How Bob Gibson Won 9 Gold Glove Awards

Over the years, Gold Glove Awards have been doled out to players with relatively poor defensive metrics.  Here is the first in a series of Gold Glove Award case histories:  

With nine NL Gold Glove Awards to his credit, Bob Gibson was considered to be one of the best fielding pitchers in major league history.  Every year, from 1965 through 1973, Gibson took home the Gold - no questions asked.

In reality, the greatest pitcher in St Louis Cardinals history was far from being the best fielding pitcher in the National League at any time during his career.  This shocking revelation came to me after reviewing his key defensive metric (Range Factor), which was below league average for every season he played - except 1967 and 1972; and even then, it was barely above league average.

For his career, Gibson's Range Factor was 1.80 - compared to a league average of 1.98.

Based on Range Factor (for legitimate starting pitchers), the likely Gold Glove replacements (with Range Factor in parenthesis):

1965 - Don Cardwell (2.77) - This would have been his only Gold Glove Award.

1966 - 1967 - Al Jackson (3.06 - 3.28) - These would have been his only Gold Glove Awards.  Ironically, he was a teammate of Gibson's for just these two seasons.

1968 - Don Drysdale (2.45) - This would have been his only Gold Glove Award in what would prove to be his last great season.

1969  - 1972 - Juan Marichal (2.55 - 2.52 - 2.58 - 2.24) - "Four-Time Gold Glove Award Winner" should have been on his Hall of Fame plaque.

1973 - Tommy John (3.26) - This would have been his only Gold Glove Award, despite the fact that his career Range Factor of 2.42 is well above average (1.88).

Meanwhile, the obvious question:  How did Gibson convince the managers and coaches throughout the National League (who cast the votes for this award) that he was indeed a Gold Glove-caliber player?

It must have had something to do with the events that took place on October 12, 1964 - Game 5 of the World Series vs the New York Yankees.  Staked to a 2-0 ninth-inning lead at Yankee Stadium, the first batter Gibson faced in the bottom of the ninth - Mickey Mantle - reached on an error by shortstop Dick Groat.  Gibson then struck out Elston Howard to set the stage for what was arguably, the greatest defensive play by a pitcher in World Series history.

The next batter - Joe Pepitone - hit a vicious line drive right back where it came from.  Of course, Gibson had a unique follow-though after delivering one of his pitches - falling off violently towards the first base line, with his back almost facing the batter; he was a prime target.  Sure enough, the ball smacked off his hip and careened towards the third base line; a certain base hit.

Gibson may not have been in a particularly good fielding position (he never was), but his superb reflexes made up for that.  Without hesitation, Gibson pounced on the ball - and in one motion, falling into foul territory past the third base line, he whirled around and threw a perfect strike to a flabbergasted Bill White at first base to retire an even more flabbergasted Pepitone by a half step.  Every time I see that replay, I ask myself "How did he do that?"

It was an impossible play which was performed on baseball's grandest stage - at Yankee Stadium, no less.  In that moment, a Gold Glove pitcher was born.  The fact that the next batter - Tom Tresh - tied the game with a home run, really added to the legend.  The Cardinals would regain the lead in the top of the tenth on a three-run Tim McCarver home run.  Gibson returned to the mound to nail down the 5-2 win, and unbeknownst to him, nail down the next nine Gold Glove Awards.

As history has proven, once a player has received that first one, there's a good chance they're in for the long haul - especially for a marquis player like Gibson who exuded confidence; whose athleticism allowed him to make sensational plays from time to time.  The fact that he was actually unable to make plays on balls others may have reached escaped the thought process of those starstruck managers and coaches for nine consecutive seasons.  But really, who could blame 'em?

I don't think Joe Pepitone would argue.

Coming next:  Examining the Jim Kaat Gold Glove Award Mystique 

October 15, 1964 - The Cardinals are World Champions!

Thursday, October 15, 1964 - World Series - Game 7 vs New York Yankees - At Busch Stadium I - Starting Pitchers:  Bob Gibson vs Mel Stottlemeyer - Attendance:  30,346

The Cardinals' Impossible Dream became a reality - winning the seventh game of the World Series over the New York Yankees, by a score of 7-5.  An exhausted Bob Gibson went the distance, despite giving up nine hits - including three home runs - while walking three.  But he also struck out nine batters - including two in the ninth-inning, which were sandwiched between two solo home runs.

Afterwards, manager Johnny Keane explained his decision to keep his starter in the game until the end:  "I had a commitment to his heart."

Of course, fifty years later, managers are criticized for not yanking the starter at the first sign of late-inning trouble - even if it's a guy like Clayton Kershaw on the mound.  If the decision backfires, it could cost a manager his job.  Johnny wasn't worried about that, since he was going to resign no matter what happened today.  He'd gotten wind of a plot to replace him - possibly with Leo Durocher - when the Redbirds looked like dead birds a few months earlier.  Somehow, nothing ever transpired - then lo and behold, the miracle finish to the season created the perfect storm for the Cardinals' first NL pennant since 1946.

Sure enough, after guiding the Cardinals to the world championship, Keane accepted the managerial position of the New York Yankees - replacing the deposed Yogi Berra.  Berra was unfairly ousted in New York - and Keane never had a chance of winning with the aging team he inherited.  His tenure with the Bronx Bombers would be short-lived, as well.

Ironically, exactly four months prior to the clubhouse champagne celebration the newly crowned Cardinals were enjoying - on June 15 - St Louis had fallen a season-worst three games under .500.  Even the trade that brought Lou Brock to the Cardinals on June 16, didn't seem to pan out for the first couple of months.  By August 23, St Louis had fallen a season-worst eleven games out of first.  Strangely enough, forty-seven seasons later, in Tony LaRussa's final year as manager, the Cardinals were in a similar dilemma - trying to track down the Braves for the wild card slot in the National League - and just like '64, their mission was accomplished on the final day of the season.

And just like '64, the 2011 St Louis Cardinals won the World Series in seven games - clinching it at home.

Initially, it seemed the Redbirds were going to win this one with relative ease.  For the first three innings, neither team could score - however, the pitchers' duel ended abruptly when St Louis took their turn at bat against Mel Stottlemeyer in the bottom of the fourth.

Ken Boyer started the rally with a lead-off single to center.  After Dick Groat walked, Tim McCarver hit a potential double-play grounder to second baseman Bobby Richardson, who got the force out at second, but shortstop Phil Linz - in his haste to double up McCarver - threw wildly to first - allowing Boyer to score an unearned run.  Next up - Mike Shannon singled to center, advancing the speedy McCarver to third.

With the light-hitting Dal Maxvill batting, manager Keane decided to have a little fun - calling for the old double steal.  It worked perfectly, as Shannon got a great jump off first base - sliding safely into second, as McCarver's well-timed dash to the plate beat the relay throw - giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.  Rattled by the suddenly brash maneuvering of these running Redbirds, Stottlemeyer served up a meatball to Maxvill, who stroked it into right field - scoring the galloping Shannon from second, for a 3-0 lead, after four innings of play.

The Yankees threatened in the fifth when Tom Tresh led-off with a base on balls - then one out later, pinch hitter Mike Hegan (for Stottlemeyer) also walked.  However, that rally came to an abrupt halt when Phil Linz hit a looping liner to right field which Shannon tracked down, much to the dismay of Tresh, who thought the ball would drop.  His base-running blunder got him doubled off second, and got a tiring Gibson off the hook - at least for now.

Al Downing was Stottlemeyer's replacement, as the Cardinals took their turn at bat in the bottom of the fifth.  Lou Brock greeted him with a home run deep to right center to give the Cardinals a comfortable 4-0 lead.  After Bill White singled to center, Boyer advanced him to third with a double into the gap in right center.  Manager Yogi Berra had seen enough - bringing in Rollie Sheldon to face Groat - who scored White on a ground out to second, as Boyer took third.  McCarver then scored Kenny on a sacrifice fly to right field - and just like that, the Cardinals had a 6-0 lead.

However, that lead was cut in half on a Mickey Mantle three-run sixth-inning home run.  This would be Mantle's eighteenth and final World Series home run in what would be the Yankees' final World Series appearance during the Mantle Era.  He'd suffer through four more injury-plagued seasons - diminishing his career numbers a bit, but his overall greatness - when he was in his prime - could not be overstated.

Meanwhile, with the Cardinals still leading, 6-3 - Ken Boyer capped off a terrific three-hit game with a two-out solo home run in the seventh - giving Gibson an extra insurance run to work with.  This would be Boyer's last hurrah in his last great season with St Louis.  His grand slam home run in Game Four turned a 3-0 deficit into what would become a 4-3 win - and of course, paved the way for St Louis to still be alive for a Game Seven.

As New York took their final turn at bat in the ninth-inning, trailing 7-3, Gibson struck out the first batter - Tom Tresh.  But then Clete Boyer - an offensive liability all season long and in the World Series - up to this point - hit a Gibson fastball into the left field bleachers.  Rounding third, he and brother Ken silently enjoyed the moment, while Gibson silently tried to muster up enough energy to get the final two outs.

He got the second out by striking out Johnny Blanchard on a high fastball.  But then Phil Linz - who only hit five home runs in the regular season - timed a fastball perfectly, and deposited that one in the left field bleachers, as well.  One more base runner, and the Yankees would have the tying run coming to the plate.  But this was Gibson's game to finish - and he did - by inducing Bobby Richardson to pop out to Maxvill at second.

It was finally over - the most improbable comeback in major league history.  However, the Cards' on-field celebration was brief - and by today's "in your face-over-the-top" standards - looks subdued.  But thousands of fans had immediately rushed the field to join in on the celebration - so the team had a change of venue - into the clubhouse where champagne and an ample supply of Anheuser Busch products were joyously sprayed everywhere.

After an eighteen year wait, St Louis finally got its seventh World Championship.  Fifty years later, that total has risen to eleven, as the 2014 edition tries for number twelve.  They're considered an underdog - currently down two games to one to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS.

But of course, whenever the Cardinals actually win a World Series - they're usually playing the role of underdog.  If they can salvage at least one win in San Francisco, they'll have a fighting chance - and that's all we could hope for.

October 8, 1967 - World Series - Game 4: Gibson's 1st World Series Shutout

Sunday, October 8, 1967 - World Series - Game 4 - At Busch Stadium II (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Boston Red Sox (Jose Santiago - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  54, 575

Bob Gibson - who allowed just one run in defeating the Red Sox at Fenway Park in Game One - trumped that effort in Game Four at Busch Stadium by blanking Boston, 6-0.  It was his first career World Series shutout, and it gave St Louis a commanding three games to one lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.

Gibson got all the runs he needed in the first-inning off Boston starter Jose Santiago.  After Lou Brock and Curt Flood both singled to start the frame, Roger Maris scored 'em both with a double to left field.

After advancing to third on Orlando Cepeda's fly ball deep to right field, Maris scored on Tim McCarver's single to right field - to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.  One out later, Julian Javier singled to left - bringing up the weak-hitting Dal Maxvill with runners on first and second.

