Spring Training games are in full effect with all 30 teams,  including the St. Louis Cardinals, took to the field to start getting ready for the season.  Meanwhile, Major League Baseball has opened the vaults and given the world access to video clips that were previously locked away.

The Cardinals were a powerhouse team in the National League in the 1980′s.  Three appearances in the World Series, including winning the championship in 1982, as well as some key moments throughout the decade had many people watching the team very closely.

Today, i70baseball brings you nine classic moments from the Cardinals in the 1980′s, courtesy of Major League Baseball.

Use the navigation controls below to take a look at each of the videos.  Leave us some comments and tell us the moments you most remember from the 1980′s in St. Louis.

Bill Ivie is the editor here at I-70 Baseball
Follow him on Twitter here.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (January 8, 2013) – The St. Louis Cardinals have released their much anticipated 2013 promotional schedule, consisting of at least 34 giveaways and highlighted by a series of bobbleheads and jerseys, including a replica of the brand new 2013 “St. Louis” home alternate jersey.

From Stan Musial to Allen Craig, the 2013 promotional schedule celebrates Cardinal greats of the past and present. Highlights include the Stan Musial harmonica (April 12^th), a 28”Allen Craig bat presented by Rawlings (April 27^th) and a pair of Cardinals High Sports Socks (May 19^th) – a uniform classic re-popularized last season during “High Socks Sundays” by players like Jon Jay, Daniel Descalso and Jason Motte. The Edward Jones Hall of Fame Weekend features commemorative items highlighting St. Louis’s most popular hall of famers including the Ozzie Smith Gold Glove Bobblehead presented by Ameren Missouri (July 19^th), a wearable adult replica 1940’s Red Schoendienst Jersey sponsored by Delta Air Lines (July 20^th), as well as a one-of-a-kind Replica Musial Bronze Statue – just like the one displayed outside of the Busch Stadium Team Store – courtesy of Edward Jones (July 21^st). Fans will even receive Fredbird-themed giveaway items at his first-ever Birthday Bash Weekend in August, including a Team Canvas Print presented by Coke Zero (August 23^rd), Fredbird Kids Cap sponsored by Ice Mountain (August 24^th) and Build-A-Bear Workshop Fredbird stuffed bear (August 25^th).

Tickets for many of the 2013 promotional item game dates are already available by purchasing one of several specially tailored ticket packs themed around the promotional items. Highlighted ticket packs include the Bobblehead Pack, featuring all four of the 2013 bobblehead collection and the Jersey Pack containing all six of the replica jersey giveaways this season. All Cardinals Ticket Packs are on sale now at the team’s website, cardinals.com/packs.

 

 

 

Again this season, all Friday night home games are Budweiser Bash Fridays (formerly Busch Bash) with past and present Cardinals players, music, games and prizes in the Ford Plaza starting two hours prior to the game. All Sunday games are Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sundays where fans can enjoy fun, games and North Star frozen treats in the Ford Plaza starting two hours prior to the game. Also returning for 2013 is the fan-favorite, Ice Mountain Autograph Night series. On five dates throughout the season, fans, ages 20 and under, can get current player autographs before the game, and all fans can get autographs from former players.

Below is a complete listing of the season’s fun-filled events and promotions, with additional details and photographs being posted at the team’s website, cardinals.com/promotions as they become available.

 

2013 Promotional Schedule

 

MAGNET SCHEDULE (BUSCH BEER)

Monday, April 8 vs. Cincinnati, 3:15
Fans, ages 21 and older
Whether home or on the road, keep track of your Cardinals games with a convenient 2013 schedule magnet, compliments of Busch Beer.

 

STAN MUSIAL HARMONICA

Friday, April 12 vs. Milwaukee, 7:15
Fans, ages 16 and older
Take this one-of-a-kind collectible home and try to master “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” just like Stan the Man.

 

ADULT REPLICA ALTERNATE JERSEY (LUMIERE CASINO)

Saturday, April 13 vs. Milwaukee, 3:15
25,000 Fans, ages 21 and older
The players aren’t the only ones who get to wear the new Cardinals jersey this summer. Thanks to Lumiere Casino, fans at this game can take home a replica alternate jersey.

 

MOLINA REPLICA GOLD AND PLATINUM GLOVE AWARD (RAWLINGS)

Sunday, April 14 vs. Milwaukee, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Rawlings is sending fans home with a replica of Yadier Molina’s gold and platinum glove award. This item is sure to stand out in your Cardinals collection!

 

2006 REPLICA WORLD SERIES RING (SCOTTS)

Friday, April 26 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:15
All fans entering with a ticket
Relive the excitement of the 2006 World Series! Fans at this game will collect their very own wearable 2006 World Championship replica ring, courtesy of Scotts.

 

RAWLINGS ALLEN CRAIG BAT (RAWLINGS)

Saturday, April 27 vs. Pittsburgh, 3:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
Hit like the pros and Cardinals slugger, Allen Craig, with a 28” Rawlings bat.

 

CARLOS BELTRAN BOBBLEHEAD (FIRST NATIONAL BANK)

Sunday, April 28 vs. Pittsburgh, 1:15
25,000 Fans entering with a ticket
Calling all bobblehead collectors! Carlos Beltran is ready to join your collection. Thanks to First National Bank, fans of all ages can take this right fielder’s bobblehead home.

 

“LADIES WEEKEND”

Friday, May 10, Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 (Mother’s Day)
The first homestand in May is a weekend fit for the female fans. Pre-game entertainment, activities and giveaway items are sure to please the ladies of Cardinal Nation.

 

REPLICA WOMENS MIKE MATHENY JERSEY (AT&T)

Saturday, May 11 vs. Colorado, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
AT&T will provide 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older, with a women’s Mike Matheny jersey at this Saturday game of Ladies’ Weekend.

