St. Louis Cardinals MLB Notebook – Week of January 24-30

photo: Joe “Ducky” Medwick

Two meetings this week generated hope that the pace of MLB labor negotiations will pick up. Former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt is joining the San Diego Padres player development staff. Our history feature highlights Hall of Famer Ducky Medwick.



MLB lockout updates

For the first time since the lockout began on December 2, Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association met for talks two days in a row. This may perhaps signal that both sides acknowledge a sense of urgency given that spring training is scheduled to begin in less than three weeks.

The Monday, January 24 meeting was held in person in New York. What was notable about the report that came out of Monday’s meeting is that the MLBPA appears to have withdrawn their proposal to reduce the years required to reach free agency. In exchange for relinquishing their demand for changes to free agency, the players have concentrated their focus on getting younger players paid more. In pursuit of this goal, the MLBPA has not withdrawn their proposal to reduce the time to reach arbitration eligibility from three years to two.

The talks continued on Tuesday, January 25. MLB made a proposal that seeks to address the union’s desire to increase pay for younger players. This proposal is based on an idea that originated with the MLBPA, that of creating a bonus pool for players with less than three years of service time that would reward the top performers based on Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

The difference between the sides on this issue is large, however. In the union’s version of this idea, the pool of money proposed was $105 million. MLB’s proposal sets aside only $10 million for this bonus pool. The gap is very wide, but perhaps future talks can bring the parties a little closer together.

Another potential vehicle for increasing the pay of young players is changes to the minimum salary. The MLBPA wants to raise the minimum salary to $775,000. MLB proposes a raise to $615,000. The league is also proposing to prohibit teams from voluntarily paying players more than the minimum, an idea the union is not likely to favor.

Regardless of how far apart the two parties are on these issues, the fact that they are talking with more frequency and that there appears to be some areas of possible agreement is encouraging. Other issues are still to be worked out, such as revenue sharing and the competitive balance tax, both of which are important to the MLBPA.

One interesting development coming out of the two days of meetings is the absence of Rockies owner Dick Monfort, chair of MLB’s labor committee, from Tuesday’s meeting. Monfort had made a remark during Monday’s meeting that was heavily reported concerning the “difficulty” some owners have affording a major league team. Some media have speculated that he was asked not to attend the second meeting because his remark may have displeased others on MLB’s team.

There has been no announcement of future meeting dates. For further updates check back to this report every Monday.

Former Cardinals manager Mike Shildt joins Padres staff

The San Diego Padres announced their 2022 Player Development Staff on Wednesday, January 26, and one name on the list was a surprise to Cardinals fans. Former St. Louis manager Mike Shildt has been hired by the Padres as a Player Development Consultant.

Mike Shildt (Steve Mitchell/Imagn)

In December 2021, it was reported that Shildt would be taking a job in the Commissioner’s Office. Shildt apparently told media representatives via text message that he was given permission by the Commissioner’s Office to work in both roles.  Shildt was interviewed last year for the Padres managerial position, but San Diego chose Bob Melvin for that post.

Shildt has significant experience in player development, having spent many years working in the Cardinals minor league system in various capacities. He took over as the manager of the Cardinals in 2018 following the dismissal of Mike Matheny. Shildt led the Cardinals to three consecutive postseason appearances and was the winner of the 2019 National League Manager of the Year award.

Shildt was fired by the Cardinals in October 2021 due to “philosophical differences”, according to President of Baseball Operations’ John Mozeliak. The exact nature of those differences remains unclear.

Baseball Hall of Fame 2022 class announced

The results of the National Baseball Hall of Fame writers voting for the 2022 class were announced on MLB Network on Tuesday evening, January 25. Only one player, David Ortiz, received the required 75% of the votes to qualify for induction. Ortiz, along with the six players who were selected by the Golden Days and Early Baseball Era Committees in December, will be inducted officially in a July 24, 2022, ceremony at the Hall of Fame Museum in Cooperstown, NY.

Ortiz received 77.9 % of the submitted Hall of Fame ballots. Four players in their final year of eligibility all fell short of the necessary 75%. They are Barry Bonds (66%), Roger Clemens (65.2%), Curt Schilling (58.6%) and Sammy Sosa (18.5%).

Former Cardinals third baseman Scott Rolen, in his fifth year on the ballot, received 63.2% of the vote, a significant increase from the 52.9% percent he received last year. The conventional wisdom is that Rolen will likely be voted in before his 10 years of eligibility have expired.

Former Rockies’ first baseman Todd Helton appears to be headed in the same direction as Rolen, having crossed the 50% threshold with 52% of the vote, up from 44.9% on last year’s ballot.

Full voting results are available on Baseball-Reference here.

Former Cardinal David Green passes

Nicaraguan native and former Cardinals outfielder David Green died this Saturday in Atlanta, per media reports. The 61-year-old came to St. Louis as a top prospect in the mega trade with the Brewers that included Rollie Fingers and Ted Simmons going the other way. Green played with the Cardinals from 1981 to 1987, including with the 1982 World Champions.

