Pirates general manager Branch Rickey. He went on to win the 1960 batting title and was named National League MVP, helping lead the Bucs to the World Championship.
The Cardinals acquired Groat in late 1962. He played three seasons in St. Louis, finished second in NL MVP voting in 1963 and was a key member of the 1964 World Series champions. After a less-productive 1965 season, the then-34-year-old was dealt to the Phillies along with Bill White and Bob Uecker.
Groat retired after the 1967 season with the Giants. In his retirement years, he was a long-time basketball radio commentator and ran a golf course in his native Pennsylvania.
April 29, Mike Shannon, age 83
Shannon was a member of Cardinals World Series teams in 1964, 1967 and 1968 and spent over 60 years with the organization, including 50 as a beloved member of the team’s radio broadcasts.
The St. Louis native and multi-sport prep star broke into the big leagues with the Cardinals in 1962 and became the regular right fielder during the 1964 World Championship season. In 1967, he was moved to third base to make room for Roger Maris. However, his nine-year playing career was cut short in 1970 by a kidney disease.
Shannon, who was also a successful local restaurateur, was enshrined in the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.
June 1, Bobby Morgan, age 96
The Oklahoma native signed with the Dodgers in 1944 and after serving in World War II, Morgan reached the majors in 1950. Brooklyn traded the utility infielder to the Phillies in 1954.
Morgan became a Cardinal in 1956 in exchange for Solly Hemus, but the team sent him back to Philadelphia that fall. In his lone year with St. Louis, the right-handed hitter appeared in 60 games, batting .130.
He finished the major league portion of his career with the 1957 and 1958 Cubs before playing through the 1963 season in the minor leagues. Morgan later managed in the Phillies organization and scouted for the Royals.
June 4, Roger Craig, age 93
Most known for his later success as a long-time coach and manager and teacher of the split-finger fastball popularized by Bruce Sutter and others, Craig earlier spent one season as a pitcher with St. Louis, in 1964.
Craig had been a swingman with two World Champion Dodgers squads in 1955 and 1959 before losing 20 consecutive games for the expansion 1962-1963 Mets. The Cards acquired Craig following the 1963 season and traded him to the Reds a year later.
In the regular season for the World Series-winning 1964 Cards, Craig made 19 starts and 20 relief appearances, logging a 3.25 ERA. He threw five shutout innings in the Fall Classic, earning a win in Game 4 in New York.
June 4, John Glenn, age 94
Before the other John Glenn, there was the former Cardinal.
The Georgia native was first signed by Brooklyn in 1950. Glenn was in his 11th year in the Dodgers’ minor league system when traded to St. Louis in June 1960. The outfielder played in 32 games for the Cardinals that season, but was often used as a pinch runner or late game defensive replacement. As a result, he made just 32 plate appearances, batting .258.
Glenn finished his career in the minors with the Cardinals, Senators, Cubs and Giants from 1961-1963.
June 10, Don Hood, age 73
The left-hander pitched his entire 10-year MLB career in the American League except for 1980, when he joined St. Louis.
Hood, a native of South Carolina, was Baltimore’s first round draft pick in 1969. He reached the majors in 1973 but was traded to Cleveland two years later in a deal that included future Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan.
Hood moved to the Yankees in 1979 before signing with the Cardinals as a free agent in 1980. In 33 games including eight starts for St. Louis, he logged a 3.39 ERA, walked 34 and struck out just 35 in 82 1/3 innings.
That October, the Cardinals released Hood and he completed his career with the Royals in 1983.
June 19, George Frazier, age 68
Frazier first signed with Milwaukee in 1976 and was traded a year later to the Cardinals for Buck Martinez. Over the 1978-1980 seasons, the right-hander from Oklahoma appeared in 61 games out of the St. Louis bullpen, posting a 3-11 record and a 3.84 ERA.
Frazier was dealt to the Yankees prior to the 1981 season, where that fall, he set the unenviable record of losing three World Series games. He then moved to Cleveland, the Cubs and Twins. In the latter stop, he was a member of the 1987 World Champions, after which he retired.
Frazier was a long-time broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies.
July 2, Mario Guerrero, age 73
The native of the Dominican Republic first signed with the Yankees in 1968. The right-handed hitting infielder played in the New York farm system until he was dealt to the Red Sox during the 1972 season. Guerrero made his MLB debut with Boston in 1973.
Heading into 1975, Guerrero became a Cardinal in return for pitcher Jim Willoughby. In 64 games that season with St. Louis, he batted .239. After bouncing back and forth between St. Louis and Triple-A, he was dealt to the Angels in May 1976 for two non-prospects.
Guerrero played five more years with the Angels and A’s, with an eight-year career line of .257/.285/.312/.597. He later became a player agent.
July 13, Eddie Bressoud, age 91
The infielder concluded his 12 years in the majors with the 1967 Cardinals.
Bressoud, then an 18-year-old from California, signed with the Giants in 1950. After two years in military service, he first reached the majors in 1956. He was taken by Houston in the 1961 expansion draft but was immediately dealt to Boston. Bressoud hit a career-best 20 home runs in 1963 and batted a career-high .293 in 1964, when he was named an American League All-Star.
Following the 1965 season, Bressoud was traded to the Mets and after a year, another deal made him a Cardinal. In the 1967 season, the right-handed hitter batted just .134 in 76 plate appearances but earned a ring with St. Louis. He was often used as a defensive replacement when light-hitting shortstop Dal Maxvill left for a pinch-hitter.
