RetroSimba

The story of father and son Cardinals sluggers

April 8, 2016 by retrosimba

Fifty years ago, Ed Spiezio, hoping to jumpstart his career and contend for the Cardinals’ third base job, hit his first big-league home run for St. Louis. Forty years later, Scott Spiezio, hoping to jumpstart his career and fill a utility role with the Cardinals, hit his first National league home run for St. Louis.

Ed Spiezio and Scott Spiezio are the first and only father-son duo to hit home runs for the Cardinals.

Ed Spiezio played five years (1964-69) for the Cardinals and hit five home runs for them.

His son, Scott Spiezio, played two years (2006-07) for the Cardinals and hit 17 home runs for them.

Ed Spiezio, a right-handed batter, played nine big-league seasons (with the Cardinals, Padres and White Sox) and hit 39 regular-season home runs.

Scott Spiezio, a switch-hitter, played 12 big-league seasons (with the Athletics, Angels, Mariners and Cardinals) and hit 119 regular-season home runs. He also hit three postseason home runs, all for the Angels.

Pull hitter

Ed Spiezio hit 18 home runs in 112 games for the Cardinals’ Class AAA Tulsa club in 1966. Spiezio told The Sporting News that Tulsa manager Charlie Metro “wanted me to pull (the ball) because the fences in left are so close in most of the (Pacific Coast League) parks.”

Ed Spiezio said he had been a pull hitter since his youth because “if you tried to hit the ball to right field you were considered a sissy.”

The Cardinals called up Ed Spiezio in September 1966 and gave him a chance to play third base in place of the starter, Charlie Smith.

On Sept. 11, 1966, Ed Spiezio hit his first big-league home run, pulling a Bob Veale pitch over the scoreboard in left field at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The solo shot in the fifth inning helped the Cardinals to a 4-3 triumph over the Pirates. Boxscore

Two weeks later, on Sept. 30, 1966, Ed Spiezio hit a two-run home run off future Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, producing all the runs in a 2-0 Cardinals victory over the Cubs at St. Louis. Boxscore

Ed Spiezo’s counterpart, Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, was impressed. “I like Spiezio a lot … He just needs a little more experience, like knowing the pitchers better,” Santo said. “I’ve always admired his poise at bat.”

Ed Spiezio was a utilityman with the 1967 and 1968 Cardinals and appeared in the World Series in both years for them. In December 1968, the Cardinals traded Ed Spiezio and three others to the Padres for pitcher Dave Giusti.

Like father, like son

In February 2006, the Cardinals signed Scott Spiezio, a free agent, to a minor-league contract and brought him to spring training to compete for a utility role.

Scott Spiezio had been the starting first baseman for the 2002 World Series champion Angels. His career spiraled, though, after he became a free agent and signed with the Mariners before the 2004 season. The Mariners released him in August 2005.

Scott Spiezio earned a spot on the Opening Day roster of the 2006 Cardinals.

On April 15, 2006, Scott Spiezio got his first Cardinals hit. In the seventh inning, with the Cardinals leading the Reds, 7-2, at St. Lois, Scott Spiezio, pinch-hitting for pitcher Brad Thompson, slugged a two-run homer run off Mike Burns. Boxscore

Scott Spiezio’s teammates pushed him up the dugout steps for a curtain call from appreciative Cardinals fans. Scott told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his father was at home, watching the game on television.

Ed Spiezio and Scott Spiezio became the third father and son to play for the Cardinals. The others were outfielder Ed Olivares and his son, pitcher Omar Olivares, and pitchers Pedro Borbon and Pedro Borbon Jr.

Among those pairs, only Omar Olivares hit a home run for the Cardinals.

Previously: Scott Spiezio replaced John Mabry as Cardinals utilityman

Final home opener at Busch I was bust for Cardinals

April 5, 2016 by retrosimba

Before the final home opener at Busch Stadium I was postponed because of rain, fans booed Cardinals newcomers and cheered some familiar players on the opposing team.

