The Cardinals vs the Browns

October 11, 2019

75 years ago this year Major League Baseball saw the first, and only, all St. Louis World Series when the National League Cardinals played the American League Browns. The National Baseball Hall of Fame has a great article about the series.

1944 World Series Program

I was surprised to learn that the series took place entirely at Sportsman's Park, the home of the Browns, and was played over six consecutive days. Can you imagine today's games going back-to-back like that? It would never happen.

The series also saw baseball great and Cardinals legend Stan Musial, then 23, who went on to report to the Navy in 1945. I'm fairly young so my mind can barely comprehend how strange it is to see baseball players joining the war effort, another thing that I don't think would happen today. A baseball player as a spy definitely wouldn't.

With a war raging overseas and uncertainty overwhelming the nation, a unique World Series was taking place pitting two teams who shared the same home ballpark.

The 1944 World Series, considered a David versus Goliath matchup at the time, was an all-St. Louis affair featuring the prodigious Cardinals, a franchise having just won its third consecutive National League pennant, and the plucky Browns, the winners of its first American League pennant in its 43rd year of existence...

With no travel days needed, the 1944 Fall Classic was played over six consecutive day games from Oct. 4-9.

If you are a fan of baseball, and especially baseball history, go read the article. It really is a great read.

The Bygone Ballparks of St. Louis

April 5, 2016

Now that Baseball season is upon us, I thought I'd share a link that was sent to me a couple of weeks ago. Distilled History has a great look at the history of baseball parks in St. Louis (please forgive the author for not being a Cardinals fan). I never realized how many there actually were, especially in north St. Louis. Growing up, I only really heard of Sportsman's Park, and of course, Busch II & III.

Go check out the post. He has some great images and maps.

st. louis ballparks

Uverse to Block 20 Cardinals Games Again This Season

April 9, 2012

You would think that the two sides, Uverse and Fox Sports Midwest, would have come to some sort of agreement in the offseason. Well, if you thought that, you'd be wrong.

For the second season in a row, Uverse subscribers will not be able to watch 20 games, including tonight's versus the Reds. In fact, 7 of the 20 that are blacked out are games against division rivals like the Reds, Brewers, and Cubs.

Here's the list of games being blacked out by Uverse.

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME
April 9	at Reds	6:10 p.m.
April 10	at Reds	6:10 p.m.
April 15	vs. Cubs	1:15 p.m.
April 17	vs. Reds	7:15 p.m.
April 23	at Cubs	7:05 p.m.
April 27	vs. Brewers	7:15 p.m.
May 2	vs. Pirates	7:15 p.m.
May 3	vs. Pirates	12:45 p.m.
May 11	vs. Braves	7:15 p.m.
May 16	at Giants	9:15 p.m.
May 17	at Giants	2:45 p.m.
June 13	vs. White Sox	7:15 p.m.
June 14	vs. White Sox	7:15 p.m.
June 19	at Tigers	6:05 p.m.
June 20	at Tigers	6:05 p.m.
June 25	at Marlins	6:10 p.m.
July 24	vs, Dodgers	7:15 p.m.
July 25	vs, Dodgers	7:15 p.m.
Aug. 3	vs. Brewers	7:15 p.m.
Aug. 10	at Phillies	6:05 p.m.

If you're going to stay with Uverse, call 1-800-288-2020 and ask for customer retention. Tell them you’re unhappy about the situation and demand a discount. If they are going to screw over their subscribers, hit 'em where it hurts... in their bottom line. Of course, it would be better if you cancel completely (not an option for a lot of people, I know).

Pujols Signs with the Angels

December 8, 2011

"Do I want to be in St Louis forever? Of course. People from other teams want to play in STL and are jealous that we are in STL because the fans are unbelievable. So why would you leave a place like STL to go somewhere else and make 3 or 4 more million a year? It's not about money, I already got my money. It's about winning, that's it". -Albert Pujols Feb 15, 2009

He reportedly signed a 10 year contract worth $255 million (which is $3-4 million per year more than what the Cardinals reportedly offered).