After Maxvill's single to left field scored McCarver to make it a 4-0 lead - manager Dick Williams had seen enough - yanking his beleaguered starter after just two-thirds of an inning.  Gary Bell - one of Jim Bouton's buddies frequently mentioned in his controversial and entertaining memoir, Ball Four - restored order for the next 1.1 innings.

Bell's replacement - Jerry Stephenson - didn't fare so well.

In the third inning, Orlando Cepeda greeted Stephenson with  a lead-off double to left field.  With McCarver batting, Stephenson uncorked a wild pitch - moving Cepeda to third.  McCarver's sacrifice fly to center padded the lead to 5-0 - but the Cardinals weren't quite through.

Mike Shannon then coaxed a base on balls, then a red-hot Javier brought him in with a double to left field, scoring the sixth and final run of the game.

Stephenson regrouped to pitch a scoreless fourth-inning - then the next two Boston relievers - Dave Morehead and Ken Brett - pitched a combined four-inning no-hitter which nobody really noticed.

Bob Gibson was on center stage today - scattering five hits and one walk to keep the Red Sox from scoring all day long.  He struck out a relatively modest total of six batters - but Boston never threatened to score until their last turn at bat.

Carl Yastrzemski - the AL Triple Crown winner - stayed hot all throughout the World Series.  He led-off the ninth-inning with a double into the right-center field gap - becoming the first runner in scoring position Gibson had allowed in the entire game.  He got as far as third base but that's where he remained, as Gibson closed the door on the threat to preserve the shutout.

The Red Sox were down, but far from out.  They would go on to win the next two games to force a seventh and deciding game back home at Fenway Park.  When asked by a Boston beat writer what he expected for the classic Lonborg vs Gibson Game Seven duel, Dick Williams uttered the words which would become the rallying cry for the soon-to-be World Champion Cardinals:  "Lonborg and champagne."

Gibson of course, had other ideas.

October 4, 1964 - The Cardinals Win The Pennant!

Sunday, October 4, 1964 - At Busch Stadium I (Curt Simmons - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  New York Mets (Galen Cisco - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  30,146

On the last day of probably the most miraculous season in major league histroy, the Cardinals salvaged the final game of a season-ending three-game series with the lowly New York Mets - to claim their first National League pennant since 1946.  Bob Gibson, who lost a heart-breaking eight-inning start on Friday night, worked four innings of gutsy relief to get the win in the clincher - as the Cardinals eventually cruised to a memorable 11-5 win.

Ironically, the team the Redbirds spent most of the summer chasing down - the Philadelphia Phillies - gave the Cardinals the help they needed with a 10-0 drubbing of the Cincinnati Reds - co-leaders with St Louis at the start of play today.  The win moved Philadelphia into a second-place tie with Cincinnati - both with 92-70 records - one game behind the Cardinals, who somehow finished at 93-69.

Thankfully, the Cardinals avoided the three game-sweep to the worst team in baseball.  Otherwise, the top spot in the National League would have resulted in an unprecedented three-way tie - with all sorts of convoluted playoff possibilities, which more than likely would have resulted in the survivor of the pandemonium heading into the Fall Classic confrontation with the New York Yankees with a less than favorable starting rotation.  More than likely, the Bronx Bombers would have emerged victorious in Mickey Mantle's final World Series appearance, instead of falling to the Cardinals in seven games.

Despite the seemingly lopsided victory, this game was a nail-biter until the Redbirds finally took command about halfway through.

The Cardinals grabbed a second-inning 1-0 lead off Mets starter Galen Cisco - on Mike Shannon's two-out RBI single - scoring Tim McCarver - who opened the inning with a double.

In the fourth-inning, the Mets tied the game on Charlie Smith's two-out solo home run off Cards starter Curt Simmons.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Dick Groat's lead-off double nearly went to waste, but Dal Maxvill of all people, lined a two-out single to center to bring the go-ahead run home:  2-1 - St Louis.

The lead quickly evaporated as the Mets batted in the fifth-inning.  George Altman started the trouble with a single, then advanced to second on Cisco's sacrifice bunt.  Bobby Klaus then lifted a fly ball deep to right field which Altman thought would be caught - but it landed safely, as Klaus made it all the way to second, while Altman only advanced to third.  However, the next batter - Ken McMillan - scored both runners with a double of his own to left field.  Suddenly, the Mets had a 3-2 lead.

Manager Johnny Keane had seen enough.  In from the bullpen to replace a tiring Simmons came the Cardinals' ace - Bob Gibson - to restore order.  He was working on just one day's rest - after pitching masterfully in a painful 1-0 loss to Al Jackson on Friday night.  But with the entire season on the line, he made himself available for duty in this game, if needed.  And he was needed, as Simmons was out of gas.

Gibson retired the next two Mets batters to keep the deficit at a single run - before an inspired Cardinals' lineup seized control of the game in the bottom half of the inning.  Lou Brock led-off with a base on balls, then advanced to second on Bill White's base hit to right field.  Ken Boyer's double to left field scored Brock with the tying run - as manager Casey Stengel brought in reliever Bill Wakefield to take over for Cisco - attempting to get out of this second and third no-out predicament.

The first batter Wakefield faced - Dick Groat - gave the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish - on a ground-out to the second baseman - scoring White from third as Boyer advanced to third.

After McCarver was intentionally walked, Shannon struck out - but Maxvill did it again - a two-out RBI single to right field - scoring Boyer to give the Cardinals a 5-3 lead.  With Cincinnati getting clobbered at home to the Phillies, everyone in the ballpark knew a pennant was very likely going to be won today by the home town team.  Electricity filled the air.

Gibson - clearly arm-weary on such short rest - faltered in the sixth-inning, but avoided serious trouble.  A two-out bases loaded walk to Klaus made it a 5-4 game - but a collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout old Busch Stadium when McMillan grounded out to end the threat.

The festive mood at the ballpark intensified when the Cards scored three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth off reliever Willard Hunter.  Brock's one-out double preceded White's two-run home run - then later in the frame, after Boyer walked, McCarver brought him in with a ringing double to right:  8-4 - St Louis.

Curt Flood put the crowd into a frenzy with a lead-off eighth-inning home run - then with two out, Boyer drew another base on balls, advanced to third on Groat's double, and both runners scored on McCarver's single to center:  11-4 - St Louis.

By this time, the irascible Cardinals owner, Gussie Busch had joined the wildly exuberant broadcaster - Harry Caray, who had moved down to the field-level box seats to capture the excitement of this inevitable pennant-clinching moment.  The party was delayed momentarily when an exhausted Gibson could no longer maintain control of his pitches - walking two batters as the Mets took their final turn at bat in the ninth.  With two on and one out, Barney Schultz and his dancing knuckle ball took over for Gibby, who departed the mound to a standing ovation from the appreciative fans.  Eventually, one run came scored but Schultz got the final out of the season - inducing Ed Kranepool into popping a foul ball behind home plate - which McCarver grabbed - to send the Cardinals to their first World Series in eighteen years.

Old Gussie's gravely voice could be heard on the radio at that moment, proclaiming this day to be the happiest of his "live-long life" as Harry couldn't stop repeating his excited summation of what had just transpired: "The Cardinals win the pennant!"

Of course, the Cardinals also went on to win the World Series, as well.  Even though Bob Gibson - still arm-weary from his recent late season activity - lost Game 2 - he would pitch heroically in Games 5 and 7 to earn his first World Series MVP honor.

Even better performances in baseball's grandest stage would lie ahead for the great Gibson - who was just beginning to write his own World Series legacy.

September 24, 1964 - Gibson & Sadecki Dominate Pirates in Doubleheader Sweep

Thursday, September 24, 1964 - At Forbes Field (Bob Gibson - Game One Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Pittsburgh Pirates (Wilbur Wood - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  2,842

The Cardinals began this five-game series with the Pirates by doing exactly what they needed to do - win both ends of this doubleheader.  Bob Gibson went the distance in the first game - scattering nine hits while striking out eleven in a 4-2 Cardinal win.  The only mistake that cost him was a seventh-inning two-run home run off the bat of Donn Clendenon, after the Redbirds had already scored the first four runs of the ballgame.

The Cardinals started the game with back-to-back singles by Curt Flood and Lou Brock.  After Dick Groat was retired on grounder to the first baseman - unassisted - both runners moved up a base.

Cleanup hitter Ken Boyer was intentionally walked to load the bases - with Bill White up next - hoping to get a big hit.  Instead, Wood balked in a run (Flood), as Boyer and Brock were now perched on second and third - then White stuck out.

Then, with Julian Javier batting, Brock wandered a bit too far off the third base bag, was picked off by catcher Orlando McFarlane, and was subsequently tagged out after a brief rundown (C - 3B - C - SS) - to end the inning.

Naturally, Javier led-off the second-inning with a single that probably would have scored two runs an inning earlier.  Mike Shannon followed with a ground out to the third baseman, as Javier advanced to second.  Then with Bob Uecker batting, Wood uncorked a wild pitch, enabling Javier to take third.

With first base open, and the pitcher due up, Uecker walked.  Of course, this particular pitcher was a pretty good hitter (.206 career vs Uecker's .200) - and Gibson helped his own cause with a run-scoring sacrifice fly to center field, to give himself a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the fifth.  Flood opened with a single to center field, but was forced out at second on Brock's grounder to the shortstop.  Groat then came up with the big hit - a double down the left field line - advancing Brock to third.

Boyer received his second intentional walk of the game to load the bases for Bill White - who drove in Brock and Groat with a single to right field, as Boyer advanced to third.  After Javier walked to once again load the bases, manager Danny Murtaugh brought in reliever Don Schwall to pitch to Mike Shannon - ending Wilbur Wood's shaky outing (4.1 IP - 6 H - 4 R - 6 BB - 1 SO).  Who would have thought - seven years later, pitching for the Chicago White Sox he would begin a string of five straight seasons of starting over 40 games each year?  You never know...

Who would have thought - the Cardinals would have two runners picked off third base in the same game?  But that's what happened as Shannon was at bat.  This time, it was Boyer wandering a bit too far off third, as McFarlane bagged another victim.  Shannon was then retired on a fly ball to center - which may have scored the run from third - but 50 years later, we just don't know these things.

What we do know is Clendenon's two-run home run off Gibson would conclude the scoring in game one - good enough for a much-needed win.

Game Two Starting Pitchers:  Ray Sadecki vs Tom Butters

Sadecki pitched one of the finest games of his career - a complete game five hit shutout.  He walked just one batter while striking out ten - that's 21 strikeouts in one day, folks.

The first two runs the Cardinals put on the board came via the long ball.  Brock hit a solo home run in the third-inning, then Shannon smacked one in the fifth-inning.  Those were the only runs Butters allowed in his eight innings of work.  The Cards then tacked on a couple of ninth-inning insurance runs - both charged to Don Schwall, who gave up a lead-off single to Shannon, then struck out Sadecki before Flood singled to right - advancing Shannon to second.