The next night, when the rescheduled opener was played before a sparse gathering, the Phillies beat the Cardinals in 12 innings. Frustrated, St. Louis manager Red Schoendienst complained about having to play April games at night in cold weather.

It all made for an inglorious farewell opener for the grand ballpark on St. Louis’ Grand Boulevard.

Changes at home

Busch Stadium I had been the Cardinals’ home since 1920. Located at 2911 North Grand Boulevard, it was called Sportsman’s Park until Anheuser-Busch bought the Cardinals in 1953 and changed the  ballpark’s name.

A new ballpark, Busch Stadium II, was a key part of plans to revive downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals had hoped to open the 1966 season in Busch Stadium II, but labor strikes had delayed steel and masonry work.

The Cardinals would relocate to Busch Stadium II in May 1966, but Busch Stadium I remained their home when the season began.

Tough crowd

The Phillies and Cardinals were scheduled to open on a Tuesday night, April 12, 1966, at St. Louis.

Six months earlier, the Cardinals had upset many fans by trading three-quarters of their starting infield. Third baseman Ken Boyer was dealt to the Mets. First baseman Bill White and shortstop Dick Groat were sent to the Phillies.

In the pregame introductions of players before the 1966 season opener at Busch Stadium I, Phillies players White and Groat “drew the longest and loudest cheers,” The Sporting News reported.

Three Cardinals _ outfielder Alex Johnson, third baseman Charlie Smith and first baseman George Kernek _ were greeted by boos, according to The Sporting News.

Johnson was the key player acquired by the Cardinals in the deal for White and Groat. Smith came over from the Mets to replace Boyer at third. Kernek, a rookie promoted from the Cardinals’ farm system, was the replacement for White at first base.

Duel of aces

Starting at 8 pm Central time with a temperature of 44 degrees and winds reaching 20 mph, the opening game started as a duel between aces Bob Gibson of the Cardinals and Jim Bunning of the Phillies.

Gibson retired the Phillies in order in the first, striking out Johnny Briggs and Richie Allen and getting White on a groundout to third.

Bunning was just as good. He struck out Lou Brock and Curt Flood and got Julian Javier on a groundout to second.

As soon as the first inning ended, a downpour halted play. After a delay of 50 minutes, the game was called off, United Press International reported.

The postponement, “with a crowd of 25,000 expected, cost the club at least $50,000,” The Sporting News estimated.

Try again

The game the next night, Wednesday, April 13, became the Cardinals’ official season opener. It drew 8,219 spectators on a 40-degree evening. Curt Simmons of the Cardinals and Chris Short of the Phillies were the starters.

The Cardinals tied the score, 2-2, in the eighth on Flood’s second RBI of the game.

In the 12th, with two outs and none on, Allen singled off Dennis Aust and stole second. White was walked intentionally. John Herrnstein, pinch-hitting for former Cardinals pitcher Roger Craig, singled to center, scoring Allen and giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead.

Ray Culp, who replaced Craig in the bottom of the 12th, struck out Pat Corrales, Brock and Javier, earning the save and sealing the win for Craig and the Phillies. Boxscore

“By April 18 or so, they could play night games, but they should forget about them the first week (of the season),” Schoendienst said. “It’s usually too cold at night and there’s always the risk of incurring arm injuries.”

Previously: Bob Gibson and his final Opening Day with Cardinals

Previously: George Kernek: Cardinals’ choice to replace Bill White

Previously: Why Cardinals traded Ken Boyer to Mets

How Mark Mulder stole the show in Busch III opener

April 2, 2016 by retrosimba

On the day the 2006 Cardinals played the first regular-season game in their new ballpark before a sellout crowd that included franchise luminaries such as Stan Musial, starter Mark Mulder took center stage with his hitting as well as his pitching.

Ten years ago, on April 10, 2006, Mulder hit a two-run home run and earned the win in the Cardinals’ 6-4 victory over the Brewers at Busch Stadium III in downtown St. Louis.

After playing at Busch Stadium II from 1966-2005, the Cardinals opened a ballpark that St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz described as a “splendid new bank vault” for a “revenue-rich franchise.”

