1922– Cardinals top prospect Austin McHenry dies from a brain tumor.
More on McHenry:
Doctors discovered that the fallen player had a brain tumor and would need a risky operation to remove it. The news was devastating but the God-fearing McHenry seemed resigned to his fate, telling relatives, “It seems hard that so young a man as I must die, but I am ready when the Master summons me.” Prior to surgery, he told Rickey, who had become a good friend, that he felt like he was up to bat with the bases loaded and a 3-2 count, but promised to “hit at the next one.”
McHenry went under the knife on October 19, but the surgeon, Dr. George Heuer, couldn’t remove the whole tumor due to its location. Regardless, the surgeon hoped McHenry would make a full recovery.
Less than a week later, McHenry died at his home.
1956– Charlie Peete, Cardinals prospect that won the American Association batting title, dies in a plane crash. This is 34 years after the death of Austin McHenry/ En route to play winter ball for Valencia, Charlie Peete, his wife, and three small children are among the 25 victims who perish when their Caracas-bound plane crashes into the side of a Venezuelan mountain during a severe thunder storm. The 27 year-old outfielder, who won the American Association batting title hitting .350 for Omaha, played 23 games for the Cardinals last season and was likely to become the first black player to be a regular starter in the St. Louis lineup.
1972 The Mets trade Tommie Agee to the Astros for right-handed prospect Buddy Harris and outfielder Rich Chiles, who will appear in only eight games for New York. Agee, who will be dealt to the Cardinals in August, will retire at the end of the season.
1985 Vince Coleman is selected by the BBWAA as the National League’s Rookie of the Year. The Cardinals freshman outfielder‚ who stole 110 bases for the pennant-winning Redbirds‚ joins Frank Robinson‚ Orlando Cepeda‚ and Willie McCovey as only the fourth unanimous winner of the award.
2023- The Cardinals sign pitcher Sonny Gray to a 3 yr-$75m contract
Birthdays
- Dave Guisti 1939 -Shortly before the 1968 expansion draft, Giusti was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, who left him unprotected, and he was then drafted by the San Diego Padres. Two months later, Giusti was then traded back to the Cardinals. He competed for the fifth starter’s role in spring training but lost out to Mike Torrez
- Raul Valdes 1977 -On November 23, 2010, Valdés signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. Valdés made seven appearances for St. Louis, pitching in 5.1 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. He was designated for assignment on August 12, 2011.
Deaths
- Austin McHenry 1922
- Shad Barry 1935
- Charlie Peete 1956
- Bob Harmon 1961
- Ed Holly 1973
- Frank Betcher 1981
- Bill Werle 2010