Pirates Batting Order
- Lee Lacy
- Lee Mazzilli
- Bill Madlock
- Jason Thompson
- Dave Parker
- Johnny Ray
- Tony Pena
- Dale Berra
- John Candelaria
Cardinals Batting Order
- Lonnie Smith
- Ozzie Smith
- Keith Hernandez
- George Hendrick
- David Green
- Darrell Porter
- Ken Oberkfell
- Mike Ramsey
- Bob Forsch
The first Pirates batter of the game, Lacy, smacks a home run off Forsch and just like that the Cardinals trail. However, the Cardinals come back in the bottom half of the inning as Lonnie Smith walks and with two out George Hendrick doubles him home and the game is knotted 1-1 after one.
In the 4th Dale Berra homers for the Pirates and now they have a 2-1 lead. In the 5th, Lee Mazzilli homers to make it 3-1 with the Pirates having three solo home runs. The 8th inning finds Pittsburgh getting on with an error and producing a run with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Tony Pena. The visitors get 3 more in the last inning with the big swat coming from Jason Thompson.
The Cardinals lose Opening Day 7-1.
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The 1983 St. Louis Cardinals played 162 games during the regular season, won 79 games, lost 83 games, and finished in fourth position. They played their home games at Busch Stadium where 2,317,914 fans witnessed their 1983 Cardinals finish the season with a .488 winning percentage.
Most Games by Position
C Darrell Porter (133)
1B George Hendrick (92)
2B Tom Herr (86)
3B Ken Oberkfell (127)
SS Ozzie Smith (158)
LF Lonnie Smith (126)
CF Willie McGee (145)
RF David Green (100)
SP Neil Allen
SP Joaquin Andujar
SP Bob Forsch
SP Dave LaPoint
SP John Stuper
RP Doug Bair
RP Jim Kaat
RP Jeff Lahti
RP John Martin
RP Dave Rucker
RP Dave Von Ohlen
CL Bruce Sutter
Salaries
Bruce Sutter $1,113,000.00
Ozzie Smith $1,100,000.00
Keith Hernandez $948,660.00
Joaquin Andujar $750,000.00
George Hendrick $650,000.00
Bob Forsch $583,333.00
Lonnie Smith $500,000.00
Tom Herr $165,000.00
Jim Adduci $35,000.00
Glenn Brummer $35,000.00
Ralph Citarella $35,000.00
Danny Cox $35,000.00
Jeff Doyle $35,000.00
David Green $35,000.00
Kevin Hagen $35,000.00
Jeff Keener $35,000.00
Jeff Lahti $35,000.00
Bill Lyons $35,000.00
Willie McGee $35,000.00
Gene Roof $35,000.00
Dave Rucker $35,000.00
Orlando Sanchez $35,000.00
Rafael Santana $35,000.00
John Stuper $35,000.00
Andy Van Slyke $35,000.00
Dave Von Ohlen $35,000.00
The St. Louis Cardinals 1983 seasont was the team’s 102nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 92nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 79-83 during the season and finished 4th in the National League East, eleven games behind the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies. They were the first team in the Divisional play era to have a losing season one year after winning the World Series.
First baseman Keith Hernandez, shortstop Ozzie Smith, and outfielder Willie McGee won Gold Gloves this year, although Hernandez was traded to the New York Mets in mid-season.
- June 15, 1983: Keith Hernandez was traded by the Cardinals to the New York Mets for Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey.
- July 6, 1983: Jim Kaat was released by the Cardinals.
- August 2, 1983: Eric Rasmussen was purchased from the Cardinals by the Kansas City Royals.
Draft picks
- June 6, 1983: 1983 Major League Baseball Draft
- Jim Lindeman was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1st round (24th pick).
- Tom Pagnozzi was drafted by the Cardinals in the 8th round. Player signed June 18, 1983