Cardinals royalty

Among the 41,936 attendees were retired Cardinals standouts Musial, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Willie McGee, Red Schoendienst, Ozzie Smith and Bruce Sutter.

Musial, 85, stood arm in arm with Brock during the national anthem. After the pregame ceremonies, Brock helped Musial walk off the field. “You know why I’ve got this bad knee?” Musial asked Rick Hummel of the Post-Dispatch. “Too many triples. I should have hit more home runs like (Mark) McGwire.”

Gibson and McGee caught ceremonial first pitches from 2006 Cardinals Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols.

Reflecting on the festivities, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said, “If you didn’t feel something, then you don’t have a heartbeat.”

Wrecking crew

David Eckstein got the first Cardinals’ hit in the ballpark with a bunt single in the second inning. Pujols hit a solo home run in the third.

In the seventh, with the Cardinals ahead, 4-2, Brewers reliever Jose Capellan walked No. 8 batter Aaron Miles with two outs. Mulder was up next. He already had doubled and walked, so La Russa opted to let Mulder face Capellan rather than lift him for a pinch-hitter.

A left-handed batter, Mulder worked the count to 3-and-2 before hitting his first and only big-league home run, a two-run shot over the wall in right-center field for a 6-2 Cardinals lead.

Calling the game on television, Joe Buck declared, “What a day for the Cardinal lefty … This ball was crushed … A one-man wrecking crew here on April 10.” Video

Said Mulder to the Associated Press: “I was trying not to smile or laugh running around the bases. I wanted to.”

Mulder received a curtain call, then went out to finish the job.

He pitched a scoreless eighth. In the ninth, Mulder yielded a leadoff single to Geoff Jenkins and was relieved by Braden Looper.

Last-inning drama

The first batter Looper faced, Carlos Lee, grounded into a double play. Then, Bill Hall doubled and Rickie Weeks singled, scoring Hall and cutting the Cardinals’ lead to 6-3.

Jason Isringhausen, the closer, replaced Looper. Weeks advanced to second on defensive indifference. Prince Fielder singled, scoring Weeks and getting the Brewers within two at 6-4.

Fielder moved to second on defensive indifference. Corey Koskie walked, increasing the tension. The drama finally ended when Gabe Gross, pinch-hitting for reliever Danny Kolb, grounded out to Pujols at first. Boxscore

The night before, at Chicago, Isringhausen had taken the loss after yielding an eighth-inning grand slam to the Cubs’ Michael Barrett. Boxscore

“It was fun to get out there again,” Isringhausen said after his high-wire save against the Brewers. “When things are going bad, it seems like it snowballs, but things will be fine.”

Previously: Mark Mulder, Roger Clemens and the great duel at Busch II

An interview with Cardinals reliever Rob Murphy

March 31, 2016 by retrosimba

Seeking a durable, dependable left-handed reliever, the Cardinals signed Rob Murphy in January 1993. Murphy delivered, establishing a Cardinals single-season record for left-handers by appearing in 73 games in 1993. He held the record until Steve Kline topped it with 89 appearances for the 2001 Cardinals.

Among relievers who inherited 20 or more runners, Murphy had the best ratio of runs allowed-to-runners inherited in each of two seasons with the Cardinals. He allowed four of 31 inherited runners to score in 1993 and eight of 33 inherited runners to score in 1994. Murphy was 4-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 50 appearances for the 1994 Cardinals before he was acquired by the Yankees a week before the start of the players’ strike.

With the Reds in 1988, Murphy led National League pitchers in appearances (76). He ranked second in the NL in 1987 (87 with the Reds) and in the AL in 1989 (74 with the Red Sox).

In 2016, Murphy, 55, is a respected youth pitching instructor in Jensen Beach, Fla., about 20 miles from the Cardinals’ spring training base in Jupiter.

On March 7, 2016, Murphy granted me an interview regarding his two seasons with the Cardinals. Thoughtful and accommodating, Murphy provided a wealth of insights. Here is an edited transcript of that taped interview:

Q.: After pitching for the Astros in 1992, you became a free agent. Why did you choose the Cardinals?