Uverse Vs Fox Sports Midwest: They Fight, Fans Lose

April 12, 2011

Starting this season, Fox Sports Midwest will carry all of the Cardinals baseball games. In the past, local channels would carry some of the games (KPLR, then KSDK). Because Fox Sports Midwest decided to carry all the games this year, they thought they could jack up the price for the channel (or for the rights to show those additional 20 games). Some companies did not agree. Most of the companies in dispute were small-time cable companies in rural areas. The major providers, such as the satellite providers as well as Charter Cable, agreed to the new fees. AT&T's Uverse did not. They had months and months to come to terms, but they just figured it's only 20 games, who cares.

Well, AT&T, one of your biggest Uverse markets is also the best baseball town in America. We want to watch EVERY game. We are some of the most loyal fans in all of baseball. By not showing those games you will be losing a lot of money from customers you've pissed off, either by giving them discounts on their bill or by watching them leave completely. Is it really worth it? I've already had one of your sales people offer me $25 off a month for the next 6 months and promise (and yes, I verified with him what he was actually promising) that the dispute would be resolved by today. Nothing like telling a lie to keep a customer, right?

As for me? Even with the discount offered, I think it's time to say goodbye. I have been a Uverse customer for over 2 years and have watched them move the sports channels to higher tiers, increased fees for services, and now, take away games promised to air. I can take my business somewhere else where I will be sure to have access to every game.

UPDATE: In case you're sticking with Uverse and want the discount (we're missing games, time to hit AT&T where it hurts), call 1-800-288-2020 and ask for customer retention. Tell them you're unhappy about the situation and demand a discount. I've seen some people get offered $15 off a month for 6 months, but they gave me $25 off a month. I wouldn't go any lower than that.

Cardinals Sign More Former Talent

June 11, 2010

I'm loving the moves that the St. Louis Cardinals are making this year. In the face of a struggling pitching staff, roller coaster hitting performances, and general fan unease, the Cardinals have made some very noteworthy additions to the team. First we picked up Aaron Miles, one of the best lawn gnomes to ever play the game. Then we signed the .213 slugger Randy Winn, making St. Louis the 5th team that didn't really want him but signed him anyway. Hot off the signing of former Cardinal Aaron Miles, and picking up Randy Winn, the Cardinals decided to sign a struggling former Cardinal pitcher, Jeff Suppan.

Jeff Suppan is coming back to the St. Louis Cardinals.

He will be joining the team in Phoenix and hopes to be active early next week. He will be signing for the pro-rated minimum, his agent Scott Leventhal said.

Suppan has not officially signed yet because the Cardinals have to work out some issues with the 40-man roster.

He was released by the Brewers on Monday after going 0-2 with a 7.84 ERA in 15 games.

Suppan pitched for the Cardinals from 2004-06 and was 44-26 with a 3.85 ERA, the best 3-year span in his career. He was the MVP in the 2006 NLCS, winning Game 7 over the Mets.

Suppan signed with the Brewers as a free agent in December of 2006. He was 29-36 with a 5.08 ERA in Milwaukee.

He is 35. STLToday

The Cardinals aren't stopping there though. No, rumor has it that they are in talks of signing even more has-been players. After being petitioned by fans to get Jack Clark off the air, the Cardinals have signed him to a year long contract as a bench player. Also, negotiations are well under way with Dizzy and Daffy Dean's corpses. They are expected to join the Cardinals for the Seattle series.

Baseball Diversity

April 20, 2010

While reading an article about the lack of black players in baseball I posed a question to my coworker. The exchange went as follows:

shep: do the cardinals have a single black player on their team? Coworker: don't think so Coworker: well brendan ryan kinda shep: lol

For those who might not understand why that is funny, pictured below is Brendan Ryan.

Mark McGwire

January 11, 2010

Obviously the media is abuzz with news that former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire has admitted to using steroids. For most people this comes as no surprise. After the investigation by Congress and numerous accusations of some of baseball's top players, it would be hard to find anyone who didn't think that he didn't use steroids at some part of his career. I really don't have much to say on the subject besides, who cares?

McGwire was from a different time in baseball. The '80's and '90's were full of 'roided ballplayers and no one seemed to care. Major League Baseball looked the other way. Why should they care when players and owners were making money hand-over-fist? Baseball is a very different game now. If Albert Pujols was found to have used steroids it would be a huge blow to the game, especially in a time where they actually are looking for players who may use and it's assumed that all players are not using. Baseball wasn't always like that. Look at McGwire, Giambi, Conseco, Bonds. It'd be hard to look at those guys and not know. We did know, we just didn't care.

