Augie's Daily Dose: St. Louis Cardinal History

Dizzy Dean and Earl Averill discuss Dizzy's toe. During the 1937 All Star game, a line drive of Averill's bat broke Dizzy's toe. The injury led to Dean changing his pitching motion - which caused him to permanently damage his pitching arm. He was never the same again.

How would you like to have this at the top of your rotation? I took the best 5-year-run of Dizzy (1932-1936) and Gibby (1965-1970 minus 1967/hurt) and combined them: 226 - Wins 242 - Complete games 3026 - Innings pitched 2276 - Strikeouts 50 -Shutouts

Former Cardinals Player Spotlight - Willie McGee Willie McGee is one of the most beloved players in St. Louis Cardinals history, a switch-hitting outfielder known for his speed, contact hitting, elite defense, and humble personality. Born Willie Dean McGee on November 2, 1958, in San Francisco, California (raised in nearby Richmond), he was originally drafted by the New York Yankees in 1977, but traded to the Cardinals in October 1981 for pitcher Bob Sykes. He made his MLB debut with St. Louis on May 10, 1982, and quickly became a key part of the team's success during the "Whiteyball" era under manager Whitey Herzog. Key Highlights with the Cardinals: In 1982 as a rookie, McGee hit .296 during the season and helped the Cardinals win the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. He starred in Game 3 with two spectacular catches and two home runs, contributing significantly to the championship (the team's first since 1967). McGee had a career year in 1985, when he lead the league with a .353 batting average (still a Cardinals single-season record for a switch-hitter), 216 hits (another team record for switch-hitters), and 18 triples. He also drove in 82 runs and stole 56 bases, earning NL MVP honors - the first Cardinal to win it since Keith Hernandez in 1979. The Cardinals reached the World Series that year but lost to the Kansas City Royals. McGee was the 1990 batting title (.335) after being traded mid-season to the Oakland Athletics, McGee became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title in one league after being traded to the other league. Return to St. Louis: He came back to the Cardinals as a free agent in 1996, serving as a veteran reserve outfielder, mentor and pinch hitter through 1999, helping them to an NL Central title in 1996. He was a four-time All-Star (1983, 1985, 1987, 1988), won 2 batting titles, a Silver Slugger Award and three Gold Glove Awards (1983, 1985, 1986) for his outstanding play in center field (and occasionally right field). Over his career (primarily with the Cardinals from 1982–1990 and 1996–1999), McGee batted .295 with 2,254 hits, 79 home runs, 856 RBI, 352 stolen bases, and 94 triples. He ranks high on the Cardinals' all-time lists, including 4th in stolen bases (301 modern era) and 7th in triples (83). Legacy: McGee was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. Fans adored him for his effortless speed, great glove work, and low-key demeanor. After retiring, he returned to the organization and served as a major league assistant coach for the Cardinals from 2018 through 2024, focusing on outfield play, base running, and hitting. He's often remembered as the "ultimate Cardinal", a quiet, hardworking player who embodied the team's style of speed, defense, and smart baseball in the 1980s. If you're a Cardinals fan, Willie McGee is one of those names that instantly brings smiles and memories!

Rickey: Hey Lou, Rickey is sorry Rickey broke your single season stolen base record by stealing 130 bases. Lou: That's okay Rickey, when I set the record of 118, I was 35 years old! You were just a lad of 23, you didn't know any better. (smirks) Rickey: (silence)

Did you know? Cliff Carroll is credited with the first home run in Cardinals franchise history. It happened on April 12, 1892 when the Cardinals were then called the Browns.