 

LADIES FLOPPY SUN HAT (DIET COKE AND SCHNUCKS)

Sunday, May 12 vs. Colorado, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Diet Coke and Schnucks are excited to give fans this one-of-a kind Cardinals sun hat. It’s a sure fire way to stay shaded when you’re enjoying a game at Busch Stadium.

 

ADULT CAP (U.S. CELLULAR)

Friday, May 17th vs. Milwaukee, 7:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Show off your Cardinals spirit in style with this trendy baseball cap, courtesy of U.S. Cellular, the Official Wireless Provider of the Cardinals.

 

PENNANT (COCA COLA/PASTA HOUSE)

Saturday, May 18 vs. Milwaukee, 6:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
Coca Cola and Pasta House are proud to provide kids, ages 15 and younger, with a Cardinals pennant and coupon, valid at The Pasta House.

 

HIGH SPORTS SOCKS

Sunday, May 19 vs. Milwaukee, 1:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
“High Socks Sunday” is popular with Cardinals players and has become a fan favorite over the past seasons. Kids, ages 15 and younger, will receive their very own pair of high sports socks at this Sunday game.

 

DRAWSTRING BAG (MLB NETWORK)

Thursday, May 30 vs. Kansas City, 7:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
MLB Network wants you to gear up for the season with a drawstring bag to bring to and from each Cardinals game while always keeping up with your baseball news on MLB Network.

 

“RITZ KICKOFF TO SUMMER WEEKEND”

Friday, May 31, Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2 vs. San Francisco
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
A weekend full of fun for kids and families, presented by Ritz! Friday, Saturday and Sunday, all kids will receive a free ticket to a future home game.

 

FIREWORKS NIGHT

Friday, May 31 vs. San Francisco, 7:15
The Cardinals are proud to present Fireworks Night at Busch Stadium. Bring the entire family to watch the Cards take on the reigning World Champion San Francisco Giants in an NLCS rematch. Stay in your seat after the game to watch a dazzling fireworks display with the St. Louis Arch as the backdrop.

 

KIDS REPLICA MOLINA BATTING PRACTICE JERSEY (POWERADE/SHOP ‘N SAVE)

Saturday, June 1 vs. San Francisco, 6:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
Gear up for Cardinals games and support Cardinals catcher, Yadier Molina with a replica batting practice jersey, just like the one he wears, courtesy of Powerade and Shop ‘n Save.

 

SIX FLAGS DAY

Sunday, June 2 vs. San Francisco, 1:15
Kids, 48” and under
What a great way to start summer! Kids, 48” inches and under, receive a free ticket to Six Flags valid Monday – Friday through Sunday July 5^th.

 

FAMILY ATTRACTIONS CARD DAY

Sunday, June 2 vs. San Francisco, 1:15
Kids, 48” and under
The Family Attractions card offers thousands in savings at local area attractions, restaurants and lodging – perfect for families looking for lots of summer fun and activities.

 

1926 CHAMPIONSHIP BEER STEIN (BUDWEISER)

Friday June 21 vs. Texas, 7:15
25,000 Fans, ages 21 and older
Budweiser is bringing fans, ages 21 and older, the third stein in the Championship series, highlighting the Cardinals very first World Series win in 1926.

 

PURINA POOCHES IN THE BALLPARK

Saturday, June 22 vs. Texas, 6:15
Fans, only with a special ticket, will be allowed to bring their dog to a designated section of the ballpark. Stay tuned for information regarding a pre-game full of activities to get your tail wagging.

 

PET FOOD BOWL MAT (PURINA)

Saturday, June 22 vs. Texas, 6:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Don’t forget your furry friends! 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older, will receive a Cardinals food bowl mat to keep your pet’s feeding area nice and tidy.

 

REPLICA 2011 WORLD SERIES GAME 7 TICKET

Sunday June 23 vs. Texas, 1:15
25,000 Fans entering with a ticket
25,000 fans will receive this one-of-a-kind replica ticket from Game 7 of the 2011 World Series.

 

MIKE SHANNON BOBBLEHEAD with VOICE CHIP

Friday, July 5 vs. Miami, 7:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
“Get Up Baby!” It’s time to add Mike Shannon to your bobblehead collection. Take home the voice of Cardinals baseball with this unique voice-chipped bobblehead.

 

ADULT HOLLIDAY REPLICA JERSEY (TICKETS.COM)

Saturday, July 6 vs. Miami, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Make sure you get your ticket for this game against Miami. Tickets.com and the St. Louis Cardinals are giving fans, 16 and older, a Matt Holliday replica jersey.

 

PORCH FLAG (AT&T)

Sunday, July 7 vs. Miami, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older and Rawlings
Show off your Cardinals spirit from the comfort of your own home. Sponsored by AT&T, this Cardinals flag is the perfect addition to any fan’s front porch.

 

“HALL OF FAME WEEKEND” presented by EDWARD JONES

Friday, July 19, Saturday, July 20 and Sunday July 21 vs. San Diego
Commemorative items all weekend long, highlighting some of St. Louis’ most popular Hall of Famers.

OZZIE SMITH GOLD GLOVE BOBBLEHEAD (AMEREN MISSOURI)

Friday, July 19 vs. San Diego, 7:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Pick up a ticket to this game to receive a bobblehead honoring Hall of Famer, Ozzie Smith, and his 13 Gold Glove awards. This bobblehead, presented by Ameren Missouri, is one you don’t want to miss!

 

ADULT REPLICA 1940’S RED SCHOENDIENST JERSEY (DELTA AIR LINES)

Saturday, July 20 vs. San Diego, 6:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
A replica 1940’s Red Schoendienst jersey is just what any longtime Cardinals fan needs in their jersey collection. Thanks to Delta Air Lines, it’s just what they’ll get at this game against the Padres.

