Trio inducted into Cardinals Hall of Fame

ST. LOUIS -- After learning that he had been one of seven modern-day players included on the Cardinals' 2018 Hall of Fame ballot this year, Vince Coleman dialed up one of his competitors.
"Did you vote for me?" Coleman said in a voicemail left for Ray Lankford.
It turns out Lankford never got the message. Coleman had the wrong number. But enough fans threw their support behind both players to send them into the Cardinals' Hall of Fame together. They were officially enshrined in a ceremony at Ballpark Village on Saturday, along with Harry Brecheen.
"You don't know how happy I am to be inducted to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame," said Coleman, who played in St. Louis from 1985-90. "It's a great organization. It's a great city. And once you have worn a Cardinal uniform, you feel like royalty. I never knew what it was like to be loved by a city until I played here in St. Louis."

Both Coleman and Lankford were elected in their first year on the ballot. Brecheen's selection was made by the Red Ribbon Committee, which annually chooses a veteran player for induction. Brecheen, who pitched 11 seasons for the Cardinals, was represented at the ceremony by his son, Steven Brecheen.
"This is just one of those wonderful experiences," Steven Brecheen said. "You live with a man, call him dad. You know he's a ballplayer, but he's still dad. … When you get to be an adult and realize what he's accomplished in his life, you realize how special he is. And then to have his peers say, 'Yes, we think he's special, too,' I can't tell you how much that means to our family that he's recognized that way."
This year's inductees were joined on stage by nine returning members of the Hall of Fame: Mike Shannon, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Willie McGee, Tony La Russa, Chris Carpenter and Whitey Herzog. The ceremony opened with a video of the late Stan Musial playing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" on his harmonica and featured a video tribute to Red Schoendienst, who passed away in June.
"I can't believe I'm finally standing here," said Lankford, the final of three to speak to the hundreds of fans packed into Ballpark Village. "This is truly, truly, truly a dream come true. Today, I proudly wear my new uniform, this red jacket. I will wear it with pride, just as I did my Cardinal jersey when I played. I'm a St. Louis Cardinal for life. … And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Both Lankford and Coleman turned emotional as they spoke about receiving their red coats. Coleman singled out Herzog, his former manager, McGee, who once let him live at his home, and Smith, who bought Coleman his first car, among those who had a significant impact in his career. Lankford recognized La Russa, his longtime manager, after being presented his red jacket by former teammates Smith and McGee.
Coleman, the National League Rookie of the Year Award winner in 1985, also used some of his time at the podium to lobby for the opportunity to return to the organization in a coaching capacity.
"I feel like that kid who ran away from home, had missing-meal cramps and was starving for love and affection," Coleman said. "Now that I'm back, I'm back politicking. I would love nothing more than to be able to share my craft, my knowledge and my skill set and be an inspiration to every kid who walks through your locker room door."
Late lineup change
José Martínez was scratched from the lineup about 90 minutes before first pitch with right hip tightness. Tyler O'Neill replaced him in right field and as the club's three-hole hitter. O'Neill entered the game slashing .310/.344/.500 in 27 games this season.
Rehab roundup
• After throwing 28 pitches in two innings on Friday for Double-A Springfield, Carlos Martínez (right shoulder strain) will come out of the bullpen again on Sunday. Interim manager Mike Shildt said Martinez's "velocity was looking good."
• Michael Wacha (left oblique strain) threw two-thirds of an inning on Saturday for Class A Advanced Palm Beach, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks in his first rehab appearance. He threw 27 pitches.
• Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) has transferred his rehab assignment to Springfield, where he'll make a two-inning start on Sunday.
• John Brebbia (right forearm tightness) and Dominic Leone (right upper arm nerve irritation) are scheduled to pitch in relief for Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.
• Yairo Muñoz (right wrist sprain) began a rehab assignment with Springfield on Saturday. He's expected to play seven innings in the game, and if all goes well, he'll play a full game on Sunday.