On Friday night in Philadelphia, the newest St. Louis Cardinal, outfielder Matt Holliday, celebrated his trade from Oakland with a four-hit game. That tied his career high. It was Holliday’s 15th career four-hit game and third of this season. The first two were on May 19 at Detroit and this Monday, July 20 at Minnesota.
Holliday was just the third Cardinal in at least the last 55 years to have as many as four hits in his first game wearing the uniform.
Cardinals most hits, first game (1954-2009)
| Player | Date | Hits |
| Matt Holliday | 7/24/2009 | 4 |
| Aaron Miles | 4/3/2006 | 4 |
| George Altman | 4/9/1963 | 4 |
New infielder Julio Lugo, who joined the club the day before from Boston, also got into his first game action as a Cardinal on Friday night and ultimately had an even better first weekend than Holliday. Lugo collected eight hits and Holliday seven over the three games at Philadelphia.
Lugo hit for the weekend cycle, including two triples, two doubles and a home run while Holliday had four doubles among his seven safeties. The two are currently tied for third for the most extra-base-hit games to start a Cardinals career since at least 1954 and have a chance to move up the list this week as the Cards entertain the Dodgers at Busch Stadium starting on Monday night.
Extra-base-hit games to start Cardinals career (1954-2009)
| Start | End | G | |
| Will Clark | 8/1/2000 | 8/6/2000 | 5 |
| Charley Smith | 4/13/1966 | 4/16/1966 | 4 |
| Matt Holliday | 7/24/2009 | 7/26/2009 * | 3 |
| Julio Lugo | 7/24/2009 | 7/26/2009 * | 3 |
| Bo Hart | 6/19/2003 | 6/21/2003 | 3 |
| Ray Burris | 5/10/1986 | 5/30/1986 | 3 |
| Cesar Cedeno | 8/30/1985 | 9/2/1985 | 3 |
| Reggie Smith | 4/5/1974 | 4/10/1974 | 3 |
| Ted Kubiak | 7/31/1971 | 8/4/1971 | 3 |
| Wally Moon | 4/13/1954 | 4/17/1954 | 3 |
| * still active |
Lugo is the fourth player in at least the last 55 years to start his Cardinals career with three two-or-more-hit games and is the first during that period to have eight hits in his first three games with a hit in each game.
I find several of the names on the lists surprising, including an especially large concentration of catchers.
Most multi-hit games to start Cardinals career (1954-2009)
| Year | Games | |
| Julio Lugo | 2009 | 3 * |
| Bo Hart | 2003 | 3 |
| Pat Borders | 1996 | 3 |
| Roger Maris | 1967 | 3 |
| * current streak |
Most hits over first three Cardinals games, hitting in each game (1954-2009)
| Year | Hits | |
| Julio Lugo | 2009 | 8 |
| Matt Holliday | 2009 | 7 |
| Aaron Miles | 2006 | 7 |
| George Altman | 1963 | 7 |
| Mike Matheny | 2000 | 6 |
| Pat Borders | 1996 | 6 |
| Danny Sheaffer | 1995 | 6 |
| Bill Virdon | 1955 | 6 |
In the oddest of these odd stats, only two Cardinals have doubled in each of first three games since 1954. Prior to Holliday, pitcher Ray Burris did it in 1986, but it took him 21 days of elapsed time to accomplish the feat.
Doubles in first three Cardinals games (1954-2009)
| Year | |
| Matt Holliday | 2009 |
| Ray Burris | 1986 * |
| * over 21 days |
Watching the two new Cardinals in person in all three games this past weekend, I was actually more impressed with Lugo’s hitting. He seemed to put the bat squarely on the ball each time, hitting the ball hard, even into outs. Over his career in Citizens Bank Park, Lugo is now batting over .500 (21-for-41).
Thanks to Tom Orf for the data pulls and in indulging my questions.