With that, reliever Frank Bork entered the game to pitch to Brock - who forced Flood at second on a grounder to second baseman Bill Mazeroski, as Shannon advanced to third.  At that point, Pirates' pitching achieved the rare "daily double" - two run-scoring balks.  This one - with White batting - scored Shannon, as Brock moved into scoring position - and White took advantage of the opportunity with a run-scoring double, to make it a 4-0 game.

The third pitcher in the inning - Tommie Sisk - then struck out Boyer to end the inning.

Sadecki finished 'em off in style - striking out Clendenon, Freese and Stargell to nail this one down.

At the end of the day, the Cardinals were now 3.5 games behind the first-place Phillies - who were beaten at home by the Milwaukee Braves, by a final score of 5-3.  The Reds were a half game in front of St Louis - just three games behind Philadelphia.

St Louis had just nine more games to play - Cincinnati had ten more - and Philadelphia still had the ordeal of playing eight more games.

The way the season played out was truly mind-boggling.

September 22, 1974 - Simmons Slugs Cubs with Fists & His Bat in Wild Walk-Off Win

Sunday, September 22, 1974 - At Busch Stadium II (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Chicago Cubs (Steve Stone - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  43,267

Ted Simmons - who had four RBI on the day - delivered a two-out ninth-inning single, scoring Lou Brock from second base, to give the Cardinals a wild, brawl-enlivened 6-5 walk-off win over the Cubs.

It was a fitting ending for Simmons, who had been right in the middle of a benches-clearing brawl that began in the top of the ninth when Cubs batter Bill Madlock became irritated with the antics of Cards' closer - Al Hrabosky - who would step off the mound with his back to home plate, to psyche himself up prior to working to the batters.  No sooner had The Mad Hungarian positioned himself to begin his work, Madlock stepped out of the batter's box and began wandering towards the on-deck circle.  After this little cat and mouse game went on for a couple of minutes, home plate umpire Shag Crawford tried to get Madlock back in the batter's box - and when he was still wandering around, Crawford motioned to Hrabosky to begin pitching.  Al's first hurried throw in the direction of home plate was immediately called a strike.

At this point, Cubs manager Jim Marshall and the on deck hitter, Jose Cardenal got involved in the brewing melee - which eventually reached total pandemonium when Madlock and Simmons exchanged a few choice words - quickly followed by a strong right hook by Simba into the jaw of the previously jawing Cub third baseman.  By this time, both benches were in the donnybrook, and by the time order was restored, only one participant was ejected - Cubs manager Marshall.

Madlock finally stepped into the box and struck out - and then Simmons ended it with another knockout punch - but this one came with a bat in his hands.

This wild, wild win, coupled with Pittsburgh's 4-0 loss to the Mets, increased the first-place Cardinals' lead over the Pirates to 1.5 games, heading into a most bizarre final week of the season.

Back to the actual game.

Bob Gibson, nearing the end of a legendary career, had a bit of a rough start in this one, as former teammate Jose Cardenal greeted him with a first-inning RBI single - to stake Cub starter Steve Stone to a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals struck back in the bottom half of the first, with some two-out thunder.  Reggie Smith doubled - giving cleanup hitter Ted Simmons a chance to bat with a runner in scoring position - and he cashed in, with a home run deep to right field, as the Cards grabbed a 2-1 lead.

St Louis padded that lead with a pair of third inning runs.  Brock, on his way to a major league record 118 stolen bases (since broken) - started the rally with a lead-off walk, stole second, then advanced to third when Ted Sizemore laid down a sacrifice bunt.

Next up - Reggie Smith - tripled deep to right field, scoring Brock - then came in to score when Simmons got his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly deep to right field.

Trailing 4-1, the Cubs scored four sixth-inning runs off a tiring Gibson, who had long since intimidated manager Red Schoendienst with a menacing glare that precluded any pitching changes - at least while Gibby was still on the mound.  Consequently, Gibson bore the full brunt of the three hits, two walks, an error, three stolen bases and a sacrifice fly that gave the Cubs a 5-4 lead.

The Redbirds tied it off Cubs reliever Oscar Zamora in their half of the sixth, when Ken Reitz - batting with runners on first and third and nobody out - grounded into a 6-4-3 double play.  The rally was squashed, Reitz was not credited with an RBI - but at least a run was in.

With the scored knotted at five runs apiece, Gibson had apparently convinced his manager to keep him in the game for just one more inning - and he pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to maintain that tie, to put himself in position for the "win" if his teammates could rally in the bottom of the seventh.

However, pinch hitter Jim Dwyer - batting for Gibson - failed to reach base.  With one out, Brock singled, stole second, but was eventually forced out at third when Simmons - after a walk to Reggie Smith - grounded one right at third baseman Bill Madlock, who stepped on the bag to end the threat.

Al Hrabosky - the eccentric southpaw whose pre-pitch ritual got on the nerves of Madlock aka Mad Dog - took over the pitching chores in the eighth-inning, and continued in the ninth - retiring all six batters he faced - two on strikes - including Mad Dog himself.  Imagine that.  The Mad Hungarian striking out the Mad Dog.  Such madness.

Reliever Dave LaRoche - who stayed out of harm's way when all the punches were being throw in the top half of the ninth - was on the mound when the Cardinals took their turn at bat in the bottom half.  Leading-off was the irrepressible Hrabosky - who was going to be in this one for the long haul, if necessary - and he flew out to right.

Then Brock singled again, as the chants of "Lou, Lou" reverberated through the stadium.  With Sizemore batting, Lou took off for second - but the hit & run was on - unsuccessfully, as Sizemore flew out to right - as Brock scrambled back to first.

Next up - Reggie Smith - capped off his perfect day at the plate by drawing his second walk of the game - to go with two triples and a double in five plate appearances.  That allowed Simmons with yet another RBI opportunity - and Simba delivered another knock-out punch - the walk-off single to center field, scoring Brock for the 6-5 win.

It was another exciting, nearly insane victory for the over-achieving Cardinals, as they tried to win their first-ever NL East title.  But there were also behind the scenes distractions - that ultimately may have prevented the postseason party for St Louis.

This game?  It was nothing - just good clean fun.

September 15: Road Wins for the '60's Pennant Winners

Tuesday, September 15, 1964 - At County Stadium (Ray Sadecki - Game One Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Milwaukee Braves (Tony Cloninger - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  5,843

In the first game of a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Braves, Mike Shannon broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth-inning with a two-out three-run home run off Tony Cloninger (16-13) - en route to an 11-6 win.  Ray Sadecki (17-10) certainly had better games, but managed to record the win, with 2.2 innings of relief help from Barney Schultz - who picked up his seventh save of the season.

Game Two Starting Pitchers:  Bob Gibson vs Wade Blasingame

The Cardinals completed the sweep, with a 3-1 win in the nightcap.

Trailing 1-0 with two out in the seventh-inning, Julian Javier's two-run home run off Wade Blasingame (5-5) put the Cardinals in front to stay.  Dick Groat's RBI double in the eighth-inning scored Curt Flood with an insurance run.

Gibson (16-10) went the distance - yielding the one lone run on four hits.  He walked four and struck out twelve, as St Louis (82-63) picked up a half game in the standings on first-place Philadelphia (88-57) - 1-0 winners in Houston.

The Cardinals were still six games behind the Phillies - with just seventeen games to be played.

Friday, September 15, 1967 - At Crosley Field (Steve Carlton - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Cincinnati Reds (Gary Nolan - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  13,797

The Cardinals drew one step closer to clinching the National League pennant, as Steve Carlton (14-8) was brilliant - tossing a complete-game two-hit shutout in the Redbirds' 4-0 win over the Reds.

Mike Shannon broke a scoreless tie - connecting for a three-run home run in the third-inning off Gary Nolan (13-7).  Later that inning, Carlton helped his own cause with an RBI single - scoring Javier from second.  But tonight, he obviously didn't need the insurance.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals (92-56) now led the pack by 10.5 games with just fourteen games remaining on the schedule.  They would clinch the pennant in Game 151 - in Philadelphia.

Sunday, September 15, 1968 - At The Astrodome (Steve Carlton - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Houston Astros (Don Wilson - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  16,638

In Game 151, the Cardinals clinched the National League pennant with a 7-4 win over the Astros.  Steve Carlton (14-8) wasn't nearly as sharp as he was one year earlier, but he went the distance - recovering from a first-inning two-run home run he served up to Jim Wynn - to hold the Astros in check while his teammates heated up the offense.

Trailing 2-1 in the third-inning, Roger Maris gave the Cardinals a lead they would not relinquish - with a two-run home run off Don Wilson (13-15).  Maris also added a sacrifice fly, as the Redbirds tacked on four more runs - giving Carlton a nice cushion - before Houston scored a couple of meaningless late-inning runs.

Curt Flood had a flawless day at the plate - with five singles in five plate appearances - scoring two runs, and driving in one.  Last season's NL MVP - Orlando Cepeda - had two hits - good for two RBI - and later led the Cardinals in their post game champagne-soaked clubhouse celebration.

In two full seasons playing in St Louis, Cepeda became an all-time fan favorite - but would be traded to the Atlanta Braves for Joe Torre, shortly before the start of the '69 season.  For Cepeda and the Braves, the trade was a good one.  Atlanta would reach the postseason before being eliminated by the New York Mets in the first-ever NLCS.

Torre played well for the Cardinals - but the team never quite made it to the postseason during his six year tenure in St Louis.  An aging group of core players and some bad trades turned the franchise into also-rans in the '70's.

This Day in St Louis Cardinals History: August 28, 1969 - 1970 - 1971 - Three for Thursday!

Thursday, August 28, 1969 - At Busch Stadium II (Steve Carlton - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Houston Astros (Don Wilson - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  13,754 

The Astros scored an unearned first-inning run off Cardinals' starter Steve Carlton (8 IP - 6 H - 1 R - 0 ER - 3 BB - 10 SO) - and that was it.

Joe Hoerner pitched an inning of perfect relief - striking out two in the ninth.

Meanwhile, Astros starter Don Wilson held the Cardinals scoreless until the ninth-inning - when Dave Ricketts scored Vada Pinson from third with a sacrifice fly.  

After reliever Mudcat Grant (7-10) retired the Astros in order in the tenth-inning - Redbird utility infielder Steve Huntz led off the bottom of the tenth with a walk-off home run - handing Wilson (16-9) the tough-luck loss.

Friday, August 28, 1970 - At Dodger Stadium (Jerry Reuss - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  LA Dodgers (Don Sutton - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  19,964

Joe Torre broke a scoreless tie with a ninth-inning lead-off home run off Dodgers' starter Don Sutton (13-10).  

Cardinals' starter Jerry Reuss (5-5) pitched a complete game two-hit shutout - striking out five - walking one.

Saturday, August 28, 1971 - At Busch Stadium II (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Cincinnati Reds (Gary Nolan - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  40,823

Exactly two weeks after no-hitting the Pirates, Bob Gibson (13-11) was almost as dominant in this start against the Reds - a complete game three-hit shutout - striking out thirteen - walking one.