Murphy: “I was thinking of signing back with Houston. I had finished the (1992) season very well with them and they had put together a pretty good young team: Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, Ken Caminiti.

“My agent, Alan Hendricks, called and said, ‘I got a call from (general manager) Dal Maxvill and the Cardinals are open to what you’re doing.’ They offered a guaranteed contract for two years with a base salary and incentives.

“Alan went back to the Astros and they were a little slow with moving to that level. Alan recommended I take the deal with the Cardinals.”

Q.: What was it like playing for Joe Torre as Cardinals manager?

Murphy: “Joe knew how to handle the players. That year, my older daughter, Grace, was born and I needed time off. Joe said, ‘Family comes first.’ Joe demanded 100 percent on the field, but there was a balance: You could do your job, but you knew you could take care of personal things.”

Q.: What other qualities did you see in Torre as a manager?

Murphy: “He was a good on-field manager. It was like playing for someone like Pete Rose because of his knowledge of the game. Nothing escapes him once he’s on the field. It was always a professional approach game after game.”

Q.: You had a better first half than you did a second half with the 1993 Cardinals. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that you were exposed to some situations you probably should not have faced. What did that mean?

Murphy: “I always thrived on a desire to pitch all the time. But sometimes it can go a little too far. Sometimes there are a lot of warmups that take place that don’t show in the boxscore.

“In 1993, we had a lot of young starting pitchers and they were handled with kid gloves and I think that took its toll on the bullpen. I was put in a lot. That was my job. I wasn’t complaining, but looking back, yeah, it might have been too much.”

Q.: Bob Tewksbury was the top winner on the Cardinals in your two years with them. How did such a soft tosser become so effective?

Murphy: “He knew how to get strike one. That was the key to Tewksbury’s success. He would throw strike one, then the next pitch he would throw 10 inches inside. It got the batter off the plate. Now Tewksbury owned the rest of the plate again.

“I never saw anyone do this as much and as consistently as he did. It was uncanny. If you put Tewks in a uniform from 1935, old-school baseball, he was right there. That’s how baseball is. It’s not a new phenomenon.”

Q.: Lee Smith, the closer, was your teammate with the Red Sox and the Cardinals. What was he like?

Murphy: “A great guy. One of the characters of the game. He’s a big guy, but he would take one-inch steps when he walked. Lee saved all his energy for pitching.

“He came from the back country of Louisiana and he had his own language. For example, you’d hear Lee say, ‘I wonder if the skunk on the trunk could get me some grease for the field mouse.’ What he meant was, ‘Could the flight attendant on the airplane get me some food to take home for my kids.’ ”

Q.: Should Lee Smith be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Murphy: “I think so. The guys in my memory with absolutely the best control were Lee Smith and Roger Clemens. At the time, Lee was one of the rare guys who could throw 100 mph. Now it seems like every team has a guy like that. I see that velocity go up and I see Tommy John surgery. There’s definitely a correlation.”

Q.: You played with two Hall of Fame shortstops: a young Barry Larkin with the Reds and an aging Ozzie Smith with the Cardinals. What did you see from them?

Murphy: “Barry is a wonderful guy. Gem of a human being. Outstanding ballplayer. To make it last as long as he did, that’s the reason he has that (Hall of Fame) jacket on. It’s his character, his ability and his results.

“Ozzie was like playing with Ken Griffey Jr. in Seattle. When you see them everyday, you really can embrace their greatness because those guys are almost always the hardest-working guys on the field. Even though by then he was nearly 40, Ozzie, every day, worked on catching pop-ups over his shoulder.”

Q.: What do you recall about the 1993 game when your Cardinals teammate, Mark Whiten, had four home runs and 12 RBI against the Reds?

