September 25 in Cardinals History
When Rogers Hornsby refuses to to play a game against the Robins in 1925‚ he is fined $500 by the Cardinals and suspended for the remainder of the season. The Redbird infielder claims to be feeling ill despite the opinion of the team doctor that he is able to take the field.
At home, the sixth-place Cardinals end the 1932 season with a split of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh, having drawn 279,219 fans during the season to Sportsman’s Park. The Columbus Red Birds, the team’s minor league affiliate in the American Association, outdraws their parent club, attracting over 310,000 patrons, thanks to a new stadium, night games, and radio broadcasts.
Harvey Haddix, Cardinals rookie pitcher, wins his 20th game of the season in 1953.
Team owner August A. Busch announces, in 1963, the Cardinals will permanently retire Stan Musial’s uniform number 6. ‘Stan the Man’ is also appointed the Redbirds’ vice president, a duty he’ll begin at the end of this season after completing his 22-year Hall of Fame career as a player.
In 1973, the Cardinals traded Bill Stein to the California Angels for Jerry DaVanon.
During the 1998 pennant race, Sammy Sosa hits #66 and his final round-tripper of the season, a 462-foot blast at the Astrodome, to take the lead in the home run race. Less than an hour later, Mark McGwire will also hit his 66th, en route to his record-setting 70, in the Cardinals’ 6-5 victory over Montreal, tying the Cub outfielder in the historic home run race.
Birthdays
- Dick Harley 1872
- Arnold Hauser 1888
- Ray Busse 1948
- Tony Womack 1969
- Joel Pinero 1978
Debuts
- Heinie Mueller 1920
- Walker Cooper 1940
- Harry Walker 1940
- Hal Rice 1948
- Dave Ricketts 1963
Deaths
- Hall of Famer Miller Huggins died in 1920.
Tracking Musial’s Home Runs
- In 1953, he hit #256 facing Dutch Leonard of the Cubs with a solo homer in the top of the 6th inning.
- #325 came in 1955 in the 7th inning with a sol homer against Milwaukee.