The Cardinals scored a pair of third-inning runs off Reds' starter Gary Nolan (11-13) - RBI singles by Ted Sizemore and Joe Torre gave Gibson more than enough run support tonight - although they added two more runs in the fifth - on another Sizemore RBI single along with an unearned run on a botched play by the catcher - future Hall of Famer - Johnny Bench.

August 19, 1968 - Gibson's Best: 2-Hit Shutout of Phillies

Monday, August 19, 1968 - At Connie Mack Stadium (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Philadelphia Phillies (Woody Fryman - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  12,278  

Major league baseball's best pitcher in 1968 - Bob Gibson - had his best performance of the year - shutting out the Phillies on two hits - as the Cardinals scored twice as many runs as they really needed to win this game:  Two.  Strangely enough, both runs were driven in by seldom-used utility outfielder Ron Davis, who got the start in center field tonight, as manager Red Schoendienst gave Curt Flood a rare night off.

Davis put the Cardinals on top early.  His second-inning single off Phillies starter Woody Fryman scored Mike Shannon from second base to stake Gibson to a 1-0 lead.  Although Fryman completed the inning with no further scoring, he was removed from the game by manager Bob Skinner prior to the start of the third-inning.  In all likelihood, Fryman suffered a minor injury of some sort - although that is unclear.  What we do know for certain is Woody was going to get tagged with the loss (11-12).

The next pitcher for Philadelphia - John Boozer - managed to keep the Redbirds scoreless until the eighth-inning - when a lead-off triple by Phil Gagliano stirred up some excitement.  Bobby Tolan entered the game as a pinch runner - but was still stuck at third after Orlando Cepeda popped up to the second baseman - and with the infield playing in - Mike Shannon grounded out to the first baseman - who made the play unassisted.  Next up - Tim McCarver was walked intentionally to get to the light-hitting Davis - who foiled the strategy by lining a single to center - scoring Tolan.

Before all that happened, Gibson had been cruising along with a no-hitter through the first five innings.  A two-out first-inning base on balls to Johnny Briggs had been the only Philadelphia base runner.  But as fate would have it, the first hit allowed by Gibson was a one-out seeing-eye single to center by none other than John Boozer.  It would be his only hit in eleven plate appearances in '68.  Go figure.

The only other hit Gibson allowed came with two-out in the eighth-inning.  After walking Clay Dalrymple, pinch hitter Johnny Callison - batting for Boozer - grounded a single to center.  But that was the extent of the Phillies' offense tonight.  Tony Taylor - representing the lead run - tried to hit one out, but his lazy fly ball to hitting star Ron Davis was an easy out.

Gibson, who finished the night with eleven strike outs, got the free-swinging Dick Allen for the fourth time - to finish 'em off in style.  His record improved to 18-5 on the season, as his ERA fell to an even 1.00 - on the way to 1.12 by season's end.

Meanwhile, to further illustrate the kind of year 1968 was in major league baseball - there were eight other games played on August 19 - and half of those also produced shutouts - the most notable of which took place between the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants at Shea Stadium.  It took seventeen-innings before the Giants finally scored the lone run of the game.  Mets rookie starter - Jerry Koosman - pitched a full twelve innings before finally being taken out of the game.  Giants starter - Bob Bolin - only made it through eleven innings.  Pitch counts?  Nobody bothered to keep track of such nonsense.

August 14, 1971 - The Bob Gibson No-Hitter

Saturday, August 14, 1971 - At Three Rivers Stadium (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Pittsburgh Pirates (Bob Johnson - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  30,678

Bob Gibson had never given much thought to his prospects of pitching a no-hitter.  It didn't happen in '68 - when he had one of the most dominant seasons by a starting pitcher in baseball history.  Now, three years later - at the age of thirty-five - he was still a very good pitcher, but well past his prime.  His only concern was trying to catch the first-place Pittsburgh Pirates - a team loaded with talent and holding a 5.5 game lead over St Louis prior to this game.

The Cardinals jumped all over Pirates starter Bob Johnson for five runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning - knocking him out of the game after Joe Hague knocked a three-run home run out of the park.  In that small sample size, Johnson's earned run average was 135.00 - in case you were wondering.

The next pitcher for Pittsburgh - Bob Moose - made it through the the fourth-inning before running into more trouble in the fifth.  Ted Kubiak's two-run double scored Torre and Simmons - and Kubiak eventually scored from third on Gibson's sacrifice fly.

The next "Bob" to enter the game - Bob Veale - made it through eight innings - and like Moose, gave up three runs in his last inning of work.  A bases loaded walk to Dal Maxvill preceded Gibson's two-run single - padding the lead to 11-0.

All those unnecessary runs weren't the big story in this game.  By the time the Cardinals had scored their final run of the game, Gibson still hadn't allowed a hit.  The first batter to reach base was Milt May - who stuck out on a wild pitch in the second-inning - then reached first before Simmons could even make a throw.  Gibson would strike out two other batters in the inning - en route to a ten strikeout game.

The only other base runners for Pittsburgh came via the base on balls:  Jackie Hernandez in the third-inning - Willie Stargell in the fourth - and Bob Robertson in the seventh.

The strikeout victims:  Stargell (three times) - Robertson (twice) - May, Hernandez, Moose, Sands and Clines (one apiece).

The only "non-Bob" to pitch in this game was Gibson's former teammate - Nelson Briles - who was the pitcher the Cardinals added to the starting rotation back in '67 - when Gibson suffered a broken leg on a vicious line drive off the bat of Roberto Clemente.  Briles pitched a scoreless ninth, then watched in admiration from the Pirates' dugout as his former mentor - Gibby - got the final three outs to get that elusive no-hitter.

Gibson's final pitch of the game was a called third strike to Willie Stargell - who may not have liked the call -  but deep down inside, was happy to see his fierce rival make history.

For the joyous Cardinals, they would close out the four game series sweep on Sunday - with a come-from-behind 6-4 win - to close within 3.5 games of first in the NL East.  But that would be as close as they'd get, as the Pirates regrouped from this temporary setback to easily take the division title - then went on to win a classic seven-game World Series over Baltimore.

July 30, 1968 - Gibson Maintains Sub-One ERA in Win Over Mets

Tuesday, July 30, 1968 - At Shea Stadium (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  New York Mets (Dick Selma - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  34,835

Bob Gibson was certainly the most dominant pitcher in major league baseball in 1968 (aka The Year of the Pitcher).  His season-ending 1.12 ERA was a post-Dead Ball Era record for any starting pitcher - ever.  After a July 25, 1968 shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gibson's ERA had actually dipped below 1.00 for the first time all season (the pitcher's equivalent to hitting .400?) - 0.96 - to be precise.

This statistical anomaly was of no concern to Gibson, whatsoever.  He never bothered to keep track of such nonsense.  As far as he was concerned, his job was simple:  Prevent the other team from scoring.  Period.  Then, with any luck at all, his team could score a run somewhere along the line, and his job would be done.

In this game, the Cardinals provided Gibson with an early 1-0 cushion - when Dal Maxvill shocked everyone with a third-inning lead-off triple to right field.  After Gibson struck out, Brock grounded one sharply, right up the middle, which Mets starting pitcher Dick Selma got a glove on, but couldn't make a play; however,  Maxvill had to stay at third on what was ruled a single.  Curt Flood then hit a ground ball to the right of third baseman Ed Charles - whose only play was a force-out at second base - but this time, Maxvill was able to score.

"There's your run, Gibby!"  There was more truth to that joking remark than not - at least in 1968.

They say scoring runs is contagious.  That usually wasn't the case in '68 - except in this game - although the Mets helped out with some strange defensive maneuvers - very strange, in fact.

In the top of the fourth-inning, Orlando Cepeda led-off with a single to left field.  Then Tim McCarver walked.  Next up - Mike Shannon - grounded one to Charles at third - but in his haste to turn two, couldn't field it cleanly, for a costly error - which loaded the bases.

Next up - Julian Javier - drove in Cepeda and McCarver with a single to right field.  By this time, Selma was unraveling - a wild pitch, another base hit and a sacrifice fly scored two more runs.  But the Cardinals weren't quite through.

Perhaps the most bizarre play of 1968 happened with Brock batting - once again, with Maxvill on third base.  Lou, who was deprived of an RBI an inning prior - when his infield single didn't score Maxvill from third, got a cheap one this time around.  After grounding one right back to Selma, the befuddled Mets hurler apparently thought there was a runner on first (there wasn't).  After fielding the ball, Selma quickly threw a strike to second baseman Jerry Buchek - who in turn, relayed the ball to first base for the out, as a grinning Maxvill dashed home with the fifth run of the inning - on what can best be described as a phantom double play.

It's quite possible that Gibson had a rare lapse of concentration when he returned to the mound for the bottom of the fourth.  Who could blame him?  At any rate, after getting the first two batters, Ed Charles drew a base on balls - the only one Gibson would allow in the game.  Then, Ed Kranepool doubled to right field to score Charles all the way from first.

That ended the scoring for the Mets - who at least attained a moral victory by spoiling another shutout for the Cards' ace.  The ERA stayed virtually the same for Gibson, however.  Still 0.96.

Meanwhile, Cepeda added another needless run for the Redbirds in the seventh - scoring Flood (who doubled with two out) from second base.  That was it - a 7-1 Cardinal winner.  Those seven runs were the most the Cardinals scored in any of Gibson's road starts in '68.  Twice, they scored eight runs for him at home - in games won by the Redbirds - 8-1 and 8-0.

It's a pity all that run support couldn't have been spread out over some of his other starts - when he really could have used an extra run or two...

June 20, 1968 - Time Management Lesson From Gibson & Jenkins

Thursay, June 20, 1968 - At Busch Stadium II (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Chicago Cubs (Fergie Jenkins - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  26,550

Whenever Gibson and Jenkins oppose each other, two things usually happen:  (1) Very few runs are scored and (2) everything gets wrapped up in a couple of hours.

Very few runs had been scored in the first two games of this series, but they all scored when St Louis was batting - a 1-0 nine-hit shutout by Nelson Briles on Tuesday and a 4-0 one-hit shutout by Steve Carlton just the night before.  Carlton walked none and struck out nine Cub batters - arguably, the most dominant single-game performance of his career - and that's saying something.

Now the Cubs were facing not only the best pitcher on the Cardinals' staff - Gibson was the best pitcher in baseball - and getting even better.  His last three starts had all been shutouts, and Gibson realized he'd probably have to throw another one tonight, in order to beat the ace of the Cubs' staff - Fergie Jenkins.

And that's exactly what he did - 9 IP - 5 H - 0 R - 1 BB - 6 SO.  His ERA dropped to 1.21 after this game, and it would drop a bit further by the time the season ended (1.12).