Murphy: “I remember my jaw being in my lap. You’d watch him daily, though, and he’s one of the greatest batting practice hitters of all time. I say that in a kind way. Everyday, you could stand in Busch Stadium with your back to home plate and you’d hear the crack of the bat and know it was a Mark Whiten rocket shot. He hit so many home runs in batting practice that it was amazing. Mark had a lot of top-deck talent.”

Q.: You baffled some outstanding hitters. Dale Murphy was 0-for-14 against you. Darryl Strawberry was 1-for 12. Ken Griffey Jr. was 1-for-7 …

Murphy: “The guy that schooled me was Keith Hernandez. It was almost always with two strikes on a slider away that would get most lefties out. He’d punch it right through the 5 and 6 hole. Tony Gwynn was like that, too. Barry Bonds hit a home run on a 3-and-1 slider away to left field. I said to myself right there: I’m going to stop doing that. From then on, I threw him fastball, fastball, fastball.

“In 1994 (on April 9), Cardinals are in Candlestick Park. I get called into the game to face Bonds. Bases loaded. Bottom of the ninth. Tie score. Instead of throwing my eight warmup pitches, I threw five because I was already warmed up.

“My first three pitches to Bonds were ball one, ball two, ball three. Place is erupting. I get the ball back and said to myself, ‘Those are my eight warmup pitches.’ I threw strike one, strike two and then Bonds popped up to second. I threw him nothing but fastballs.” Boxscore

Q.: What was your reaction when the Yankees got you from the Cardinals?

Murphy: “We were in Montreal. I came back to the hotel after lunch and the light was blinking on my phone. The message said, ‘Murph, Joe Torre. Give me a call.’ I called him and he said, ‘Come down to my room.’

“I get there and he said, ‘You’re going to the Yankees.’ I said, ‘I’m going from last to first! Are you kidding me?’ I didn’t mean to be disrespectful. He said, ‘I know. It’s a great opportunity for you.’ ”

Q.: When asked then by the Post-Dispatch about that 1994 Cardinals team, you said, “We had great chemistry in spring training, but it didn’t carry into the season.” What did you mean by that?

Murphy: “We flew from spring training up to Cincinnati to open the season and we had a fight between the players before the first game. Spring training had gone well. Joe had jump-started things well. Next thing you know, we’re getting a call around midnight to tell us we already had a fight. For whatever reason, it unraveled from there and it couldn’t get reined back in.”

Previously: Why the best Joe Torre Cardinals club wasn’t good enough

Joe Garagiola and his most memorable home runs

March 28, 2016 by retrosimba

Joe Garagiola, a St. Louis native who began his big-league career with the Cardinals, hit perhaps his most dramatic home run against his hometown team.

Pinch-hitting with two outs in the ninth inning of the second game of a Memorial Day doubleheader, Garagiola hit a three-run walkoff home run that erased a 3-1 deficit and lifted the Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals on May 30, 1952.

Garagiola, who died at age 90 on March 23, 2016, was better known as a broadcaster than as a player. Nonetheless, he had several significant performances during a nine-year playing career in the majors as a catcher with the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs and Giants.

Perhaps his most important contribution as a player was his performance for the Cardinals as a 20-year-old rookie against the Red Sox in the 1946 World Series. Garagiola batted .316 (6-for-19), scored twice and had four RBI. He caught 42.2 innings without an error for the Cardinals, who won the championship in seven games.

A left-handed batter, Garagiola hit 42 big-league home runs. In addition to the walkoff home run to beat the Cardinals, he hit two grand slams for St. Louis.

Here is a look at those three home runs:

First base open

The 1952 Pirates were a dreadful team. After the Cardinals beat them, 3-2, in the first game of the May 30, 1952, doubleheader at Pittsburgh, the Pirates’ record was 8-33.

In the second game, starting pitchers Cloyd Boyer of the Cardinals and rookie Ron Kline of the Pirates each pitched eight scoreless innings. Clem Koshorek singled to lead off the bottom of the first for the Pirates. Boyer held Pittsburgh hitless from then through the eighth.

The Cardinals scored three in the top of the ninth, breaking the scoreless tie.

