The 1962 version of the Cardinals will not be known for their final record, but rather that it featured several baseball milestones.
Mets First Ever Game
This was the first season for a ten team league and on April 11th the Cardinals hosted the Ne York Mets in their first game. The Cardinals defeated Roger Craig, who would go on to lose 24 games, by the score 11-4.
Musial Continues to Break Records
Stan “The Man” Musial eclipses Honus Wagner’s record with his 3.431st hit of his career and has the top spot on May 19th. Six weeks or so later (July 25), he breaks Mel Ott’s RBI record as he knocks in his 1,861st run.
Maury Wills Breaks SB Record
On September 23rd, the Dodgers are in town and base burglar Maury Wills steals his 96th and 97th against the Cardinals to break Ty Cobb’s record.
White and Boyer Lead Offense
The Cardinals are 84-78 in the new 10-team league and finish in sixth place. The 41-yr old Stan Musial hit .330 for the season. Bill White led the team with 102 RBI’s and Ken Boyer added 24 home runs.
Cardinals Acquire Dick Groat
On November 19, the Cardinals acquire Dick Groat from the Pirates. In 1960, he as NL MVP.
OFFSEASON MOVES
October 10, 1961: 1961 Major League Baseball expansion draft
Bob Lillis was drafted from the Cardinals by the Houston Colt .45’s.
Don Taussig was drafted from the Cardinals by the Houston Colt .45’s.
October 13, 1961: Al Cicotte was purchased from the Cardinals by the Houston Colt .45’s.
October 24, 1961: Red Schoendienst was released by the Cardinals.
November 21, 1961: Elrod Hendricks was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.
November 27, 1961: Joe Cunningham was traded by the Cardinals to the Chicago White Sox for Minnie Miñoso.
November 27, 1961: John Anderson was drafted by the Cardinals from the Baltimore Orioles in the 1961 rule 5 draft.
Prior to 1962 season: Duke Carmel was acquired by the Cardinals from the Los Angeles Dodgers
March 1962: Duke Carmel was purchased from the Cardinals by the Cleveland Indians