December 9 in Cardinals History

      Cardinals History for December 9th

  • In 1965, eleven days shy of his 84th birthday, former Cardinals, Dodgers, and Pirates executive Wesley Branch Rickey, named by ESPN in 1999 as the most influential sports figure of the twentieth century, suffers a heart attack, falling over the podium while beginning his remarks to an audience during his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. ‘The Mahatma’, who is responsible for breaking the color barrier in 1947 with the signing of Jackie Robinson and implementing the concept of farm systems for the major leagues, will die three weeks later while in intensive care at Boone County Memorial Hospital. 

Trading History and Transactions

  • The Cardinals sign free agent Dexter Fowler to a 5-year contract in 2016.
  • The Houston Astros sent Mark Ross to the Cardinals as part of a conditional deal in 1985.
  • The Cubs trade reliever Bruce Sutter to the Cardinals in 1980 for outfielder Leon Durham and infielder Ken Reitz.
  • The Cardinals purchased Vicente Romo in 1981 from Coatzacoalcos (Mexican) and purchased Eric Rasmussen from Yucatan (Mexican).
  • The Houston Astros traded Ron Selak (minors) to the Cardinals for Randy Wiles in 1977.
  • In 1976, the New York Mets traded Leon Brown and Brock Pemberton to the Cardinals for Ed Kurpiel.
  • Cardinals traded Ron Reed to the Philadelphia Phillies for Mike Anderson in 1975.
  • The Cardinals, in 1974, traded Ike Brookens to the Detroit Tigers for John Young.
  • The Cardinals traded Mike Nagy in 1973 to the Houston Astros for Jay Schlueter.
  • The Boston Braves purchased Red Barrett from the Cardinals in 1946.
  • In 1935, the New York Giants traded Roy Parmelee, Phil Weintraub and cash to the Cardinals for Burgess Whitehead.
  • Announcement made on this date-Wilson Contreras is signed as a catcher in 2022 after the retirement of Yadier Molina

Birthdays

Clarence Beers (1918) – a pitcher whose 13-season career included a single game played in the major leagues in 1948 as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Born in El Dorado, Kansas, Beers batted and threw right-handed, Beers was 29 years old when he received his only big-league opportunity on May 7, 1948. The Cardinals were trailing the Chicago Cubs at Sportsman’s Park 7–4 when Beers was summoned to the mound in the eighth inning to relieve left-hander Ken Johnson with two men on base and one out. Beers faced seven batters, allowing a single, wild pitch, two doubles, and an intentional walk; he was the victim of a passed ball and an error committed by his catcher, Del Wilber. He retired two Cubs, Hank Schenz on a ground ball and Phil Cavarretta on a fly out. Beers permitted both inherited runners to score, and was charged with four runs of his own, although only one was earned. When he exited the game for a pinch hitter in the bottom of the inning, the Cubs led 13–4

Darold Knowles (1941) -Knowles made 48 appearances and earned six saves with the Cards in 1979. He made just two appearances in April 1980 before retiring and accepting a coaching position in the Cardinals’ farm system. At the time of his retirement, he was tied for 13th in career saves.

Deaths

Whitey Kurowski 1999 – born George John Kurowski on April 19, 1918. In an article in 1976 in Esquire magazine, sportswriter Harry Stein published an “All Time All-Star Argument Starter,” consisting of five ethnic baseball teams. Kurowski was the third baseman on Stein’s Polish team. He is buried at Gethsemane Cemetery in Laureldale, PA.