In the bottom of the ninth, Koshorek led off with a bunt single. After Bobby Del Greco popped out, Gus Bell doubled, moving Koshorek to third.

Cardinals manager Eddie Stanky replaced Boyer with Gerry Staley. A starter, Staley was making his first relief appearance of the 1952 season. He issued an intentional walk to the first batter he faced, cleanup hitter Ralph Kiner, loading the bases. A rookie, Brandy Davis, ran for Kiner.

When Jack Merson grounded out, pitcher to first, Koshorek scored, with Bell advancing to third and Davis to second.

Garagiola, who had caught the first game, was sent by manager Billy Meyer to pinch-hit for catcher Clyde McCullough. Meyer wanted a left-handed batter, Garagiola, to face the right-handed Staley.

With two outs and first base open, Stanky could have had Staley issue an intentional walk to Garagiola. On deck was George Strickland, a right-handed batter who hit .177 for the 1952 Pirates.

Instead, the Cardinals pitched to Garagiola, who ended the game with his first home run of the season. Boxscore

Trash talking

Four years earlier, playing in his first game of the season, Garagiola broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning with a grand slam off reliever Harry Gumbert, lifting the Cardinals to a 13-7 victory over the Reds at Cincinnati on April 30, 1948.

Garagiola hit a line drive off Gumbert, 38, a former Cardinal, that carried over the right field screen at Crosley Field, according to the Associated Press.

As he rounded the bases, Garagiola was razzed by players in the Reds dugout. Garagiola challenged one of the Reds on his way to bench, The Sporting News reported.

Said baseball commissioner Happy Chandler, who witnessed the incident: “I told manager Eddie Dyer that he’d better have a talk with Garagiola and see that it didn’t happen again.”

Garagiola was 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and four RBI in the game. His teammate, Stan Musial, was 5-for-6 with three runs scored and four RBI. Boxscore

Sizzling in Cincinnati

Two years later, Garagiola hit the second and last grand slam of his big-league career. Again, it occurred in Cincinnati.

On May 28, 1950, in the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader, the Cardinals led, 1-0, and had Red Schoendienst on third and Enos Slaughter on second, one out, when Reds starter Ewell Blackwell issued an intentional walk to Bill Howerton, loading the bases for Garagiola.

The grand slam hit by Garagiola was his first home run of the season, giving the Cardinals a 5-0 lead. Garagiola went 3-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI in a 7-2 Cardinals triumph. Boxscore

Four days later, on June 1, Garagiola separated his shoulder when he tripped over the legs of the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson on a play at first base.

Previously: Think Buster Posey is good? How about Joe Garagiola?

Previously: How Harry Caray got Joe Garagiola in Cardinals booth

Tom Hughes: 1st Panama native to play for Cardinals

March 25, 2016 by retrosimba

On his 25th birthday, Tom Hughes made his major-league debut as the starting pitcher for the Cardinals. His catcher that day was a 17-year-old, Tim McCarver, who was appearing in his fourth big-league game.

From there, the major-league careers of Hughes and McCarver took dramatically different paths. Hughes would appear in one more game for the Cardinals and never again would play in the big leagues. McCarver went on to play 21 years in the majors over parts of four decades (1959-80).

In 2016, McCarver remains in the game as a Cardinals television broadcaster. Hughes has a connection to the 2016 Cardinals, too.

Ruben Tejada, signed by the Cardinals during 2016 spring training to fill a need at shortstop, will become the third native of Panama to appear in a regular-season game for the Cardinals.

The first was Tom Hughes.

Panamanians in majors

Entering the 2016 season, 55 natives of Panama have played for major-league teams, according to baseball-reference.com. Two of the best were Hall of Famer Rod Carew and relief ace Mariano Rivera. Another Panamanian, Einar Diaz, was a backup catcher for the 2005 Cardinals.

Until Tejada in 2016, Hughes and Diaz were the only Cardinals players born in Panama.

For a time, it appeared Hughes would be one of the best.

Top prospect

Born Sept. 13, 1934, in Ancon, Canal Zone, Panama, Tom Hughes was the son of a Canal Zone police official, according to The Sporting News.