That's not to say that McGwire didn't do anything wrong. Because other players were using doesn't make it any less of an offense for McGwire to use. The past is the past though. I still contend that McGwire did more good for the game of baseball than he did harm. After the players strike baseball saw a huge drop in attendance. The home run race of 1998 got people interested in the game again. There was an excitement in the air that I never experienced prior or since. Everyone was excited to see McGwire and Sosa go at it. It brought people back to the game and made fans out of newcomers.

Some people are saying that McGwire is only coming because he thinks it will help his chances in the Hall of Fame. I disagree. He is now the Cardinals hitting coach and there is no way that he would be able to do his job without addressing the issue. He did it with class (a lot more class than how he handled his testimony before Congress). He has nothing to be ashamed of in that aspect. I respect him for finally owning up to his past. I think the matter is settled and all his focus should be on helping the Cardinals be the best they can be in the upcoming season.

Boycotting the Cardinals

April 21, 2009

To quote Network, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm boycotting the St. Louis Cardinals. Yesterday's events were the final straw. In case you weren't aware, the Cardinals acquired relief pitcher Blaine Boyer from Atlanta. What's so bad about this? Well, let me give you some stats. The Cardinals relief pitchers have a combine ERA of 4.98. Atlanta, the team that Boyer came from, had a combined ERA of 7.36, and that was without Boyer. Boyer is so bad, that he could even make the pitching staff of a club that has an ERA of over 7! Yet the Cardinals want to add him to their relief staff. Oh yeah, and Boyer, on his own, has an ERA of 40 this season. Yes, 40. On top of that, he hasn't actually had a decent pitching season in years. I guess he's the perfect addition to a pitching staff full of injuries and weak arms.

The Cardinals' front office has shown this past year that they don't care to improve the team. They just want to take your hard earned money and pocket it instead of making a team that can win. What is even worse is now they are actively making trades that are bound to make the team worse. Why should I give over my hard-earned money to line the pockets of the front office instead of supporting a team that can win. If they were trying to improve the team and they were losing, that would be one thing, but they aren't. John Mozeliak needs to be fired before he's run out of town. I will not pay for a Cardinals ticket until the Cardinals organization get their acts together. They refuse to spend money, so I refuse to spend mine.

The Wave

March 31, 2009

I love going to baseball games, especially if my beloved Cardinals are playing. One of the things that always amazes me about baseball games is the wave. I know a lot of people hate doing the wave, but there's something about it that I love. I love to watch it go around a stadium, the thousands of people joining together for a few seconds to continue the awesome spectacle. Even though I love doing the wave at the games, I could never start one. I do not have the type of leadership (or drunkenness) that is required to make a stadium of 40k+ fans climb to their feet, sections upon sections in unison.

I remember I was at a game last year. It was about the 7th inning, which most fans of baseball know that the wave usually begins in the later innings, and the wave had not been started at that point. I look over to a man that was about 2 sections to my left and a guy stands up, looks around him, and starts yelling at his section to stand up. They do. It hits the next section and only about half of the people stood up this time. Then it hit my section. I make it a rule not to stand in the wave too early. There has to be just the right amount of people. The wave ended. He starts it back up, this time it goes another section before it dies. Not to be deterred, he starts it again and it goes even further. Excitement starts to build. This is when I decide to join in. He starts it again and now people on the other side of the stadium start to take notice. His section stands and sits rapidly. Then the next. Then my section. And it continues on. Will it continue? It does. It makes it all the way to the other side of the stadium. It jumps the gap! It continues on and reaches the origination section. The guy has accomplished his feat but that doesn't make him stop. He continues the wave and it grows and grows with each turn around the stadium. Then almost instantly, the wave ends. The inning is over. For a brief moment, that guy controlled an entire stadium. People rise to their feet, but not for the wave. As Mike Shannon says, it's time for a nice frosty cold one.

John Mozeliak - Very Unprofessional

January 23, 2009

John Mozeliak recently gave even more St. Louis Cardinals fans a reason to hate him. I guess he figured that since people are already pissed at him for not doing anything to strengthen the Cardinals this season that he'd go ahead and throw professionalism out the window and insult Cardinals fans.