 

MUSIAL REPLICA BRONZE STATUE (EDWARD JONES)

Sunday, July 21 vs. San Diego, 1:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
Continue your collection of the Cardinals bronze statue series with this one-of-a-kind replica of Hall of Famer Stan Musial, just like the one displayed on the corner of 8th and Clark.

 

“FREDBIRD’S BIRTHDAY BASH WEEKEND”

Friday, August 23, Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25 vs. Atlanta
Come celebrate Fredbird’s Birthday all weekend long with activities for the kids and special promotional items featuring Fredbird.

 

TEAM CANVAS PRINT (COKE ZERO)

Friday, August 23 vs. Atlanta, 7:15
25,000 Fans entering with a ticket
Add this canvas print of the team photo to your Cardinals cave! 25,000 fans will receive this item, courtesy of Coke Zero.

 

FREDBIRD KIDS CAP (ICE MOUNTAIN)

Saturday, August 24 vs. Atlanta, 6:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
The kids of Cardinal Nation will love sporting their beloved mascot right on their head. Ice Mountain and the St. Louis Cardinals will give 12,000 kids, ages 15 and younger, the unique cap at this Saturday game.

 

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP FREDBIRD

Sunday, August 25 vs. Atlanta, 1:15
12,000 kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
The Build-A-Bear Workshop works overtime to make sure that 12,000 of our young Cardinals fans take home their very own stuffed Fredbird bear.

 

ADULT REPLICA 1980’S WILLIE McGEE JERSEY

Saturday, September 7 vs. Pittsburgh, 6:15
25,000 Fans, ages 16 and older
This 1980’s Willie McGee replica jersey is sure to spice up your Cardinals closet. The throwback look never goes out of style at Busch Stadium.

 

CARDINALS PENNANT (COCA COLA /PASTA HOUSE)

Sunday, September 8 vs. Pittsburgh, 1:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
Kids, ages 15 and younger, will receive a collectible Cardinals pennant, compliments of Coca Cola and Pasta House.

 

MIKE MATHENY BOBBLEHEAD (COCA COLA/DIERBERGS)

Friday, September 13 vs. Seattle, 7:15
25,000 Fans entering with a ticket
Coca Cola and Dierbergs proudly present the Mike Matheny catcher bobblehead. 25,000 fans will receive this collectible honoring Matheny’s playing days from behind the plate for the St. Louis Cardinals.

 

PHOTO DAY (CREVE COEUR CAMERA)

Saturday, September 14 vs. Seattle, 6:15
Prior to the game, fans will be allowed on the field to get up-close and personal photos of their favorite players, coaches and Fredbird. Field access is on a first-come, first-served basis. Weather permitting.

 

SIX FLAGS DAY

Sunday, September 15 vs. Seattle, 1:15
Kids, ages 15 and younger entering with a ticket
As summer is winding down, kids, 48” inches and under, have one last chance to receive a free ticket to Six Flags valid any Sunday through October 27^th.

 

FAN APPRECIATION WEEKEND

Friday, September 27^th, Saturday, September 28^th and Sunday, September 29 vs. Chicago

 

2014 SCHEDULE (SHELTER INSURANCE)

Sunday, September 29 vs. Chicago, 1:15
All Fans
Cardinals fans can start planning ahead to the summer of 2014. During the last regular season game of 2013, Shelter Insurance will give every fan a schedule for the Cardinals 2014 season.

 

COMPLIMENTARY 2014 TICKET VOUCHER

Sunday, September 29 vs. Chicago, 1:15
All Fans
All fans will receive a free ticket to a 2014 Cardinals regular season game.

 

BUDWEISER BASH FRIDAYS

All Fridays, starting two hours prior to every home game, enjoy music, fun, prizes and past and present Cardinals players in the Ford Plaza, sponsored by Budweiser.

 

Prairie Farms ICE CREAM SUNDAYS

All Sundays, starting two hours prior to every home game, enjoy free North Star ice cream (while supplies last) in the Ford Plaza.

 

Prairie Farms RUN THE BASES

On the following days, kids 15 and under will be allowed to run the bases after the Cardinals game (weather permitting):

Saturday, April 27 vs. Pittsburgh, 3:15

Sunday, May 19 vs. Milwaukee, 1:15

Sunday, June 2 vs. San Francisco, 1:15

Sunday, July 7 vs. Miami, 1:15

Sunday, August 25 vs. Atlanta, 1:15

Sunday, September 15 vs. Seattle, 1:15

 

Ice Mountain AUTOGRAPH NIGHTS

Fans, ages 20 and under, can get current player autographs before the game from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Then from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. all fans can get autographs from former players, on the following dates:

Wednesday, May 15 vs. New York, 7:15

Wednesday, June 5 vs. Arizona, 7:15

Wednesday, July 10 vs. Houston, 7:15

Wednesday, August 7 vs. LA Dodgers, 7:15

Wednesday, August 28 vs. Cincinnati, 7:15

Great Clips CHARITY HAIRCUTS

All fans will be able to get a haircut, with all proceeds going to Cardinals Care, on the following dates:

Thursday, April 10 vs. Cincinnati, 12:45

Thursday, May 1 vs. Cincinnati, 12:45

Tuesday, May 16 vs. New York, 12:45

Thursday, August 15 vs. Pittsburgh, 12:45

Thursday, September 25 vs. Washington, 12:45

All Star Celebrity Softball Game Rosters Announced
Game Will Be Televised Immediately Following the State Farm Home Run Derby on ESPN on July 9^th

The 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game on ESPN will feature star-studded talent from music, television and sports alongside former Kansas City Royals greats and Baseball Hall of Famers on July 8^th at Kauffman Stadium.