The only run of the game came in the bottom of the third-inning with two out - when Lou Brock tripled into right field - and scored on a Curt Flood single to left field.  After Brock scored, he casually strolled over to where his pal, Gibby was seated in the dugout, and advised him, "There's your run."  Gibson was in no mood for levity, as he glared at his mischievous teammate while Tim McCarver and Orlando Cepeda overheard the exchange, and roared their approval.

Brock was right.  That was Gibson's run - as it was the only run allowed by Jenkins in his eight-innings of work.  The Cardinals could only muster four hits all game off Jenkins.  He walked two and struck out eleven.  Coincidentally, when computing earned run averages - one earned run allowed in eight-innings pitched, comes out to precisely a 1.12 ERA.  Imagine keeping that pace up for an entire season - 34 starts.

As expected, both pitchers provided us with a good lesson in time management:  Work quickly and efficiently, don't waste time with needless visits to the mound - and above all else, don't waste time with needless pitching changes.

This one ran five minutes over the two hour mark.  Just another typical Gibson - Jenkins ballgame.

June 19, 1967 - Flood's Unassisted Double Play One For the Ages

Curt Flood made some great defensive plays in his career, but the one he pulled off to preserve an extra-inning win in Houston back in '67 - may be his personal best.  And it was even televised back in St Louis, for all the Cardinal fans to marvel.

Monday, June 19, 1967 - At the Astrodome - (Bob Gibson - Starting Pitcher) - Opponent:  Houston Astros (Mike Cuellar - Starting Pitcher) - Attendance:  23,953

The Astros scored first, in a most unusual way.  With one out in the third-inning, Bob Gibson's mound rival - Mike Cuellar - a career .115 hitter - lined one into the right-center field gap, for a rare triple.  Cuellar then jogged home when the next batter - Julio Gotay - also tripled.  An agitated Gibson retired the next two Houston batters to strand Gotay at third.

With Cuellar keeping the Cardinals scoreless through five innings, Dal Maxvill led off the St Louis sixth-inning with a single to center field.  However, after Gibson fouled off a sacrifice bunt attempt on the third strike and Lou Brock's fly ball to center became an easy out - the rally seemed to fizzle.

Then Julian Javier lined a single to left, and Curt Flood coaxed a walk from Cuellar to load the bases for Orlando Cepeda - the exuberant leader of the team he affectionately calls "El Birdos".  Cepeda quickly put El Birdos in front, with a two-run single to center, as Flood motored to third.  With Mike Shannon batting, Cepeda then stole second as the Cardinals' dugout gleefully roared its approval; however, Shannon popped out to third, in foul territory, to end the inning.

Houston immediately struck back in their half of the sixth.  Jimmy Wynn doubled down the line in left field, then Rusty Staub - who hit Gibson well in his career - launched a home run deep to right field - putting the Astros back in the lead - 3-2.

Down by that same 3-2 score in the top of the eighth - with Gibson due to lead-off the inning - manager Red Schoendienst elected use pinch-hitter Phil Gagliano in this spot, with this sage advice:  "Get on base, Gags."  And he did - drawing a base on balls from the tiring Cuellar, as the Houston bullpen was getting several arms warmed up for possible use.

Manager Grady Hatton may have waited too long to replace his starter, as Lou Brock promptly ripped a double down the line in right, bringing Gagliano home with the tying run.  After Javier's sacrifice bunt moved Brock up to third, Flood brought him home with a single to left.  After Cepeda ripped another single to left, the call to the bullpen was finally made.

Carroll Sembera replaced the weary Cuellar - but the new pitcher was wild, plunking Shannon with a pitch to load the bases.  Hatton wasted no time in bringing in another new arm - Dan Schneider - who avoided further damage by getting Tim McCarver on a pop up to the shortstop, and striking out Roger Maris.

Still, the Cardinals had the lead - 4-3, with just two innings to go.  Gibson - who had been removed from the game for a pinch hitter when the Cardinals trailed by a run - was now in a position to pick up the win, if the Cardinal bullpen could take care of business in the final two innings.

After Joe Hoerner worked a scoreless eighth-inning for St Louis, immediate trouble lurked ahead in the ninth.  Bob Aspromonte's opposite-field double down the right field line brought the crowd to life - as an agitated Gibson stewed in the Cardinals' clubhouse.  Bob Lillis then moved the runner up to third with a sacrifice bunt.

Schoendienst then brought in Nelson Briles to replace Hoerner on the mound - and Nellie did his job on the first batter - striking out pinch hitter Joe Morgan.  But he couldn't get that third out before the pesky Julio Gotay's infield hit down the third base line scored Aspromonte with the tying run.  The game was heading to extra innings - Gibson was heading to another no-decision.

After a scoreless tenth-inning, McCarver started a one-out eleventh-inning rally off Houston reliever, Barry Latman - with a single to right field.  Maris - who struck out with the bases loaded his last trip to the plate - came through this time, with a run-scoring double down the right field line.  That was the only run the Redbirds scored, but it would prove to be enough to win - after a bizarre ending.

Briles went back to the mound in the bottom of the eleventh, trying to protect the 5-4 lead - but ran into immediate trouble.  Veteran outfielder Jim Landis lined a single to center, moved up to second on Aspromonte's sacrifice bunt, with Bob Lillis next to hit.

Curt Flood - the best defensive center fielder in the game - was well-positioned for what would happen next.  Lillis hit a looping line drive into shallow center field - which Landis immediately thought was certain to land safely.  Without hesitation, Landis took off from second, and was already rounding third base, as Flood - running at full speed - miraculously snatched the ball with a shoestring catch.  Still running at full speed, Flood was able to stay on his feet - finally getting upright just a few strides away from his next destination:  Second base.

Maxvill - who was now standing on second base, anticipating the game ending toss from Flood to retire the befuddled Landis - quickly realized Flood was going to handle this one on his own - stepping aside to give his grinning teammate room to step on the bag to complete the game-ending unassisted double play.

For those watching the game in the St Louis area on Channel Five - it was an image that would not be forgotten any time soon - and it made for a lot of animated business-attired Tuesday morning conversation around water coolers from Clayton to downtown St Louis.

June 17, 1964 - Brock's First Cardinal RBI is Game Winner in Houston

When the Cardinals acquired 24-year old outfielder Lou Brock (who would turn 25 on June 18) from the Chicago Cubs on June 15, 1964 - in exchange for pitcher Ernie Broglio - several St Louis players - including the outspoken Bob Gibson - felt the trade was a bad one.  Broglio was proven starter - Brock an unproven outfielder with poor defensive skills, very little power - who strikes out too much.

Brock's arrival with his new club coincided with its low-water mark on the season - falling to three games under .500 after a brutal loss to the Colts in miserably humid Houston.  Manager Johnny Keane stuck his nervous new outfielder late in the game, as a pinch hitter - he struck out.

The following night would go much better for Brock - and the Redbirds.  In an easy 7-1 win over Houston, Brock tripled, scored a run and stole  base - all new milestones as a member of the Cardinals.

The following night, Brock would add another new milestone to the list.

Wednesday, June 17, 1964 - At Colt Stadium:  The Cardinals' Ray Washburn and the Colts' Ken Johnson engaged in a classic pitchers' duel while 10,777 Texans sweltered in the stands.

The first two batters Washburn faced in this game - Bob Lillis and Nellie Fox - both singled.  Lillis was able to advance to third on Nellie's base hit and scored on Al Spangler's sacrifice fly.  That would be the lone run for the Colts tonight.  In fact, those were the only hits allowed by Washburn in his 7.1 inning stint.

In the meantime, Johnson kept the Cardinals scoreless until Ken Boyer's one-out solo home run (11) in the fourth, tied the game - 1-1.  That's where the score remained until the Cardinals came to bat in the eighth-inning.

The first scheduled hitter for St Louis - pitcher Washburn - normally not much of a hitter (career .105 BA) - fooled everybody by whacking a lead-off double.  After Curt Flood grounded out to second, Washburn advanced to third on the play.  Brock, up next, delivered his first Cardinal RBI with a base hit to center, giving St Louis a 2-1 lead.

Washburn - perhaps a bit winded after his rare base running exercise - retired the first batter in the eighth, but a one out walk prompted Keane to make the call to the pen.  Roger Craig preserved the lead, working one inning - allowing only the third hit of the game for the Colts, before a young Mike Cuellar relieved Craig with one out in the ninth, to record the second out.  Dramatically, Ron Taylor came in for the one-out save - finishing the game in style - with a strikeout.

Winning pitcher Washburn's record improved to 3-4, while Houston starter Johnson pitched well enough to win on most nights - but not tonight, falling to 5-6 on the season.

The Cardinals were still one game under .500 (30-31), but on the rise - thanks in large part to the spark provided by the newest member of the team.  Lou Brock had arrived - and very quickly his new teammates felt this trade wasn't such a bad one for the Cardinals, after all.

Cy Young Awards - Revisionist's History (1956 - 1975) Based on WAR

Before I begin my rant, I'm going to make a major assumption:  The saber-metric geniuses who devised the formula for estimating a player's true value in wins created - Wins Above Replacement (WAR) - should be trusted.  After all, according to WAR, players like Ruth, Williams, Mays and Mantle were usually at or near the top of the Wins Above Replacement heap, year in and year out - right where they belong.

WAR cuts through all the useless misinformation with one simple number that can be used to determine the best overall player in baseball - or, in the case of Cy Young Award voting - the best pitcher.  Quite often, the best pitcher also happens to be the best overall player.  Something voters tend to ignore when deciding Most Valuable Player Awards.

Much to my surprise, the pitcher with the highest WAR failed to win the Cy Young Award for the first seven years of its existence (1956 - '62).  As a matter of fact, the pitcher who deserved the award wasn't even on the ballot the first six years!  Chances are, they never even knew they deserved the award - but if they're still alive, maybe they'll find out through word of mouth.  If you happen to run into them, congratulate them for me - although they still won't get the plaque.  This is merely an unofficial adjustment, for the sake of Wins Above Replacement authenticity.

PART ONE - Revising CYA History - The Early Years (1956 - 1975)

Of course, over a half-century ago, nobody knew anything about WAR.  Cy Young Award voters favored the pitchers from teams that won a pennant (or finished the regular season in a first-place tie), as long as they won 20 games.  ERA didn't seem very important - just wins, and getting into the World Series.  This process excluded the pitchers who actually had better seasons, but flew under the radar, with deceivingly mediocre won-loss records - playing on mediocre teams that didn't win.  But it wasn't their fault - as their WAR numbers suggest. 

