photo: Bob Gibson (AP photo)
The St. Louis Cardinals have provided their fanbase with countless memories over the decades. Each generation has its own memories to point to as favorites. As fans, we can recall them in an instant whether we were in the stadium or not. Here are three that I remember most.
When Lou Brock was acquired by St. Louis in 1964, no one except maybe then Cardinals’ manager Johnny Keane had any idea of the greatness that was inside his new left fielder. Brock’s beginning in St. Louis was inauspicious at best. He stole 33 bases in his first 103 games, and it wasn’t until 1966 that he really got going.
For the better part of decade, Brock was the catalyst of the St. Louis offense, not only becoming a .297 career hitter but stealing 50 or more bases 11 consecutive seasons. Not only was Brock fast, but he was also durable, missing just 51 games from 1965 to 1974.
On September 10, 1974, Brock did what many thought would never happen. Even though the opposition knew what was coming, they couldn’t stop him. Brock entered the nightcap of a doubleheader just a stolen base off the single season record set by former Dodgers great Maury Wills. Wills had stolen 104 in 1962, also Brock’s first full season in the majors.
The Cardinals speedster swiped base number 104 after singling in the first inning. He set the stage for his record setting performance in front of the hometown faithful. With the Cards tied 2-2 in the home seventh with the Philadelphia Phillies, Brock singled again and then beat Bob Boone’s throw to second to become baseball’s all-time single season base thief at the age of 35. He finished the 1974 season with 118 steals against 33 caught stealing.
More than 27,000 were in the stadium that Sunday afternoon but many more of us remember the event. Brock eventually claimed Major League Baseball’s all-time base stealing crown in 1976.
The 2011 World Series was filled with many impressive moments for the Cardinals, but none were more impressive than Albert Pujols’ three home runs in Game 3. The feat put him into the rarified company of “Mr. October” Reggie Jackson and the “Sultan of Swat” Babe Ruth the only players to achieve such a performance. Although, neither of them also had five hits, six RBI, and 14 total bases in a single World Series game.
Pujols came to the plate with one out and two on in the sixth and with two hits to his credit already. Turning on a letter-high 96 mph fastball, the Cardinals first baseman slugged it over the left field wall, extending an 8-6 game into an 11-6 lead. In the seventh, he returned to the plate with one on and promptly homered to left field again. That gave him another first in World Series history, a hit in four consecutive innings. “The Machine” had a final at bat in the ninth with the bases empty and finished off his night of firsts with another home run to left. It was indeed a night that would be remembered not just by St. Louis fans but by baseball fans everywhere.
(Editor’s trivia note: Working in relief, Lance Lynn was the winning pitcher that evening.)
Before baseball became all about the money, it was a game that was played between the best of the National League and the best of the American League. There would never be a doubt that the best teams in baseball were playing for the title of the best in baseball, but I digress, as that is a story for another time.
In 1968, Gibson posted a 1.12 ERA still talked about to this day, with 268 strikeouts and 13 shutouts. In the opener of the Fall Classic, the Cardinals’ high heat right-hander faced off against baseball’s first 30-game winner, Detroit right-hander Denny McLain. For number 45, it made no difference who the opponent was.
Game 1 was in St. Louis with a 3:15 start so rather than get to watch the game at school (which was normal back then in St. Louis), I raced the three blocks home to glue my eyes on the television screen. With Gibson striking out seven of the first nine, Cardinals fans were excited to say the least. Gibson concluded his complete game, 17-strikeout shutout performance by punching out the final three batters, Norm Cash, Al Kaline, and Willie Horton. The Omaha, Nebraska native struck every batter he faced at least once.
Although, I chose Gibson as my top memory, there are countless others that could have been exchanged with any of these three. The process of choosing the best creates such good conversation about baseball. It brings back so many happy memories for so many.
Which three would you choose? Is it the 1964 Cardinals chasing down the Phillies to win the pennant and eventually the World Series? Is it Mark McGwire sending that low, line drive over the left field wall for number 62 back in 1998? Maybe it’s the play of Willie McGee in the 1982 World Series?
Whatever the choice, I’m sure it brings a smile to your face and that’s what baseball is all about.
Merry Christmas!
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