In a recent online chat Mr. Mozeliak fielded insults from disgruntled Cardinals fans. I am not defending the insults against Mr. Mozeliak, but he certainly should have taken the higher road and not responded with his own insults. He needs to understand that fans are unhappy with his job performance and instead of insulting them back he needs to explain his philosophy of waiting for the future. St. Louis has some of the best fans in all of baseball. We are very passionate about our team. If Mr. Mozeliak can't understand this and handle these types of situations with some class and dignity, then he deserves the insults he receives, especially since he's creating another disappointing season for Cardinals fans by "saving for the future." The future won't matter when you've driven away all the fans Mr. Mozeliak. When a team finishes 4th in the division we expect a little more action to make us contenders again, and when that happens we, rightfully so, get upset. Do not insult us. We pay your salary. We pay for the salaries of everyone in the organization, including players, we pay for the new stadium. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. You can read the chat transcript via STLToday.

MVP... Again

November 17, 2008

Albert Pujols has won the National League Most Valuable Player Award... for the second time in his illustrious career. From StL Today:

Increasingly perceived as a transcendent player, Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols overcame his team’s fourth-place finish and a Bunyanesque second half by Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard to earn election as the 2008 National League Most Valuable Player.

Pujols, who also won the award in 2005, becomes the first Dominican-born player to earn multiple MVP titles.

Pujols, 28, amassed 37 home runs and 116 RBI in a season hampered by a strained calf that forced him to the disabled list and a nerve condition that caused him to undergo surgery last month.

Universally perceived as an overachieving team in transition, the Cardinals stayed in contention for more than five months while drafting behind El Hombre’s daunting consistency.

Pujols had finished second three times in balloting during his eight-year career — twice to Barry Bonds and once to Howard in 2006. Just as Pujols won this time without reaching the postseason, Howard won previously by keeping the Phillies in contention. Though denied a second Gold Glove Award earlier this month, Pujols is recognized as one of the best defenders at his position in the game. He also led the NL in on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.114) and reached 100 walks for the first time in his career.

Howard mashed 48 home runs with 146 RBI but was doubtless hurt by a .251 batting average and 199 strikeouts. No NL MVP has ever hit below .267.

Pujols’ margin of victory was more decisive than expected, perhaps suggesting a growing appreciation for a player long consigned to Bonds’ shadow and perhaps penalized for never leading his league in home runs or RBI. Still, Pujols has hit .334 and averaged 40 home runs and 122 RBI during his career.

The Boys are Back in Town

March 31, 2008

busch stadium

Today (unless it gets rained out by the major storms hitting the area this afternoon) is opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals. It should be an interesting season for the Redbirds, that's for sure. We have many new faces on the team, most of them young talent. It'll be nerve-racking to see how the Cards do this year with so many young players.

The time is approaching. You can hear it swimming through the air. Closer and closer. You hear a crack. A sound so familiar, but you can’t quite figure out where you’ve heard it before.

Time passes. The trees are bare. Then the noises get louder. This time the crack is accompanied by a thud. It sounds like a broom beating on an old rug. Again, it is a recognizable sound, but you still can’t figure out where and when you first heard it.

Time passes and snow covers the ground. The noise comes back, and this time, every one of your senses is bombarded by blurry visions, sounds, and smells.

The snow melts. The smells get stronger. You know what that smell is. It is a smell that you recognize as one of your first childhood memories. Visions of sunny days fill your mind. The sounds are back, and this time, you recognize them. You close your eyes and live in the moment. You look around. There are people everywhere. You smell stale beer. The kind of smell that could only come from years and years of spilt beer staining concrete. But this is not a bad thing. It reminds you of all the good times you’ve had, and the great ones to come. The noise is deafening. You hear people cheering. You hear loudspeakers, cracks, and thuds. A new smell comes over you. You inhale. When you do, memories of watching your dad cut the grass when you were little float forward. Yes, the smell of freshly cut grass overpowers the stale beer smell. Now the musty smell of wet dirt travels through the air to where you are. The loudspeaker explodes with sound. You hear names being called. People cheer. You feel like you are there. At that moment. At that place.

Time passes. The grass turns green. All those wonderful smells, visions, and noises come back. This time they are as strong as ever. It is time. You don’t have to imagine anymore.