Year   -  CYA Winner vs The Best Pitcher 

1956 - Don Newcombe (4.5) - Early Wynn (7.8) 
1957 - Warren Spahn (4.7) - Don Drysdale (6.1)
1958 - Bob Turley (3.6) - Frank Lary (6.7)
1959 - Early Wynn (2.8) - Larry Jackson (7.2)
1960 - Vernon Law (4.2) - Ernie Broglio (7.2)
1961 - Whitey Ford (3.8) - Don Cardwell (6.1)
1962 - Don Drysdale (5.3) - Bob Purkey (7.3)
1963 - Sandy Koufax (10.7) 
1964 - Dean Chance (9.3)
1965 - Sandy Koufax (8.1)
1966 - Sandy Koufax (10.3)

1967 (AL) - Jim Lonborg (4.1) - Jim Merritt (6.4)
1967 (NL) - Mike McCormick (4.4) - Jim Bunning (7.8)

1968 (AL) - Denny McClain (7.4) - Luis Tiant (7.8)
1968 (NL) - Bob Gibson (11.9)

1969 (AL) - Tie:  Mike Cuellar (4.5) and Denny McClain (8.2) - Just McClain (8.2)
1969 (NL) - Tom Seaver (7.2) - Bob Gibson (11.3)

1970 (AL) - Jim Perry (3.8) - Sam McDowell (8.3)
1970 (NL) - Bob Gibson (8.9)

1971 (AL) - Vida Blue (9.0) - Wilbur Wood (11.7)
1971 (NL) - Fergie Jenkins (10.3)

1972 (AL) - Gaylord Perry (11.0)
1972 (NL) - Steve Carlton (12.1)

1973 (AL) - Jim Palmer (6.3) - Bert Blyleven (9.9)
1973 (NL) - Tom Seaver (10.6)

1974 (AL) - Catfish Hunter (6.9) - Gaylord Perry (8.6)
1974 (NL) - Mike Marshall (3.1)* - Phil Niekro (7.8)

(*Marshall had the distinction of being the first erroneously selected CYA winner who was a relief specialist.  Others would follow in years to come - all mistakes.)

1975 (AL) - Jim Palmer (8.4)
1975 (NL) - Tom Seaver (7.8)

Imagine that.  Jim Merritt and Luis Tiant over Jim Lonborg and Denny McClain in '67 and '68.  Or Wilbur Wood over Vida Blue - who made the cover of Time Magazine in 1971!

Believe it.

Up next:  PART TWO - Revising CYA History - (1976 - 1985) - 5 Out of 20 Correct CYA Winners!

This Day in St Louis Cardinals History - June 7, 1970 - Gibson Catches a Break - Simmons Hits 1st Career HR

Sunday, June 7, 1970 - At Busch Stadium II:  It's safe to say Bob Gibson didn't catch many breaks in '68 when he won only 22 games with a ridiculous 1.12 ERA.  Two years later, he managed to win 23 games with an ERA of 3.12.  Go figure.

One of those 23 wins happened in this game against the not-so-talented San Diego Padres, who had Gibson on the ropes early - but let him get off the hook late - resulting in an ugly 10-7 win for the man who was still the best pitcher in the National League.

In this game, a young catcher by the name of Ted Simmons - who would hit just .243 in 82 games - had a big day today in helping his battery mate snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.  Or something like that.

The Padres quickly jumped out in front in this game, scoring three second-inning runs - two of which were unearned runs, thanks to an error by Joe Torre, who was trying to handle the hot corner today.  Later, in the dugout, Gibson and Torre exchanged pleasantries regarding such things as the weather, where they would be having dinner tonight, and how to field ground balls, etc.

Torre, trying to atone for his error, drove in a third-inning run with a single, as Gibson sneered in the Cardinals' dugout, "You needed to hit that one out!"

The Padres then jumped on Gibson for three hits and a pair of walks in the fourth-inning to score four earned runs, to take a commanding 7-1 lead.  In the dugout afterwards, Torre was overheard saying, "Don't blame me this time!"  Gibson replied, "You still owe me one!"

An irritated Gibson kept San Diego scoreless over the next two innings, when Torre led off the St Louis sixth with a ringing double down the left field line.  The next batter - a 20-year old Ted Simmons - trying to get on the good side of the surly Gibby - blasted his first major league home run to cut the deficit to 7-3.  With bravado, the excited kid from Michigan told his seasoned battery mate, "Don't worry man; we're gonna pull this one out!"  Torre and Lou Brock - lurking right behind Gibson - were doing their best to keep a straight face as Gibson sneered, "That would be oh-so-lovely!"

After Gibson worked a scoreless seventh against the suddenly quiet San Diego lineup, he was due to lead-off the bottom half.  Without hesitation, he worked his way towards the bat rack but was intercepted by manager Red Schoendienst, who told him, "Gibby, I'm gonna have Vic bat for you."

Ironically, Gibson was having one of his best years at the plate in '70 - on his way to hitting .303 with a couple of home runs and 19 RBI.  He was even used to pinch hit six times that season.  But the decision by Schoendienst is probably the reason Gibson would wind up winning - not losing - today's game.

Gibson - now a spectator - glared at pinch hitter Vic Davalillo - the diminutive Venezuelan who would lead the National League with 24 pinch hits in '70.  Davalillo just smiled and said, "Don't worry, man; I'm gonna get a hit for you!"  Brock chimed in, "Me too!"

As it turned out, Vic and Lou both had two hits in the seven-run seventh - as San Diego manager Preston Gomez used four different pitchers to try to stop the onslaught.  But the damage had been done - Jose Cardenal drove in one run, Torre two, Simmons yet another, Leron Lee drove in two more, and Davalillo's second hit drove in the seventh, and final run in the lucky seventh-inning for Bob Gibson - whose expression brightened considerably by the time it was over.

Torre and Brock couldn't help themselves - tormenting Gibson mercilessly between innings; and Gibson was enjoying every minute of it.  The 18,474 fans in attendance were definitely enjoying every minute of the game now, after that miraculous seven-run outburst.

Relievers Frank Linzy and Ted Abernathy (S-2) preserved the Gibson win - one of a league-leading 23 wins for the 34-year old Cardinal ace - who would win his second NL Cy Young Award that year; ironically, pitching for a team that finished 10 games under .500 that year.  Go figure.

Bob Gibson's Amazing '68 Season

In 1968, Bob Gibson started 34 games for the St Louis Cardinals, completing 28.  Of the six games he didn't complete, his shortest outings came in his first two starts - both against the Atlanta Braves - when he "only" pitched seven innings.  Three times he was removed after pitching eight innings - because as luck would have it, his turn in the batting order came up each time in the bottom of the eighth, with the Cardinals trailing.  Tim McCarver pinch hit for him twice (unsuccessfully) and Johnny Edwards once (successfully); however, the Cardinals lost all three of those games.  His only other "non-complete" game came when he worked the first eleven innings of a game that lasted thirteen innings.

Of the 34 games Gibson started, he won (and completed) 22 of them - 13 of those were shutouts (the most in the National League).  One of those complete game shutouts lasted ten innings.  He pitched all twelve innings of a 3-1 win over Houston at the Astrodome.  The only run he allowed was unearned.  In his very next start at home against the Mets, he went eleven innings in beating Tom Seaver, 2-1.

Of the 34 games Gibson started, he lost nine times and had three no-decisions.  Two of those no-decisions came in those first two seven inning starts - games the Cardinals eventually won - but when Gibson was removed, he was actually on the hook for a loss.  In the first game, he was down 1-0 (the run he allowed was unearned), but the Cards rallied to win, 2-1.  In the second game, he was down 3-1, but the Cards rallied to win 4-3.  His only other "no decision" came in that eleven inning game that lasted thirteen innings.  When he was removed from the game, he was trailing 5-4, but the Cards rallied to tie the game, only to lose it, 6-5.

Of the nine games Gibson lost in '68, he allowed just one run three times - losing in ten innings once, and losing to the Giants' Gaylord Perry on a day he happened to be pitching a no-hitter.  The only run Gibby allowed in that game came in the very first inning, when Ron Hunt, of all people, hit one of the two home runs he'd hit all year.  In the other game, Gibson allowed one run on just one hit through eight innings.  His replacement gave up a run in the ninth in a game the Cards lost, 2-0.

Of the remaining six games Gibson lost in '68, three were by scores of 3-2.  In all three of those games, he only allowed two earned runs; so he was done-in by an unearned run each time.

He lost another game to the Giants that was shortened to eight innings due to rain, by a score of 3-1.  In that game, Willie Mays hit a 2-run home run in the seventh inning to seal Gibby's fate.

He lost another one by a 5-1 score, although only three of the runs were earned runs.  Perhaps his most frustrating loss of the season came in a 6-4 loss to the Pirates; a game in which he was staked to an early 4-0 lead; a game in which only three of the six runs he allowed were earned runs; and a game in which he struck out a season high 15 batters.

Gibson got off to somewhat of a slow start in '68.  Through his first eleven starts, his record was just 4-5, with an ERA of 1.66; and he didn't have a single shutout to his credit.  In his twelfth start, he pitched his first shutout, then reeled off four more shutouts in a row.  The scoreless streak was finally snapped in a July 1 start in LA when the Dodgers scored a first-inning run on a wild pitch.  That ended the scoring for LA; he won that game, 5-1, beating Don Drysdale.  Curiously enough, the Dodgers were the only team Gibson failed to shutout at least once in '68.

Gibson finished the season with eight more shutouts in his final seventeen starts, going 12-4 over that span.  But his September was fairly lackluster, by his standards.  He was so irritated with his 2-3 September W-L record (including an ugly win against the Dodgers) heading into his final start of the season; that he took it out on the Astros - blanking them 1-0, as he lowered his ERA to a National League best 1.12.  He struck out eleven batters in that game, marking the eleventh time that season he reached double digits in strikeouts.  His season total of 268 strikeouts also led the National League.

Not surprisingly, Gibson's ERA in the 22 games he won in '68 was significantly lower than 1.12; try 0.57.  Gibson gave up a total of eleven home runs all season; only two were hit in games that he won - in a June 2 win over the Mets, then not until a September 11 start against the Dodgers.  So Gibson went most of June, all of July, all of August, and nearly half of September without allowing a single home run when he was the winning pitcher in the game.

In the 22 games Gibson won, he pitched a total of 204 innings - an average of nearly 9.1 IP per start.

Whenever the Cardinals scored at least five runs for him, Gibson won every one of those starts; but it only happened eight times all season.  In other words, in the other fourteen games Gibson won that year, he had very little margin for error.

Gibson certainly pitched well enough to win 30 games in 1968.  Between the three "no decisions" and nine losses, there were eight games in which he allowed two or fewer earned runs; but the St Louis offensive attack didn't provide much support when he really needed it; nor make some routine defensive plays behind him, to keep those nasty unearned runs off the board.

So yes, 22-9 very easily could have been 30-3; with any luck at all.