A right-handed pitcher, Hughes signed with the Cardinals in 1954 as an amateur free agent and was sent to the minor leagues.

Hughes had a breakthrough season in 1955, posting a 20-6 record and striking out 273 in 222 innings for Fresno of the Class C California League.

After that season, Hughes signed to play winter ball with the Chesterfield Smokers of the Panama Professional League.

The Cardinals invited Hughes to attend their early training camp for prospects at St. Petersburg, Fla., in February 1956, and assigned him to Houston of the Class AA Texas League.

Hot in Houston

After Hughes pitched a one-hit shutout against San Antonio on June 13, 1956, Houston general manager Art Routzong compared him with Cardinals left-hander Vinegar Bend Mizell.

“Tom right now is as good a major-league prospect as Vinegar Bend when Mizell was here in 1951,” Routzong said. “I don’t think Hughes is as fast as Vinegar, but he has a much better curve.”

Houston manager Harry Walker, the former Cardinals outfielder, also told The Sporting News he considered Hughes a major-league prospect.

In August 1956, with his record at 14-6, Hughes left Houston for St. Louis “to undergo a week’s therapy on his sore right elbow,” The Sporting News reported. The injury “baffled four Texas doctors.”

After being treated for what was diagnosed as an inflamed right elbow, Hughes returned to Houston and won his last four decisions, yielding one run in his final 39 innings.

His season totals for the 1956 Houston team: 18-6 record, 2.70 ERA, 223 innings and 16 complete games.

The Cardinals gave Hughes a look at spring training in 1957 and sent him back to Houston. He was 14-4 with a 2.87 ERA for the 1957 Houston team.

At your service

In October 1957, Hughes, 23, was inducted into the Army. He sat out the entire 1958 baseball season and most of 1959 while performing his military duty.

After his discharge from the Army, Hughes joined the Cardinals on Aug. 25, 1959. He hadn’t pitched in a professional game since September 1957.

The 1959 Cardinals entered September with a 61-72 record. Manager Solly Hemus decided to give the Cardinals’ prospects a look in the final month of the season.

“I saw a little of Hughes … at Houston (in 1957) and what I saw I liked,” Hemus said. “He showed a good assortment of stuff.”

Cuffed by Cubs

On Sept. 13, 1959, his 25th birthday, Hughes got the start for St. Louis against the Cubs at Chicago.

In the first inning, Hughes yielded a two-run single to Ernie Banks.

In the third, Banks hit a two-run home run and Irv Noren hit a solo home run, giving the Cubs a 5-0 lead. Hughes was relieved by Bob Duliba with two outs in the third. The Cubs won, 8-0, and Hughes took the loss.

Hughes’ line: 2.2 innings, 5 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks and 1 strikeout.

McCarver, batting leadoff, got his first big-league hit in that game. Boxscore

A week later, on Sept. 21, Hughes started against the Cubs at St. Louis. This time, veteran Hal Smith was his catcher. The results, though, were about the same.

Hughes retired the Cubs in order in the first and the Cardinals scored a run off Glen Hobbie in the bottom half of the inning.

In the second, Banks led off with a triple and scored on Walt Moryn’s groundout. Bobby Thomson singled and scored on Sammy Taylor’s double, putting the Cubs ahead, 2-1. After Al Dark singled, moving Taylor to third, Hemus replaced Hughes with Ernie Broglio.

Broglio fanned Hobbie for the second out, then yielded a RBI-single to Tony Taylor and a three-run home run to George Altman, giving the Cubs a 6-1 lead. Four of the runs were charged to Hughes.

The Cubs won, 12-3, and Hughes again took the loss. Boxscore

In two games for the Cardinals, Hughes was 0-2 with a 15.75 ERA.

After playing in the minor leagues in 1960 and 1961, Hughes’ pitching career was finished two years after his major-league debut.

Previously: How Tim McCarver became a Cardinal at 17

Previously: Ernie Banks and his greatest hits against Cardinals