“Modern Family” Emmy Award winner and Kansas City native Eric Stonestreet; Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel; and University of Kansas Men’s Basketball Head Coach Bill Self are scheduled to participate alongside Golden Globe winner and “Mad Men” star Jon Hamm; Chord Overstreet from “Glee”; American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart; “Desperate Housewives” actor James Denton; captain of the US National Soccer team Carlos Bocanegra; actor and comedian Horatio Sanz; country music artist David Nail; American Idol winner, David Cook, who used to work at the Stadium Club in Kauffman Stadium; reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones; Paul Dimeo from “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”; and USA Softball’s Gold Medalist hurler Jennie Finch.

Past MLB stars also are schedule to participate, including former Royals greats George Brett, Bo Jackson and Mike Sweeney plus Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield as well as perennial All-Stars Joe Carter and Mike Piazza.

The Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game features Major League Baseball legends with celebrities from TV, movies and music, and is the second game of a fun doubleheader of activity at Kauffman Stadium during Taco Bell All-Star Sunday.  Preceding the softball game will be the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at 5:00 p.m. Eastern, featuring some of MLB’s best young prospects from the U.S. and around the world.  Current Royals players Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Alex Gordon are among the many young stars in baseball who have played in this game, including Justin Verlander, Prince Fielder and Joey Votto.

Following the softball game, the skies above Kauffman Stadium will be lit by a spectacular fireworks show to cap off Taco Bell All-Star Sunday.

The Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game will be televised by ESPN at approximately 10:30 p.m. Eastern immediately following the State Farm Home Run Derby which begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday, July 9th. The Game will also be available on ESPN3.com, ESPN Mobile TV and via the WatchESPN app.

For more information, go to www.allstargame.com.

The St. Louis Cardinals confirmed Thursday that Yadier Molina will be the franchise’s catcher for at least the next five seasons, marking the second time the team has kept the best defensive player in the game.

The Cardinals signed Molina to a $75 million contract extension that will keep him in St. Louis until at least 2017. However, unlike most big-money contracts dished out around the league these days, Molina will receive the bulk of that money because of his glove, not his bat.

Molina’s deal also harkens back to the 1980s when the Cardinals paid a shortstop named Ozzie Smith to often-miraculously cover the middle of the infield. Smith never made more than $3.5 million in a single year, but that is more because of the different eras than because of talent. From 1978 to 1996, $3.5 million was still considered a lot of money, especially for someone with a .262 career batting average.

During his career, Smith reshaped how defensive players were valued. He averaged just two homeruns during his 19-year career, but he saved countless runs with his dazzling glovework.

Sure, other eras also had terrific defensive players, but Smith made defense exciting to watch. The crowd at Busch Stadium would actually cheer when a ball was hit toward Smith’s shortstop position because there was a pretty good chance it might be the most memorable moment of the game.

Molina is the same way behind the plate. He’s not the first catcher to receive a big contract. Catchers such as Joe Mauer, Jorge Posada and Mike Piazza also received huge paydays, but the difference between those catchers and Molina is how well they hit. Each of the three previously mentioned players were paid because of what they could do standing next to the plate more than what they could do behind it.

That’s not the case with Molina. He has a .274 career batting average and hits about nine homeruns each season. But, he leads a pitching staff as well as anybody and has gunned down 44 percent of the baserunners who dare to try and steal second base when Molina is in the game.

Molina gets a similar reaction at Busch Stadium III when he throws out a baserunner as Smith did at Busch Stadium II for making a diving play or leaping grab.

Defense is often undervalued in Major League Baseball. Teams pay more for homerun hitters because the stats are more black and white. A batting average will show how good a hitter is, but fielding percentage is much more subjective and misses a large part of the defensive game. Sure, there are new defensive sabermetrics coming out each year, but defense is still tougher to value than offense.

Given the holes in the statistics, defensive prowess must be defined by observation. Regardless of how many baserunners Molina throws out, the intangibles he brings to the field are vital to the success of the team. He is the lynchpin that holds the team together, even more so than Pujols when he was a Cardinal.

Smith was the same way. He played on all three of the Cardinals World Series teams in the 1980s and provided stability at one of the most important positions on the field.

Cardinals fans should appreciate watching Molina play defense. It is an art form that is often overlooked until it is gone.
Defense will likely never be valued as much as offense, but players such as Molina and Smith show that terrific defense wins a lot of ballgames, and quite a few championships, as well.

St Louis Cardinals fans rejoice in Ozzie Smith’s return to the spring training fold.  Seeing the older but still fit Wizard in uniform brings back fond memories of his 15 seasons in the St Louis infield.  Twenty-five years ago, during the last of Whitey Herzog’s runs to the World Series, Ozzie enjoyed his finest season along the banks of the Mississippi.

The Cardinals entered the 1987 season as a question mark.  For the second time in the decade they had followed up a World Series appearance with a sub-.500 season.  No one expected them to challenge the New York Mets for NL East supremancy; the 1986 World Champs were coming off an 108-win season and looked like a budding dynasty.  Over the first week of the 1987 season, that future appeared to be today, as the Mets won six of their first 8 while St Louis stumbled out of the blocks.  The Cardinals were two games back of New York when the Mets came to town for an early 3-game series.

New York did not roll over the Cardinals on their way to the post-season.  Instead, St Louis swept the Mets, and rarely looked back.  They never trailed by more than a game in April and early May, took sole possession of first place permanently on 22 May, led by 9 games at the All-Star Break, and won their third NL East title in 6 years.

In the middle of this Cardinal resurrection was Ozzie, who had the best offensive year of his career.  It was the only year he hit over .300 (.303).  He set career highs in OBP (.392), hits (182), doubles (40), RBI (75), runs scored (104), stolen bases (43), walks (89), and total bases (230).

Those career highs compared favorably with the rest of the league.  He finished eighth in batting average, eighth in runs, third in hits, second in doubles, sixth in walks, seventh in stolen bases, and was fourth in at bats per strikeout. He was the only player in the top 10 of all those categories.   By Baseball Reference’s calculations, his WAR of 7.1 was fifth-best in the NL, behind Tony Gwynn, Eric Davis, Dale Murphy, and Orel Hershiser.  Broken into categories, his offensive WAR was seventh, his defensive WAR third.

