At Exposition Park in 1908, Pittsburgh blanks the Cardinals, 7-0. The last-place Redbirds are shut out for a record 33rd time, averaging more than one whitewash every five games.
Cardinals season ends in third place in 1940 with an 84-69 record. Johnny Mize has 137 RBI’s to lead the National League and he smacks 43 home runs.
Musial gets five hits, steals a base and throws out two runners in the last game of the season. The Cardinals finished in second place in 1941.
With an 8-3 loss to Chicago in 1946, the Cardinals fail to win the pennant outright and now must play a tiebreaker best-of-three series with Brooklyn.
Stan Musial makes his first and last pitching appearance in relief in 1952.
Solly Hemus is traded to St. Louis by the Phillies in exchange for utility infielder Gene Freese in 1958. The 36 year-old former Redbird will become the Cardinals’ player-manager for the next three seasons, compiling a 190-192 record.
In 1962, Branch Rickey, returning to the Cardinals for the second time in his long career, is given the title of senior consultant for player development. In this role, the ‘Mahatma’ will have the power to make deals, but is asked by team owner Gussie Busch to confer with general manager Bing Devine on a regular basis.
In his last game, Stan Musial. in 1963, helps the Cardinals beat the Reds, 3-2 at Busch Stadium, getting two hits in his final three at-bats. The ‘Man’ will retire with 3,630 hits, during his 22-year tenure with the Redbirds, collecting 1,815 in St. Louis, and the other 1,815 on the road.
Bob Gibson hits career home run #11 and his FIRST GRAND SLAM of his career which came off Gaylord Perry of the Giants in 1965.
In a pre-game ceremony with Harry Caray as the master of ceremonies in 1968, the Cardinals honor retiring outfielder Roger Maris. The former two-time MVP with the Yankees, who has never had his accomplishments recognized in the Bronx, thanks the friendly Busch Stadium crowd and the team, remarking that his two seasons in St. Louis were his “most enjoyable years in baseball”.
Birthdays
- Jake Westbrook 1977
- Joe Thurston 1979
Debuts
- Eddie Zimmerman 1906
- Bill McGee 1935
- Eddie Kuzak 1948
- Matt Pagnozzi 2009
Deaths
- Lynn Lovenguth 2000
Tracking Musial’s Home Runs
- Stan hit a solo homer in the 3rd inning facing Jimmy Schmitz for career home run #52 in 1946.