His wife told authorities Green choked on some food, which led to a pair of heart attacks he suffered while being transported to a hospital. While there, he required support with breathing and COVID reportedly contributed to his death.

David Green (Getty Images)

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

There are no transactions to report.

Injury Report

There are no new injuries to report.

Looking Ahead

On December 1 the MLB/MLBPA Collective Bargaining Agreement expired. No new agreement was reached and the Commissioner’s Office announced that the owners of all 30 teams voted unanimously to institute a lockout of MLB players effective immediately.

As a result of the lockout, all major league transactions are halted indefinitely. Players and team personnel are prohibited from communicating with each other and players are not permitted to use team facilities. The parties may continue to negotiate to reach an agreement that would end the lockout.

The deadline for teams and arbitration eligible players to submit salary figures was originally on January 14. This deadline has been extended to a date after the lockout ends.

There will be no major league activity to report for the foreseeable future as long as the lockout continues.

Blast from the Past

Ducky Medwick

This past week the results of the vote for the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2022 were announced. No Cardinal was elected, but one former St. Louis player, Scott Rolen, is on his way to eventual induction after his fifth year on the ballot. 16 players and one manager have been inducted into the Hall of Fame wearing the Cardinals cap. Of those 16 players, one was inducted into the Hall in his last year of eligibility. That player is the focus of this week’s Blast from the Past.

Joseph Michael Medwick was born on November 24, 1911, in Carteret, New Jersey. Medwick was the son of Hungarian immigrants John and Elizabeth Medwick. Medwick, nicknamed “Ducky” attended Carteret High School, where he excelled in track, basketball, football, and baseball.  Medwick chose baseball and was signed as an 18-year-old by the Cardinals. He spent three seasons in the minor leagues where he was given his nickname ostensibly because he walked like a duck.

Ducky made his major league debut on September 2, 1932, at the age of 20 in a game against the Cubs. The following are highlights of the career of Joe “Ducky” Medwick.

  • In his first full season with the Cardinals, Medwick hit .306/.337/.497 with 18 home runs and 98 RBI.
  • In his second season in 1934, Medwick led the National League in triples with 18.
  • Medwick was pulled out of the seventh game of the 1934 World Series due to an incident at third base in the sixth inning. Medwick tripled and slid into third base. Detroit Tigers third sacker Marvin Owen allegedly spiked Ducky’s leg. An angry Medwick then kicked Owens in the stomach with his spikes. Tigers fans began throwing fruits and vegetables at Medwick, which prompted Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis to remove him from the game for his own safety.

Medwick discusses the play here:

  • In 1936, Medwick married 19- year-old Isabelle Heutel of St. Louis. They eventually had two children, a son and a daughter.
  • In 1936, Medwick led the NL in hits, doubles and RBI.
  • Medwick won the NL Triple Crown and the NL MVP award in 1937. That season he led the league in runs, hits, doubles, home run, RBI, and batting average. Medwick’s 64 doubles is still the NL record, and he remains the last NL player to win the Triple Crown.
  • Ducky had somewhat of a sour disposition. He was disliked by many of his teammates. He was thought to be too combative and self-centered.
  • In 1938, Medwick led the NL in doubles and RBI.
  • Cardinals owner Sam Breadon tired of Medwick’s antics and traded him to the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 12, 1940.
  • A week after Medwick was traded, the Cardinals faced the Dodgers. Former teammate Bob Bowman was the Cardinals pitcher and in Medwick’s first at bat, Bowman threw at Ducky’s head and knocked him unconscious. Dodgers manager Leo Durocher charged the mound. Ducky was carried out on a stretcher and taken to the hospital where he diagnosed with a concussion. Bowman was removed from the game for his own safety.
  • There was an investigation of the Bowman incident because Bowman had allegedly threatened Medwick in his hotel the previous morning. The case was dismissed for lack of evidence.
  • The Dodgers traded Medwick to the Giants in 1943, who traded him to the Boston Braves in 1945. He signed with the St. Louis Browns, the Boston Braves, the Dodgers again and finally the New York Yankees. He was released by each team without playing a full season with any.
  • Medwick signed to return to the Cardinals in May of 1947. The Cardinals released him in October, then re-signed him in in April 1948. He played his final season in St. Louis.
  • Medwick continued to play in the minor leagues through 1952.
  • The Cardinals hired Medwick in 1966 as a minor league hitting instructor. He remained in that position until he passed away of a heart attack on March 21, 1975. He was buried at St. Lucas Cemetery in Sunset Hills, in St. Louis County.
  • Medwick was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968, his final year on the ballot. It was said he was kept from winning in previous years because he had a poor relationship with the baseball press throughout his major league career. He was reported to have been rude to members of the press when asked for interviews. He received no votes at all for the first seven years of his eligibility.
  • Medwick was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2014.

Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

TCN 2022 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect #12 – Joshua Baez


Not yet a member?

Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.

© 2022 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.