New Manager
Now the Cardinals have a new manager (Roger Bresnahan) and things are looking up for the Cardinals and their fans. One of the first things that happen is the Cardinals defeat Mathewson to stop his 24 straight wins over them on May 24. All three runs the Cardinals got were unearned.
Poor Day in the Field
On July 3, a major league record is set as 17 players commit at least one error in a doubleheader that Cincinnati sweeps from the Cardinals. Three weeks later, Brooklyn sends lefty George “Nap” Rucker to the mound and he fans 16 batters to beat St. Louis 1-0.
Cardinals get Better
The season was just a mild upturn for new manager Bresnahan and the Cardinals as they finished in seventh place with a 54-98 record and 56 games behind the Pirates. Fred Beebe lost 21 games for the Cardinals and they have their 4th 20-game loser in five years to continue the poor pitching in St. Louis.
Trades and Transactions in 1909
August 22, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals traded Chappy Charles to the Cincinnati Reds for Mike Mowrey.
August 19, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals traded Bobby Byrne to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jap Barbeau and Alan Storke.
August 19, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Rube Geyer from Columbus (American Association).
August 19, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Frank Betcher from Greenville (Carolina Association).
August, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Bert James from Shreveport (Texas). (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)
August, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Elmer Rieger from Shreveport (Texas). (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)
July 26, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased John Raleigh from Vernon (PCL).
June 18, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Bob Harmon from Shreveport (Texas) for $2,500.
June, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Grover Lowdermilk from Decatur (Three-I). (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)
May 2, 1909: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Rudy Hulswitt from the Cincinnati Reds.
Before 1909 Season: The Cincinnati Reds purchased Art Hoelskoetter from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Before 1909 Season: The St. Louis Cardinals purchased Charlie Enwright from Sacramento (PCL).