See for yourself.  Here's Gibson's pitching summary for all 34 starts:

Apr 10 (ATL) 7 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 0 ER - 1 BB - 0 SO (ND) Final:  STL 2 - ATL 1
Apr 15 (@ATL) 7 IP - 5 H - 3 R - 3 ER - 3 BB - 5 SO - 1 HR (ND) Final:  STL 4 - ATL 3
Apr 20 (CHC) 9 IP - 10 H - 5 R - 3 ER - 1 BB - 8 SO - 1 HR (L 0-1) Final:  CHC 5 - STL 1
Apr 26 (PIT) 9 IP - 7 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 1 BB - 5 SO (W 1-1) Final:  STL 2 - PIT 1

May 1 (@HOU) 12 IP - 7 H - 1 R - 0 ER - 5 BB - 7 SO (W 2-1) Final:  STL 3 - HOU 1
May 6 (NYM) 11 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 1 BB - 11 SO (W 3-1) Final:  STL 2 - NYM 1
May 12 (HOU) 8 IP - 11 H - 3 R - 2 ER - 2 BB - 10 SO (L 3-2) Final:  HOU 3 - STL 2
May 17 (@PHI) 9.2 IP - 7 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 4 BB - 5 SO (L 3-3) Final:  PHI 1 - STL 0
May 22 (LAD) 8 IP - 1 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 2 BB - 6 SO (L 3-4) Final:  LAD 2 - STL 0
May 28 (SFG) 8 IP - 4 H - 3 R - 3 ER - 1 BB - 5 SO - 2 HR (L 3-5) Final SFG 3 - STL 1

Jun 2 (@NYM) 9 IP - 7 H - 3 R - 3 ER - 3 BB - 8 SO - 1 HR (W 4-5) Final:  STL 6 - NYM 3
Jun 6 (@HOU) 9 IP - 3 H - 0 R - 2 BB - 5 SO (W 5-5) Final:  STL 4 - HOU 0
Jun11 (@ATL) 9 IP - 5 H - 0 R - 2 BB - 4 SO  (W 6-5) Final:  STL 6 - ATL 0
Jun 15 (CIN) 9 IP - 4 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 13 SO (W 7-5) Final:  STL 2 - CIN 0
Jun 20 (CHC) 9 IP - 5 H - 0 R - 1 BB - 6 SO (W 8-5) Final :  STL 1 - CHC 0
Jun 26 (PIT) 9 IP - 4 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 7 SO (W 9-5) Final:  STL 3 - PIT 0

Jul 1 (@LAD) 9 IP - 9 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 2 BB - 4 SO (W 10-5) Final:  STL 5 - LAD 1
Jul 6 (@SFG) 9 IP - 6 H - 0 R - 4 BB - 9 SO (W 11-5) Final:  STL 3 - SFG 0
Jul 12 (HOU) 9 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 0 BB - 8 SO (W 12-5) Final:  STL 8 - HOU 1
Jul 21 (NYM) 9 IP - 7 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 13 SO (W 13 - 5) Final:  STL 2 - NYM 0
Jul 25 (PHI) 9 IP - 5 H - 0 R - 1 BB - 6 SO (W 14-5) Final:  STL 5 - PHI 0
Jul 30 (@NYM) 9 IP - 5 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 1 BB - 8 SO (W 15-5) Final:  STL 7 - NYM 1

Aug 4 (CHC) 11 IP - 12 H - 5 R - 4 ER - 3 BB - 10 SO - 2 HR (ND 15-5) Final:  CHC 6 - STL 5
Aug 9 (@ATL) 9 IP - 4 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 5 SO (W 16-5) Final:  STL 1 - ATL 0
Aug 14 (@CHC) 9 IP - 8 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 3 BB - 7 SO (W 17-5) Final:  STL 3 - CHC 1
Aug 19 (@PHI) 9 IP - 2 H - 0 R - 2 BB - 11 SO (W 18-5) Final:  STL 2 - PHI 0
Aug 24 (PIT) 9 IP - 6 H - 6 R - 3 ER - 2 BB - 15 SO - 1 HR (L 18-6) Final:  PIT 6 - STL 4
Aug 28 (@PIT) 9 IP - 4 H - 0 R - 3 BB - 14 SO (W 19-6) Final:  STL 8 - PIT 0

Sep 2 (@CIN) 10 IP - 4 H - 0 R - 3 BB - 8 SO (W 20-6) Final:  STL 1 - CIN 0
Sep 6 (SFG) 8 IP - 9 H - 3 R - 2 ER - 0 BB - 7 SO (L 20-7) Final:  SFG 3 - STL 2
Sep 11 (LAD) 9 IP - 11 H - 4 R - 4 ER - 2 BB - 6 SO - 1 HR (W 21-7) Final:  STL 5 - LAD 4
Sep 17 (@SFG) 8 IP - 4 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 2 BB - 10 SO - 1 HR (L 21-8) Final:  SFG 1 - STL 0
Sep 22 (@LAD) 8 IP - 7 H - 3 R - 2 ER - 5 BB - 11 SO - 1 HR (L 21-9) Final:  LAD 3 - STL 2
Sep 27 (HOU) 9 IP - 6 H - 0 R - 0 BB - 11 SO (W 22-9) Final:  STL 1 - HOU 0

May 6, 1968 - May 7, 1965 - May 8, 1967 - 2 Classic Gibson Gems & A Wild Extra-Inning Nail Biter

May 6, 1968 - A Monday night game between the St Louis Cardinals and New York Mets drew a scant crowd of 12,741 at Busch Stadium II to witness a classic pitching match-up between the young phenom, Tom Seaver and the two-time World Series MVP, Bob Gibson.  This one would take 11 innings to settle, as both pitchers - naturally - went the distance.

Seaver was dominant from the outset, but a second-inning fielding miscue by first baseman Ed Kranepool ultimately cost Tom Terrific a chance to win this game in regulation.  The inning started with Tim McCarver stroking a single to right field.  Kranepool then booted Mike Shannon's potential double-play grounder which quickly had Seaver in a two-on-no-out jam.  McCarver then scored from second base on Julian Javier's single to right field, as Shannon moved up to third.  Still nobody out.

With the infield playing in, Dick Schofield hit a sharp grounder to third, forcing Shannon to stay put.  The throw to second base forced Javier, but the relay to first was too late to retire Schofield.  The next hitter, Bob Gibson was unable to catch up to Seaver's fastball and went down on strikes.  Gibson, who was 0 for 4 in the game struck out three times; however, he one-upped the youngster by taking care of Seaver (also 0 for 4) with four strikeouts of his own.  After Lou Brock was retired on a fly ball to center field, the damage was limited to one unearned run.

The Mets tied the game in the fourth-inning with three straight singles by Harrelson, Boswell and Shamsky - the only hits Gibson would allow in the entire game.  With Ron Swoboda at bat, McCarver couldn't handle a Gibson slider, allowing the runners to move up to second and third on the passed ball.  Still nobody out.

The key defensive play of the game occurred when Swoboda's fly to medium center field was flagged down by Curt Flood, who then turned it into a double play, as Boswell tagged up from third but couldn't beat the perfect throw to McCarver at the plate.  The next hitter, Ed Kranepool tried to atone for his second-inning error which allowed St Louis to score their lone run; but Cards' first baseman Orlando Cepeda was able to handle a tough hop, then flipped to Gibson, who was covering first, for the out.  The game was tied, but Gibson, like Seaver, had escaped a major threat to put more runs on the board.  Runs were certainly at a premium in this game - and the entire '68 season, for that matter.

Both pitchers kept putting zeros on the scoreboard, until Seaver finally faltered in the eleventh-inning, yielding a lead-off triple to Lou Brock - one of a league-leading 14 three-baggers Lou would hit that year.  With Brock now perched just 90 feet away from scoring the winning run, intentional passes to Flood and Maris loaded the bases with nobody out; hoping for a miracle pitcher-to-catcher-to first double play; or something along those lines.  Orlando Cepeda quickly foiled that strategy with a base hit to right field to give St Louis a 2-1 win.

The pitching lines tell the (complete game) story:

Seaver (L 1-2) 10 IP - 6 H - 2 R - 1 ER - 3 BB - 6 SO (His ERA for the season dropped to 1.56)

Gibson (W 3-1) 11 IP - 3 H - 1 R - 1 ER - 1 BB - 11 SO (His ERA for the season dropped to 1.31 - it would drop even further - down to 1.12 by season's end)

This was a game for the ages, masterfully performed by two future first-ballot Hall of Famers - who had a burning passion to not only win, but complete each game they started, no matter how long; no matter how many pitches they threw.  Pitch counts?  Bah!  In 1968, in only his second MLB season, Seaver completed 14 out of 35 games started - an unheard of feat nowadays, when starting pitchers are programmed to go seven or eight innings, max.

Gibson was even more dominant, completing 28 out of 34 starts, featuring a league-leading 13 shutouts, 268 strikeouts and the aforementioned 1.12 ERA.  By comparison, the Detroit Tigers' reigning AL Cy Young Award winner - Max Scherzer - has never thrown a complete game shutout in his entire career.  Gibson did it 56 times.

May 7, 1965 - Bob Gibson was on the mound for the Cardinals as they traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies at decrepit Connie Mack Stadium, with a paid crowd of 14,499 mostly disgruntled fans on hand to jeer their Phillies on to defeat.

On the bump for Philadelphia was southpaw Chris Short; in his prime and in the middle of a six season stretch ('63 - '68) when he posted an ERA under 3 five times.  Strangely enough, the only season he was able to win 20 games ('66) happened to coincide with his highest ERA (3.54) over that six year stretch.  Go figure.

In this game, Short pitched well enough to win (8 IP - 8 H - 2 R - 4 BB - 4 S0), but it was too much Lou Brock (4 for 5 - 1 R - 1 RBI - 1 SB) who was the catalyst of a two-run sixth-inning for St Louis; and it was way too much Bob Gibson, who pitched a one-hit shutout (3 BB - 8 SO) to earn his fifth win without a loss.  At the time, those five wins represented 50% of the total for the entire staff (10 wins - 10 losses); not a good sign for the defending World Champions.  Gibson would go on to win 20 games for the first time in his career, but nobody else managed more than 11 wins on a team that seemed to age overnight.

May 8, 1967 - With a sparse gathering of 5,388 at venerable Forbes Field, the Cardinals had a see-saw battle with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as the Redbirds barely hung on to win in ten-innings, 6-5.

Ray Washburn started this one for the Cardinals (6.2 IP - 8 H - 3 R - 0 BB - 3 SO); then over the next 3.1 innings a total of five St Louis relievers were used to finally nail this one down.  The Pirates used five different pitchers in this game - Pizarro, Face, Short, McBean and Law (who took the loss with that one really bad inning).  Ron Willis got the win for St Louis, although he only worked one inning and was charged with two runs (he walked two).

Here's how the scoring went:  The Pirates scored 2 runs in the 4th - The Cardinals tied it with 2 runs in the 6th - The Pirates grabbed a 3-2 lead in the 7th - The Cardinals tied it again with a run in the 9th - The Cardinals seemingly put the game out of reach with 3 runs in the 11th - The Pirates scored 2 in the 11th, so in fact, the game was out of reach.  Had 'em all the way.

Mike Shannon and Tim McCarver each had two RBI; Curt Flood and Orlando Cepeda each chipped in with one apiece, as the St Louis lineup had twelve hits and six walks in the contest.