Holder of a master’s degree, Bressoud managed in the minor leagues for two years before serving as baseball coach, athletic director and in administration at DeAnza College for more than two decades.
August 6, Lee Richard, age 74
The middle infielder was the first-round draft pick of the White Sox in 1970, taken sixth overall. Richard had exceptional speed but was a below average hitter and fielder.
Richard played in Chicago for parts of four of the five years from 1971-1975 before he was traded to the Cardinals prior to the 1976 season. In his only year with St. Louis, the right-handed hitter batted .176 and was released that fall, ending his MLB career.
August 27, Pat Corrales, age 82
The nine-year MLB catcher and future manager was a Cardinal relatively early in his career, in 1966. Corrales first signed with the Phillies in 1959 and reached the majors in 1964. The following fall, he became a Cardinal as part of the trade that sent Dick Groat, Bob Uecker and Bill White to Philadelphia.
Corrales appeared in just 28 games for St. Louis in 1966, batting .181 before spending all of 1967 in Triple-A. He was traded to Cincinnati in 1968, where he backed up Johnny Bench until 1972. Corrales finished his playing years with the Padres.
He was a major league manager, the first of Mexican descent, and coach for most of the ensuring three-plus decades.
October 13, Leo Burke, age 89
The infielder-outfielder from Virginia first signed with Baltimore in 1957. Burke made brief appearances with the 1958 and 1959 Orioles before doing the same with the 1961 and 1962 Angels. During the latter season, Burke led the International League with 27 home runs.
St. Louis purchased Burke’s contract in the spring of 1963. After he appeared in just 30 games and hit .204 with one long ball, the Cardinals traded him to the Cubs for Barney Schultz. Burke completed his career with Chicago’s Triple-A club in 1965.
October 23, Tom Walker, age 74
The right-hander was Baltimore’s first round draft pick in 1968 and moved to Montreal in the 1971 Rule 5 Draft. Walker pitched for the Expos primarily in relief from 1972-1974 before spending 1975 with Detroit.
The Cardinals acquired Walker from the Tigers for cash before the 1976 season. He spent most of the year in Triple-A, but with St. Louis, he appeared in 10 games, all in relief, with a 4.12 ERA. Walker was released the next spring.
Walker pitched for the Expos (again) and the Angels in 1977 and briefly in Triple-A in 1978 before retiring. His son Neil became a first round selection by the Pirates in 2004.
November 3, Dennis Higgins, age 84
The former right-handed relief pitcher was a native of and life-long resident of Jefferson City, Missouri. Higgins signed with the White Sox in 1958 and reached Chicago in 1966. He was traded to the Senators in 1968 and moved to the Indians two years later. In a time when saves were different from today, Higgins had double-digit save totals in three consecutive years, 1968-1970.
In July 1971, Higgins’ contract was sold to the A’s, who flipped him to the Cardinals a few days later for Gaylen Pitts, a future Cardinals coach. Higgins remained a Cardinal until September 1972, when he moved to the Padres for cash. But he did not return to the majors.
In his two partial seasons with St. Louis, Higgins appeared in 18 games, with a 3.94 ERA.
December 6, Vic Davalillo, age 84
The native of Venezuela was originally signed by the Reds in 1958 as a pitcher before becoming a center fielder and moving to the Indians system in 1961. After Davalillo won the 1962 International League batting title, he was promoted to Cleveland. There, he earned a Gold Glove in 1964 and made the 1965 All-Star team.
After a year with the Angels, Davalillo became a Cardinal in May 1969 and remained through the 1970 season, when he was dealt to Pittsburgh in the Matty Alou trade.
In his 174 games with St. Louis, Davalillo slashed a respectable .295/.341/.409/.750. The slap hitter collected 23 pinch hits in 1970, one short of the National League record.
Davilillo later moved to the A’s and Dodgers to finish his 16 years in the majors, then continued on in Mexico and played winter ball in his homeland until the age of 50. He passed away following emergency surgery due to an intestinal obstruction and renal insufficiency.
December 12, Larry Miggins, age 98
The New York native signed with the Giants in 1944 and became a Cardinal via the 1947 Rule 5 draft. Other than a week with the Cubs in a pair of waiver moves in 1948, Miggins spent the remainder of his career in the Cardinals system.
The outfielder made one appearance for St. Louis in 1948 before returning to the minor leagues. Miggins was back with the 1952 Cardinals, hitting .229 in 42 games, ending the MLB phase of his career. In nine years in the minors, including four years with Houston, he hit 141 home runs through 1954, but his return to the majors was hampered by his below average defensive skills.
After his playing days, Miggins earned a master’s degree and worked in the justice and court system in Houston, Texas for over three decades. He was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
December 14, Ken MacKenzie, age 89
The left-handed pitcher from Canada signed with Milwaukee in 1956 and appeared in 14 MLB games in relief in 1960 and 1961. His contract was sold to the expansion Mets, where he became the only pitcher with a winning record on the ill-fated 120-loss 1962 team.
MacKenzie joined the Cardinals in trade late in the 1963 season. He threw in eight games with a 4.00 ERA with St. Louis. Just two months after he became a Cardinal, St. Louis traded him to San Francisco, where he pitched in 1964 before he concluded his career with the Houston Colt .45s of 1965.
MacKenzie was head coach at Yale University, his alma mater, from 1969-1978.
Remembering the Browns
The count of living former St. Louis Browns remained the same during 2023. As 2024 opens, the total holds at three – of the 764 men who once played for the team. The trio of ex-Brownies are Frank Saucier (age 97), Ed Mickelson (age 97) and Billy Hunter (age 95).
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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