The day comes. You stand in line, smiling. You talk with other people enthusiastically. You talk about how this is the year. You never give up hope. Neither do they. For all your differences, this is the one thing you have in common. The one thing that binds you, and fifty-thousand other people in the vicinity, together. Nothing can taint this feeling. Not talks of financial problems or drug problems. This is the perfect moment. You walk in. Your heart beats swiftly. You hear the loudspeaker. You hear those familiar names. This time it is real. You smell the great smells of stale beer, cut grass, and wet dirt. You hear cheering. You see the color that dominates the town. The color you are wearing on this day, at this moment. People continue to cheer. Thud! That?s all right. Everyone knows to lay off the first one. Then you hear it. CRACK! A line drive base hit. And the season is under way. What a great one it will be. Dedicated to Baseball, and those that made it great. The ones that are alive in person, and those that are alive in our memories.

New Theme and New Version

March 29, 2008

As you probably know by now if you're a WordPress user, WordPress 2.5 came out today. Along with that, WordPress.org received a redesign. I won't say much about the new version, as it seems to be the same, except an ugly admin redesign. I will however point out that I have a new theme up here. It probably won't stay up too long, but I figured it's a great theme for the season. Cardinals opening day is Monday and the baseball season will be underway. Just wanted to throw up a theme that celebrated the season a bit and this theme I thought was very elegant looking. Anyway, let the baseball commence!

The Bucks Stop Here

March 4, 2008

All throughout the Mid-West the words baseball and Buck are synonymous. For almost 50 years Jack Buck broadcasted for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a class act and could be heard, on a clear night, as far south as Arkansas and as far north as Iowa. Generations grew up listening to Jack Buck. I remember BBQing in the summer and listening to Jack Buck and Mike Shannon announce the wonderful Cardinals. As Jack's son Joe got older he started broadcasting. He's such a knowledgeable man in the sports arena that he is the lead announcer for the NFL and MLB on Fox. It was announced this week that he would no longer broadcast any games for the Cardinals. It will be weird to not have a Buck announce any games this year. Though I'll miss him announcing, I'm very happy for all his success. From StL Today:

For the first time since 1960, there won't be a Buck in a Cardinals broadcast booth this year.

Joe Buck, who had been doing the play-by-play for a few Redbirds games on FSN Midwest in recent seasons, has decided not to return in order to enjoy himself at the ballpark in a nonworking capacity.

"It's nothing more than it feels like it's time to make that change and to concentrate on some other things and basically go to Cardinals games as a fan,'' he said Monday night. "I'm a fan, and I love to go down there with my wife and two daughters. The fun of that now is more appealing than anything to me.''

Despite Buck's burgeoning career nationally at the Fox network, for which he is lead baseball and football play-by-play announcer, he had kept his ties to the Redbirds booth — where he got his start in big-league broadcasting in 1991 at age 21.

But he had been cutting back in recent seasons on his Cards workload, going from a busy schedule while filling in on radio while his father, Jack Buck, was ailing in 2002 to 31 FSN games in 2003 to 10 last season.

His departure ends a lengthy run of Bucks in the booth. His dad joined the club's radio broadcast team in 1954 and was there every year except 1960 until falling ill after the 2001 season and dying the following year.

But Joe Buck said that family streak never was a reason he kept doing Redbirds games.

"I don't think like that,'' he said. "My dad's career stands on its own. It was not a birthright of mine when I went there on a full-time basis in 1991, and it's not a birthright now. There's nothing written in stone that somebody with the last name of Buck has to be sitting in that booth.

"And really, we're only talking about 10 games. ... To do it just to say I'm on the list as one of the announcers is silly to me.''

FSN Midwest general manager Jack Donovan said Buck will be missed.

"We're sorry to see him leave, but we were lucky to have him as long as we did," Donovan said. "Unquestionably, he's the best play-by-play guy in sports.''

Buck said the flexibility of FSN management, which allowed him to pick his schedule, was what had kept him aboard in recent seasons.

"The fact they let me do as many or as few as I felt I needed to do meant a lot to me,'' he said.

He said there was another reason, too.

"I still continue to this day to feel indebted to the Cardinals for all they provided me,'' he said. "I'm (not) the lead voice of the NFL and Major League Baseball on Fox if I don't get that job (with the team), and if I don't get that chance to grow up and learn about the game and learn about broadcasting in the Cardinals' booth. Everything stemmed off that.''

Buck won't be totally gone from Cardinals broadcasts, as he is scheduled to do a couple of their games for Fox. But those have a different tone than local telecasts because they air in the market of the opposing team as well as in St. Louis.

Donovan said Rick Horton, who does the commentary on KSDK (Channel 5) telecasts of Cards games, will help fill the gap created by Buck's departure.