As seemed to be the trend with those 1980s Cardinals teams, they quit hitting in the post-season.  In years past Smith had hit in the NLCS but struggled in the World Series, but in 1987 he struggled in both.  Ozzie hit only .207  combined (11 for 53) that October, and although St Louis rode home-field advantage and superior starting pitching to the NL pennant, they were bested by Minnesota in the Fall Classic.

Ozzie had some good years after that, and some years with better power numbers, but he never quite reached the heights he had in 1987.

It’s a shame he and Tony LaRussa could never find common ground, and that LaRussa had to retire before Ozzie was willing to come back to Spring Training.  Although it’s not the same without Don Tony, the team is better with Ozzie teaching the finer points of middle infield defense to a new generation of Cardinal players.

Welcome back, Ozzie.

The St. Louis Cardinals opened Spring Training camp Saturday with a markedly different cast compared to the past 16 seasons.

Former manager Tony La Russa wasn’t in Jupiter, Fla., this weekend to lead a new group of Cardinals through their calisthenics and everything that comes with the first few weeks of Spring Training. Instead, La Russa retired days after winning the World Series, and he will now help out his buddy Jim Leyland and the Detroit Tigers.

As La Russa moves on to do whatever he wants during his retirement, Cardinals camp will start to look a lot more like it did in the decades before La Russa showed up in 1996.

Most notably, Whitey Herzog and Ozzie Smith will be at camp to help out the current group of Cardinals. That should be a welcome sight to Cardinals fans.

Even though La Russa won baseball games for the Cardinals (1,408 to be exact), he didn’t always have a good relationship with important members of Cardinals history. Smith played his final season in 1996 for La Russa, but the two developed a frosty relationship as La Russa tried to install Royce Clayton as the new shortstop to replace Smith.

Smith hasn’t been at a Cardinals Spring Training camp since.

This isn’t to say La Russa discarded the history and tradition of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was well aware of how important the history of the franchise is to the community and even pushed to bring the Budweiser Clydesdales back to Busch Stadium to circle the field as they did back when Gussie Busch owned the team.

La Russa also kept former second baseman and manager Red Schoendienst on staff as an assistant both in Spring Training and during the season. And, La Russa chafed at the idea of passing Schoendienst on the all-time win list for Cardinals managers, even though he eventually surpassed Schoendienst’s mark by nearly 400 wins.

Still, La Russa always had his own way of doing things, and his methods often did not include advice from other Cardinals heroes. But, this year Herzog, Smith, Schoendienst, Lou Brock and Bob Gibson are all expected to be central figures in Cardinals Spring Training camp under new manager Mike Matheny.

In addition, former centerfielder Jim Edmonds will return to the team as an instructor for Spring Training and former closer Ryan Franklin will be an assistant to general manger John Mozeliak.

Edmonds’ return to the team as an instructor surely wouldn’t have happened if La Russa was still the manager. Although Edmonds and La Russa had a great run together during the 2000s, their relationship soured once the Cardinals traded Edmonds to the San Diego Padres following the 2007 season and he eventually ended up with the hated Chicago Cubs.

This season was going to be the beginning of a new era in Cardinals history regardless of how Matheny set up camp, but it is nice to see some of the Cardinals legends wear the red jersey with the birds on the bat logo across their chest.

So as the doors to 2012 Spring Training open, hopefully this year’s team adds to the impressive history set forth by many of the people who will lend a helping hand for the next six weeks.

In sports, music, and entertainment, legends come along every so often that need only a first name. The Babe, Pele, Madonna (or Lady Gaga’s mom as many of my friends commented during the Super Bowl), Usher, Prince, P Diddy/Daddy/Dandy or whatever the latest name is. If we are talking about basketball and I say “MJ”, you immediately know who I am referring to. If we are talking music, and I say “MJ” you know immediately who I mean.

In sports, those one-name figures cast a shadow so large that it takes a long time before it feels right to watch anyone else play “their” position on “their” team. I was flipping through the channels just the other day, and stopped on the Chicago Bulls game for just a few minutes. Derrick Rose is one of the NBA’s best players, no question about it. For me, it still just does not feel right watching a Bulls superstar not named Michael, even though he has not worn a Bulls jersey since 1996.

In Cardinal Nation, there is a larger-than-life player that also walked away from the game in 1996. He also needs only one name to be remembered; of course I am talking about Ozzie. Ozzie (Smith) was Rookie of the Year in 1978, won an astounding 13-straight Gold Gloves from 1980-1992, played in 15 All-Star Games, was runner-up MVP in 1987 despite not hitting one home run, and was eventually voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In what I consider the most telling stat, Ozzie led the team in WAR (wins above replacement) each season from 1983-1995 (check out Derek Goold’s piece for a great read on this). No other Cardinal has led the team in WAR that many consecutive seasons.

*Quick sidenote: Just as a means of showing the effect of inflation and free-agency on the game, Ozzie made $31.5M during his 15 seasons with the Cardinals.

More than incredible stats, he was the face of the Whiteyball era, and provided 15 years of excellent shortstop play that has not been matched since. He was the back-flip to start the game. He was the guy that kept you glued to the TV not knowing just what he might do next. It still does not feel quite right to me watching anyone else play shortstop for the Cardinals. It takes time to fill the shoes of the legend…actually that is not correct…it takes time to be OK with them not being filled. Ozzie’s shadow still looms large.

This article will look briefly at Ozzie’s career, the shortstops since Ozzie, and what we can reasonably expect from the shortstop position this season with Rafael Furcal as the starter.