This Day in St Louis Cardinals History: May 2, 1971 - May 3, 1967 - May 4, 1964 - 2 Shutouts & Why Gibson Didn't Win 20 in '64

May 2, 1971 - Imagine a game with the two teams combining for 17 hits, two walks and four errors.  That's what the St Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos produced on this beautiful Sunday afternoon at Busch Stadium II, with a modest crowd of 10,320 to witness the action.  The starting pitchers - Carl Morton for the Expos and Steve Carlton for the Redbirds - seemed to thrive on surviving peril; both pitched complete games and the only run scored in the game was of the "unearned" variety.

The offensive outburst happened in the bottom of the third-inning, as Lou Brock (who was 3 for 4 with a stolen base) singled to center, advanced to second on a Luis Melendez tapper back to the pitcher (Brock was trying to steal), then moved up to third (he was trying to steal again) when Ted Simmons just got a piece of the pitch to roll it into fair territory; the catcher made the putout.  In case you were wondering, Brock had never successfully stolen home in his entire career.  In this particular situation, it wasn't necessary.

Joe Torre then hit a routine grounder to the shortstop which was kicked for a costly error; no RBI for Torre (who led the league with 137 in '71), but a run nonetheless for the Redbirds, who now led 1-0.  Curiously, Torre would be 0 for 4 in this game as his batting average dipped to .350; he'd end up at .363 to win the batting title as well as becoming the National League's MVP.

This single run would prove to be the lone tally for the entire game.  The pitching lines for both starters were strikingly similar:

Morton - 8 IP - 8 H - 1 R - 0 ER - 1 BB - 3 SO
Carlton - 9 IP - 9 H - 0 R - 0 ER - 1 BB - 2 SO

Carlton allowed at least one hit in every inning, except the ninth, when he set the Expos down in order to secure the win; improving to 5-1 (1.82 ERA) on the young season.  He would go on to win 20 games for the Cardinals that season, and at the age of 26, seemed destined to become the ace of the Cardinals staff, with the current ace, Bob Gibson already in his mid-thirties; Gibby would call it quits after the '75 season, shortly before his 40th birthday.

However, when Carlton had the audacity to ask for a $10,000 raise prior to the 1972 season, an outraged team owner, Gussie Busch ordered general manager Bing Devine to trade "the sob"; thus ensuring the Cardinals would be also-rans for the next ten years; until Busch had the good fortune to bring Whitey Herzog on board to run things in the early eighties.  Before accepting the job, Whitey made it clear to the cantankerous Busch he alone would be running the show - no mandated trades or other such nonsense (like the Steve Carlton fiasco, for example).

May 3, 1967 - If Steve Carlton's 9-hit shutout of the Expos was somewhat nerve-wracking, the one spun by Cardinals starter Ray Washburn seemed like a walk in the park, by comparison.  The first-place Cincinnati Reds were in town to take on the Cardinals at Busch Stadium II, with 14,879 on hand to witness a game that would be over in a snappy one hour and forty minutes.

The Cardinals only mustered six hits and one walk in this game, but half of the hits and the lone base on balls occurred in the fourth-inning, off Reds starter, Milt Pappas.  The Redbird rally began with a one-out bunt single by Roger Maris - a guy previously known for hitting the long ball during his New York Yankees playing days.  Orlando Cepeda then banged a double down the left-field line to move Maris to third base.  After Tim McCarver was intentionally walked, Mike Shannon foiled the strategy by singling in Maris and Cepeda, to put the Cardinals up 2-0.  That was all the scoring in this one.

For Cardinals starter Ray Washburn, two runs was more than enough; his complete game two-hit shutout of Cincinnati gave him his first win of the season (he had two losses) and improved the second-place Cardinals' record to 11-7 - two games behind the Reds (15-7).  This would prove to be the only shutout Washburn would bag in '67, but it came at a time when the Cardinals were looking to stay close to a team that seemed poised to run away with things in the National League.  As it turned out, it would be St Louis running away with things this year.  But who knew?

May 4, 1964 - With 7,437 in attendance at Busch Stadium I, the Cardinals played host to the Philadelphia Phillies.  Neither starting pitcher - Philadelphia's Dennis Bennett nor the Cardinals' Bob Gibson - lasted very long in this game; Bennett was knocked out after just 2.1 innings, allowing five hits (including one home run) and five runs; Gibson only pitched four innings, allowing three hits and just one run.  His early exit from the game had nothing to do with his pitching performance.  It had everything to do with getting drilled by a Jack Baldschun fastball as he was leading off the fourth-inning.  As a precaution, manager Johnny Keane removed an irritated Gibson from the game, just one inning shy of qualifying for the win.  The fact that the very next hitter, Carl Warwick, homered to give St Louis a 7-1 lead, made the fuming Gibson even more indignant about this early exit.

The Cardinals would go on to score nine runs in this contest, while reliever Roger Craig (5 IP - 5 H - 1 R - 1 BB - 2 SO) was the beneficiary of this easy win, improving to 2-0 on the young season.  Curt Flood and Tim McCarver also homered in this game, while Ken Boyer had three hits good for four RBI, en route to a league leading 119 RBI for the year; while bagging the NL MVP Award to go with his World Series championship ring.

For Gibson, the '64 season was certainly a memorable one, capped off by a World Series MVP honor, featuring a brand spanking new Chevrolet Corvette as part of the package.  However, his quest for attaining a 20-win season would have to wait another year.  Thanks in large part to his early exit in this game, Gibby won just 19 games in '64.

April 21, 1971 - Comeback Win in San Francisco - April 22, 1977 - Cards Crush Phillies at the Vet - April 23, 1979 - Extra Inning Win in Atlanta

April 21, 1971 - A mere 6,178 fans gathered at Candlestick Park in San Francisco to watch a pitching matchup between two future Hall of Famers - Bob Gibson and Gaylord Perry.  The Giants hurler held the early advantage after another future Hall of Famer, first baseman Willie McCovey blasted a fourth-inning two-run homer off Gibson; and that would be the only scoring in the game until the Redbirds came to bat in the sixth-inning. 


That's when the fun began.  Perry was still on the mound for the Giants as Lou Brock led off with a single, and moved up a base when Matty Alou reached on third baseman Jim Ray Hart's throwing error.  Ted Simmons then singled, loading the bases.  Joe Torre, who would go on to win the NL MVP Award in '71, cleared the bases with a triple to right field; Torre then scored when Jose Cardenal doubled to right field, chasing Perry from the game.  The next batter, Joe Hague, knocked Cardenal in with a single to centerfield, scoring the fifth and final run of the inning.  That was enough, although Gibson surrendered another home run in the eighth-inning - a solo shot by Ken Henderson to narrow the gap to 5-3, and that's how it ended.


Gibson got the complete game victory, allowing five hits and three runs, with one base on balls and nine strikeouts. 


The '71 season was a promising one for the Cardinals, winning 91 games while finishing second in the NL East, behind Pittsburgh - the eventual World Champions.  Whatever hope the Cardinals had for the foreseeable future was dashed when ownership decided two young pitchers - Steve Carlton and Jerry Reuss - didn't fit in with their plans (they wanted to be paid a little bit more that Gussie Busch was willing to spend) - so they were traded away, and St Louis didn't get enough in return.  With Bob Gibson beginning to show signs of age, this was a team in decline; and things would get worse until they got better - which wouldn't happen until 1981.


April 22, 1977 - On this particular late April Friday evening in Philadelphia, the Cardinals looked like a team on the rise, while the Phillies appeared overmatched and listless.  Proof positive that anything can happen in one game.


In this particular game, St Louis had the reigning NL ERA leader from the previous season - John Denny (2.52) trying to win his fourth straight decision of the young season.  This one was a walk in the park, as the Redbirds scored early and often to rout the Phillies, 10-1.  Denny breezed through eight innings of work, allowing one run on six hits and a walk; he struck out five, then gave the ball to the Mad Hungarian to provide a little entertainment for the few partisan fans in the paid crowd of 26,430 who were still around to watch their team take its last hacks.  Hrabosky yielded a harmless single before storming off the mound after the final out was recorded; not a save situation, thanks to all the damage done by the St Louis lineup in this blowout.


The hitting star was Keith Hernandez, who went 3 for 5 with a triple and a three-run home run, good for five RBI and two runs scored.  Meanwhile, John Denny's fast start would fade into a disappointing, injury-plagued ending.  From that 4-0 start, he would only win another four games over the next five months, while losing eight with a high 4.51 ERA.  His days in St Louis were numbered (traded to Cleveland after the '79 season) but luckily for him, he still had magic left in that right arm; by 1983, he would help another new team - the Phillies - reach the World Series, winning the NL Cy Young Award (19-6 - 2.37 ERA) in the process.


April 23, 1979 - The Cardinals sent Pete Vuckovich to the mound in Atlanta to square off against the Braves' knuckleball ace, Phil Niekro - a future Hall of Famer.  Vuckovich pitched admirably (7 IP - 8 H - 2 R - 2 BB - 7 SO - 2 HR), but thanks to solo home runs by Atlanta's Matthews and Burroughs, St Louis was on the wrong end of a 2-0 score, heading into the ninth.  Niekro, naturally, was still on the mound, going for the complete game shutout.  No such luck.


After Dane Iorg grounded out leading off the inning, Tony Scott delivered a single to centerfield; then promptly moved up to second on a passed ball, with free-swinging Ken Reitz at bat.  Somehow, Reitz managed to draw a base on balls, then was wisely removed for a pinch runner - the speedy Jerry Mumphrey.  After Ken Oberkfell struck out, pinch hitter Bernie Carbo calmly stroked an opposite field single to left field, scoring Scott, as Mumphrey stopped at second.  Removing Niekro from the game wasn't even a consideration in those days; given the durability, talent, and desire to finish this game off by the crusty veteran.  Gary Templeton wasted no time in smacking a line drive single to centerfield, while Mumphrey raced home with the game-tying run.  It should be noted that if the base runner had been the slew-footed Reitz, he more than likely would've been thrown out at third on that base hit; let alone try to score.  Just kidding; he may have made it to third safely, if he really hustled.


That was all the scoring for the Redbirds in the ninth, as the 4,725 in attendance sat in stunned silence; dumbfounded by what they had just witnessed.  Actually, they were probably expecting something to go wrong, based on past experience with this hapless bunch.  As Niekro went back out to the mound to start the tenth-inning, he quickly retired the first two Cardinals hitters before the ubiquitous Tony Scott would come through again, lining a single to right field; then stealing second and advancing to third on the errant throw by the catcher.  Next up was Jerry Mumphrey, who had scored the tying run as a pinch runner, so he was taking his first AB of the night.  He delivered the two-out single to left field, bringing Scott home with the go-ahead run.


Mark Littell, who was in his second inning of work, made things interesting by walking two after retiring the first two.  Could this be deja vu all over again?  No, he got the win after coaxing the pesky Roland Office into popping one up to the shortstop - one of the heroes, Mr Templeton; whose biggest contribution to the success of the franchise was getting traded to San Diego for another shortstop known as the Wizard.