Horton will work with Dan McLaughlin (play-by-play) or Al Hrabosky (analysis) on about 10 FSN Midwest telecasts this season.

Horton also will continue as a regular on FSN Midwest's Cards postgame shows.

A Depressing Season

February 28, 2008

I have a feeling this is going to be a disappointing season for the St. Louis Cardinals. The new General Manager did very little, and I mean very little to strengthen the team for next season. In fact, he let some of our good players go (Eckstein, Edmonds, Rolen, Taguchi) and picked up players that are either hurt or no better than the ones we let go (Clement, Glaus). The Sporting News rates the Cardinals as 4th in the Central Division. 4th?!?! The Central Division is usually considered one of the weaker divisions (what, with the Cubs and all) and we are predicted to come in 4th. That's sad. Also, what's really sad is to know that the outfielder that we have with the most experience is Chris Duncan. That's just not right. It's also not right that the only two starting (everyday players, not pitchers) Cardinals that are returning this year are Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols. Unless by some miracle this mediocre team is able to pull off some wins, this is going to be a very depressing season.

Cardinals' GM Walt Jocketty Leaves

October 4, 2007

This is sad news for many in Cardinal Nation because Jocketty was one of the best in the business. He made some great moves and decisions with trades. Here is part of the story from StLToday.

The Cardinals will begin an intensive search today for general manager Walt Jocketty's successor while still awaiting word from free-agent manager Tony La Russa about whether he will return to an organization suddenly in flux.

Citing a widening front-office split, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. dismissed Jocketty, the longest-tenured GM in club history, during a Wednesday morning meeting at DeWitt's Clayton home.

Jocketty had received no indication of a pending move regarding his status before DeWitt invited him to Wednesday's 45-minute meeting.

Many within the front office were unaware of the move until the club issued a press release at about 3 p.m.

The move, which was first reported on STLtoday.com, occurred less than one year after the Cardinals secured their first World Series title in 24 years, but was more directly influenced by DeWitt's installation of a new front-office model less than 13 months ago.

Jocketty's refusal to embrace the new structure brought scrutiny that culminated in his ouster, according to DeWitt, despite a successful 13-year run highlighted by two World Series appearances and five trips to the playoffs the last seven seasons.

The End of the Season

September 16, 2007

The Cardinals season is quickly coming to an end. They have not played well this season at all. Of course, you can't blame the team entirely. Tragedy struck the Cardinals more than once. We had Mulder and Carpenter on the disabled list. Josh Hancock died in a car accident. Scott Rolen and Juan Encarnacion are out. (Juan may never play baseball again). The only thing that made this season exciting were the young players such as Chris Duncan and Rick Ankiel. The only thing I, as a Cardinals fan, can hope for is that the Cubs don't win the division, or at least fall in the first round in the play-offs. Will Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa be back next year? I don't know. I would like to see him back. I think St. Louis fans know that this season can't be blamed on him. He played the best hand he could play in a season marked with injuries and death.

Some Life in the Cardinals After All

August 12, 2007

I was shocked that the Cardinals brought up Rick Ankiel already. They can't send him back down because the Cardinals are out of options on him. If he would get sent back down, any team can claim him. I knew they'd bring him up, but I thought it would be closer to the end of the season, like in September. Well, I was wrong, and boy am I glad I was. Ankiel has been hot in the minors all year and he continued his streak in the Bigs. In his first two games he hit three home runs and made a great catch. What's even better is it seems his hot streak as reinvigorated the rest of the team, finally waking up their sleeping bats. Today's game versus the Dodgers brought 18 hits and 12 runs for the Cardinals. The depressed Cardinal Nation has also begun to make noise again. Everyone is talking about Ankiel, a St. Louis favorite, bringing some excitement back to St. Louis. There is some life left in the Cards after all.

Cardinals Pitcher Dies

April 29, 2007

Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock, 29, was killed in a car accident early Sunday morning on Interstate 64 in St. Louis.

According to multiple reports, Hancock's vehicle hit a tow truck at approximately 12:30 a.m. CT and the pitcher died at the scene. He had pitched three innings in Saturday afternoon's game against the Cubs. via StLCardinals.com

It's weird because I just saw him pitch yesterday. Kind of in shock right now, as I'm sure the whole team is. My thoughts go out to his family.

i am shep

Tag: cardinals