During Ozzie’s 15 years with the Cardinals, he had 1944 hits, 644 RBIs, 433 SBs, and a .272 BA. He was the perfect offensive spark during the Whiteyball era of manufacuring runs. Let’s take 1995 and 1996 (age 40 and 41 seasons) out of the equation for a minute and look at average production between 1982-1994.

During those years Ozzie averaged the following line per season:

Ozzie Smith 1982-1994

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

521      72     25    4      2        49      32    64   .273

While these are good offensive numbers, he would not be a Hall-of-Famer simply based on this offensive production alone.

Average WAR 1982-94: 4.42      Total WAR 1982-94: 57.5

WAR by Season

1982: 4.0   1983: 3.0   1984: 4.4   1985: 5.7   1986: 5.3   1987: 7.1   1988: 5.5   1989: 6.3   1990: 2.8   1991: 4.7   1992: 4.3

1993: 2.5   1994: 1.9

WAR factors in defensive play (runs saved above replacement level), and Ozzie’s D was a huge factor in his outstanding WAR levels during his Cardinal years. Only once since he retired has a Cardinal shortstop (Edgar Renteria 2003) had a season WAR higher than Ozzie’s average WAR as a Cardinal. No Cardinal shortstop has topped his season total of 7.1 in 1987. That is impressive.

Here are the season averages for shortstops post-Ozzie. If they were the primary starter all year, only their stats will be measured. If multiple players started a significant number of games, their numbers will be combined for the year(s) being measured. All stat lines are an average per season of the year(s) measured.

Royce Clayton 1997

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

576     75      39    5      9         61     30   33   .266

WAR: 2.6

Royce Clayton, Luis Ordaz, David Howard 1998

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

546      83      25    2      6        49     21    64   .214

WAR: -1.5

Edgar Renteria 1999-2004

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

560      83      35    2     12      75      25   51   .290

Average WAR 1999-2004: 3.0      Total WAR 1999-2004: 18

WAR by Season

1999: 1.4   2000: 2.2   2001: 1.2   2002: 4.2   2003: 6.5   2004: 2.5

David Eckstein 2005-2006

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

565      79      22    4     5         42     9      43    .293

Average WAR 2005-2006: 3.2      Total WAR 2005-2006: 6.4

WAR by Season

2005: 4.2   2006: 2.2

David Eckstein, Brendan Ryan 2007

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

614      88      32     0     7        43      17   39   .302

WAR: 3.2

Cesar Izturis, Brendan Ryan 2008

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

611       80     19     3      1        34      31   45    .264

WAR: 1.8

Brendan Ryan, Julio Lugo, Tyler Greene 2009

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

646       88     33     11    7       57     23   45    .277

WAR: 3.9

Brendan Ryan, Tyler Greene 2010

AB        R       2B    3B   HR    RBI    SB   BB   Avg

543     64     24     3      3         46     22   46    .223

WAR: 1.4

Ryan Theriot, Nick Punto, Daniel Descalso, Rafael Furcal 2011

2011 saw each of these four guys start at shortstop at some point. Everyone but Descalso saw significant playing time at another infield position so short of going through 162 box scores, there is no easy way to split out production from shortstop position for 162 games. For the sake of this article, we will look at the WAR totals for each of the four players that manned the position at some point

Theriot 2011 WAR: 0.00    NIck Punto 2011 WAR: 1.5   Descalso 2011 WAR: 1.2   Furcal 2011 WAR: 1.4

The numbers above show the Cardinals have not received anywhere near the production at shortstop they had during the Ozzie years. Save a couple of Renteria’s seasons and one of Eckstein’s, the Cardinals shortstops have produced at average to below-average levels.

Cardinal fans hope that changes in 2012. Reversing that trend falls on the shoulders of Rafael Furcal. He will have the opportunity to be the everyday shortstop this season, and gives the Cardinals a prototypical leader hitter they have not had in a number of years.

While Furcal will certainly not be Ozzie this year (age 34 season), he does provide hope for good, consistent play that is long overdue at shortstop. If he can stay healthy and approach career norms, he could give the Cardinals better production at the position than they have since 2003. Going back to Furcal’s rookie season of 2000, he has posted the following WAR totals in seasons where he has been healthy:

2000: 3.6   2002: 2.1   2003: 4.9   2004: 2.6   2005: 5.9   2006: 3.0   2007:  1.3   2009: 2.4   2010:  3.8  

A return to 2010 production would exceed the average of the Renteria, Eckstein, and Clayton years. A return to 2005 production, while very unlikely at age 34, would be the best season for a Cardinal shortstop since 2003 and 1989 before that.

Ozzie’s shadow still looms large over the Cardinal shortstop position. He was a once-in-a-generation shortstop. We may never see another like him wear the birds on the bat. But there is hope at shortstop for the 2012 season. There is also a kid by the name of Ryan Jackson that will be at Memphis this year. He is pretty darn good, and will have his chance to be the shortstop of the future. Ozzie’s shoes can never be filled. Furcal and Jackson, however, could be a significant upgrade over what the Cardinals have seen for the last 15 seasons.

For those of you who consider yourselves to be “big”Cardinals fans, I have a challenge for you: Name the Cardinals’ starting shortstops over the past 4 seasons. It doesn’t sound like a hard question, but I myself could not come up with all of them without doing a little research. It’s not a trick question, I’m not including any one-day minor league call-ups here, I’m simply asking for the names of the players who’ve been given a legitimate opportunity to claim the starting job as their own. I’ll give you a hint: since World Series MVP David Eckstein left town following the 2007 season, there’s been EIGHT of them…and that’s exactly what makes the question so hard to answer. Eight different starting shortstops over the past four seasons for a franchise that had only four different starters at that position over the previous 25 years: Ozzie Smith (’82-’96), Royce Clayton (’96-’98), Edgar Renteria (’99-’04), and David Eckstein (’05-’07). It’s hard to believe, really.

