On this date in 1892, the Cardinals officially joined the National League.
- Grover Cleveland Alexander defeats Pittsburgh for his 90th and final shutout of his career in 1928.
- In 1951, Oklahoma City (Texas) purchased Frank Kellert from the St. Louis Cardinals.
- In the first game ever played at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park (1960), after Vice President Richard Nixon throws out the ceremonial first pitch, Giants’ starter Sam Jones three-hits the Cardinals, 3-1. During the third inning, a protest is made by the umpires concerning the foul poles, which are discovered to be completely located in fair territory.
- In 1965, Cardinals and Cubs played 10 innings in a 10-10 game that was called due to darkness.
Birthdays
Vic (Delaware Peach) Willis (April 12, 1876 – August 3, 1947) played for the Cardinals in the last year of his career in 1910. In his career, he pitched just short of 4000 innings (3,996) and win 249 games while losing 205. Of the 513 career games, he completed 388 with 50 shutouts and a 2.63 ERA. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
Harry Sullivan (April 22, 1888 – September 22, 1919) was a pitcher for the Cardinals in the 1909 season in which he played in two games. He gave up six runs on four hits and issued two walks. He had no strikeouts nor any decisions but did end with a 36.00 ERA.
Bill Bailey (April 12, 1888 – November 2, 1926) played for the Cardinals in 1921-1922 which were his last two years in the major leagues. He had a career record of 38-76 and a 3.57 ERA.
Bill Wight (April 12, 1922 – May 17, 2007) was a pitcher for the Cardinals in 1958 which was his last year in the major leagues. He posted a 3.95 ERA, 547 strikeouts and a 77-99 record in 347 appearances. He also completed 66 games with 15 shutouts in 1,563 innings of work.
Debuts
Pug Bennett 1906
Ken Boyer 1955 – flied out to right in first AB, struck out twice and homered in his 4th AB of the day.
Herb Moford 1955 – pitched two innings allowed four its and one run.
Barney Schultz 1955 – pitched for two-thirds of an inning and allowed three hits and four runs.
Bill Virdon 1955 – four at bats and got two hits and one RBI
Steve Carlton 1965 pitched in relief in the 10th inning and game was called due to darkness
Tom Pagnozzi 1987 – he grounded out to third as a pinch hitter.
Deaths
Gene Lillard 1991
Nelson Burbrink 2001
Hal Smith 2014