We’ll get to the answer of the question in a little bit, but first I want to look at a different question: “Who is going to be the Cardinals’ starting shortstop in 2012?” There are plenty of options, and some are better than others, but for a team needing some stability up the middle, it’ll be interesting to see who gets the job. Let’s take a closer look at some of the options.

Raefael Furcal
Rafael Furcal battled through injuries most of the season, but provided a big jolt to the Cardinals’ offense. He had a disappointing World Series at the plate, but had several key hits in the Cardinals’ frantic playoff run and in the NLDS and NLCS. Furcal just turned 34 years old, and has seen his stolen base total plummet over the past four seasons. Furcal is exceptional in the field defensively, and though his batting average was only .231 this year, he typically hits around .280 and draws a decent amount of walks. He also blended well with the other Cardinals’ players and helped the team to a World Series title. It remains unclear whether the Cardinals plan on keeping Furcal, who’s now a free agent.

Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins is the most interesting free agent shortstop on the market now that Jose Reyes has signed with the Miami Marlins. Defensively, Rollins is sound like Furcal, committing just 7 errors last season at short. Rollins is a year younger than Furcal, and also brings a little more power to the plate… but those numbers have faded a bit, and it’s important to keep in mind that Citizen’s Bank Park is one of the friendliest hitter’s parks in the league. Rollins carries a .268 career batting average, and has never hit .300+ for a season. The perception is that Rollins will be the most expensive shortstop on the market, so it’s unclear whether the Cardinals’ management team thinks he’d be worth significantly more money than Furcal

Ryan Theriot
Theriot is a decent hitter who brings a little power and didn’t strike out much last season, but his he has to hit better than .271 to make up for his deficiencies on defense. Theriot had 17 errors in just 91 games last season, and doesn’t have the range that Rollins and Furcal have. Theriot will be 32 years old heading into the 2012 season.

Tyler Greene
If Tyler Greene is the starting shortstop for St. Louis next season, I will be shocked. Is he an inexpensive stop-gap while the team looks for a long term solution at short…yes… but he has done nothing at the big league level to show he’s ready to take over the everyday starting job. Greene’s defense and offense have struggled, and at 28, he just may not be everyday big league material.

By all accounts, the Cardinals send one of these players out to play between second and third on Opening Day next season, but none of them appear to be long term solutions (though Rollins would likely sign for a few years). With that in mind, it’s time to go back to our original question: “Can you name all eight of the Cardinals’ starting shortstops over the past four seasons?” We’ve already named three of them in Furcal, Theriot, and Greene. We’re missing Brendan Ryan, Julio Lugo, Felipe Lopez, Cesar Izturis, and Khalil Greene. If you knew them all off the top of your head, I’m thoroughly impressed. Let’s just hope this question doesn’t become even harder in the years to come.

Friday night I was sitting in the bleachers at Busch Stadium watching the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Texas Rangers in Game 7 of the 2011 World Series for their 11th championship in franchise history.

File that one under “Sentences I never thought I’d write in a million years.”

Going to a St. Louis Cardinals game is a special thing whether it’s Opening Day, some mid-July Sunday afternoon roaster, or a postseason game for the ages. The reason? All you have to do is look around, whether inside or outside Busch, and it becomes clear: A Tradition of Greatness. Outside you’re greeted by statues immortalizing the franchise’s—and some of Major League Baseball’s—all-time best. Stan Musial, Jack Buck, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, and others…they define professional baseball because of their accomplishments, and it all happened representing the St. Louis Cardinals. Even while cruising past the upper levels of Busch on Interstate 64/US 40, the biggest numbers visible from the road aren’t the ones on the speed limit sign or some billboard; they’re the World and League Championship years plastered on the side of the stadium. Inside, it’s more of the same: retired numbers and/or championship pennants catch every sight line.

All this entered my mind as I strolled through the gates in left center field before Game 7—and not just because it was what I saw. It was more like something I anticipated, or sensed almost in a gut feeling kind of way: another chapter in the extraordinary history of the St. Louis Cardinals was about to be written right before our eyes.

It isn’t unusual to run into random friends at a ballgame, but Game 7 isn’t just “a ballgame”–it’s the ballgame. Whether it’s a season ticket holder you see at almost every game or someone you knew from high school, the exchange is just a little more meaningful. The hugs were a little tighter; the handshakes were a little warmer. And the first thing said was usually something like “Can you believe we’re here?” with a smile that rivaled that of a kid on Christmas morning.

The game itself was somewhat pedestrian relative to everything that led up to it. The Rangers tacked on two runs in the first inning, and probably should have scored more. The Rangers fans that dotted the crowd were whipped into an early frenzy, and with good reason: the potential historical significance was not lost on them. Their team has never won a World Series, and they already had their initial taste of it in 2010. Chris Carpenter looked shaky, and Tony La Russa’s decision to start him on short rest was beginning to look even more questionable. If they could get some good pitching of their own and keep hammering away at an obviously off Carpenter, the pendulum could irreversibly swing their way for good. Maybe it was finally time for the Rangers to get a championship banner of their own after all these years, and beating the great St. Louis Cardinals would make it that much sweeter.

But the Cards responded in their half of the first when—who else—David Freese drove in two with yet another extra base hit. The crowd
went bonkers, of course, and in between shouts of joy and hops of excitement could be heard things like “I don’t believe this!” and “You’ve got to be kidding!” Even as it unfolded before our eyes, it still didn’t seem possible that the Cardinals were just this close to another World Championship. Really, how was it possible?

The Rangers pitched in on the answer to that question by not scoring another run in the game. To make matters worse, in the fifth inning they gave the Cardinals freebies by walking Yadier Molina with the bases loaded and then hitting Rafael Furcal with the sacks still jammed. It was quickly becoming a night where nothing went right for Texas and everything was going the Cardinals’ way. Carpenter finally found the right gear and was able to hold the Rangers scoreless for five more innings after the rough first. Allen Craig continued to make a statement by hitting a homer in the third and taking one away by catching a long fly at the top of the wall in the sixth.

After that remarkable play, countdowns started. Nine more outs to get. And every time the Rangers came up empty in their half of an inning, the fingers at the end of extended hands started folding. Eight outs to go…seven…six…it was like an extended version of waiting for the big ball to drop over Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The comparisons to holidays are extremely accurate, because this was a holiday. This was the greatest St. Louis holiday, and the crowd finally started to feel like it was an approaching freight train that couldn’t be stopped.

Before I knew it, the beats of “Lose Yourself” by Eminem were pulsating through the stadium. Jason Motte was coming in to close out Game 7 of the 2011 World Series. At that moment, it became real. We were three outs from fireworks and confetti and bedlam. The legend, that magic many of us had only seen on TV or in replays or imagined in our dreams, was finally set to go down right before our eyes.

Everything that the Cardinals accomplished in 2011 came from a place of adversity. Their ace, Adam Wainwright, was ripped from their roster before they could barely get settled in their Spring Training routines. Their closer, Ryan Franklin, imploded on Opening Day and never fully recovered, finally being released because he couldn’t live up to the value of his spot on the team. Injuries piled up. Intrigue around the contract status of Carpenter and La Russa and, most glaringly, Albert Pujols simply would not go away. The Cards managed to play well enough to lead the NL Central for a good portion of the year, but everything seemed to catch up to them at once and they found themselves out of the race. And then something happened in late August that sent this club on an irreversible trend upward. No matter how many times the bad rared up, the good beat it back. This final night of the season would be no different.

The final outs of Game 7 would not be cakewalks: ALCS hero Nelson Cruz and World Series hero Mike Napoli were due up for the
Rangers, representing two of their team’s last chances in the final frame. But they were dispatched in short order by the Cardinal defense. There was one final out separating the Cards from victory. And for one last time, in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series, the Cardinals and their fans had to hold their breath as the bad—a pretty well-struck David Murphy fly ball toward the left field corner—was once again beat back by the good in the form of Craig hauling it in to conclude what was a series and a season for the ages. And, true to the cliché, the crowd went wild.

History tells us the St. Louis Cardinals are likely to win another World Series in seven games at home. On the surface, this 2011 championship wasn’t unique to the franchise because they aren’t strangers to World Series that go the distance and end in St. Louis. But none of the previous 10 championships were won with such incredible odds staring the team down for so long. It felt like they were on the brink of elimination every day of the last nine weeks or so. That’s a lot of drama, a lot of emotion, and a lot of exhilaration. Because this St. Louis Cardinals team made plenty of mistakes along the way, but in the end they they simply would not die. They fought until the bitter end, and when the smoke cleared they found themselves on top of the baseball world once again.

It’s hard to put into words what attending Game 7 of the World Series as a fan really means. Terms like “great” and “amazing” and “unbelievable” don’t really seem to do the night justice. The event really was better than the game itself. But when a World Series championship is at stake, that’s almost a given. Regardless, it truly was the greatest night of baseball I’ve ever witnessed. And it is something I will never forget.

Chris Reed also writes for InsideSTL Mondays and Bird Brained whenever he feels like it. Follow him on Twitter at @birdbrained.

The St. Louis Cardinals find themselves one win from their 18th World Series appearance after beating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-1 Friday night to take a three games to two lead in the NLCS. The Cards got timely hits, capitalized on numerous Milwaukee mistakes, and turned in another stellar bullpen performance in the last NLCS game at Busch Stadium for 2011.

It is interesting to note that three times in the last three weeks, the Cardinals have played a home game that could have turned out to be the final game at Busch for the year. Each could also have been the final home game for Albert Pujols and/or Tony LaRussa (among others) as a Cardinal. Yet they have won each of these games, and eventually clinched some type of victory that allows this 2011 season to continue on to the next level. And they have to do it once again.

Maybe it was a nod from the baseball gods that the Cardinals won. October 14th is the anniversary of another pivotal Game 5: the 1985 NLCS. And with Ozzie Smith in the house to throw out he first pitch while Jack Buck’s golden voice set the scene over the video replay from 26 years ago, it really felt like there was no way the Cardinals could lose this game. The difference in this year’s Game 5, of course, was the absence of the heart-stopping, dramatic ending. But a win is a win, and the most unenviable position imaginable would be having to go win two games in a row in Milwaukee in order to win the series. Instead, the Cards enjoy one more “Happy Flight” that hopefully isn’t their last.

That’s not to say the Cards have no shot at winning at Miller Park. Obviously they’ve already won one game there this series and they won several there during the regular season. If nothing drastic happens, the Cardinals definitely have the better starting pitcher going in Game 6 (Edwin Jackson over Shawn Marcum) and at the very least carry a slight advantage for Game 7 (Chris Carpenter over Yovani Gallardo). And with momentum on their side, the Cards have to be the favorites—if only by a hair—to win this thing and move on to the World Series.

Had the Cardinals not given up the lead in Game 4, all the discussion about games in Milwaukee would be moot; they would have wrapped up the series Friday. But it was the Brewers who played themselves out of the game this time. They committed four errors, their pitching wasn’t very good, and they came up empty in clutch situations. As a result, their backs are against the wall for however long this series lasts.

And now, the NLCS shifts back to Milwaukee. Maybe the Cards can wrap this thing up Sunday and give everyone all the rest they need back home before the World Series starts up in St. Louis. Maybe we’ll see a go-ahead bomb from Pujols while Nyjer Morgan watches it fly over his head then throws his glove down in disgust.

Regardless, Game 5 was just another must-win game for the St. Louis Cardinals. They’re probably getting pretty used to them these days, considering every game has been a must-win since the end of August. And that’s how they should view Game 6 as well.