Retired Numbers

B-T: S-R

HT: 5-10; WT: 180

BORN: 12/26/1954 in Mobile, Ala.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1982-96

NUMBER RETIRED: 1996

CAREER:

Ozzie Smith is widely regarded as the finest fielding shortstop of all time. But, after being labeled as a good-field, no-hit performer early in his career, he developed into a bona fide offensive threat, as well.

The Cardinals acquired Smith from the San Diego Padres in exchange for shortstop Garry Templeton on Feb. 11, 1982. It proved to be one of the greatest trades in franchise history. Smith was a key element in St. Louis' success in the 1980s, and he became one of the city's most-popular citizens.

A lifetime .231 batter when he arrived in St. Louis, Smith promptly improved that figure to .248 for the 1982 season as the Cardinals won the World Series over the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1985, Smith batted at a .276 clip with a career-high six home runs and 54 RBI. He stunned the baseball world with a game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The blast – on a 1-2 pitch from reliever Tom Niedenfuer – was Smith's first as a left-handed batter in 3,009 at-bats and prompted Cardinals' broadcaster Jack Buck to exclaim, "Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!" Smith put together his finest season at the plate in 1987, with career highs of a .303 average and 75 RBI, as the Cardinals captured their third N.L. pennant in six seasons. He finished as runner-up for the Most Valuable Player Award to Andre Dawson of the Chicago Cubs.

Throughout his offensive progression, Smith seemingly made every play defensively, both the routine and the spectacular. "The Wizard" won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards between 1980 and 1992, setting a major league record with an all-time low of eight errors in 1991. Smith's most eye-popping play came Aug. 5, 1986, against the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. He took off on a short fly ball to left field hit by Von Hayes and, with his back to the plate, flew parallel to the ground and completely stretched out to make the catch. Among shortstops, Smith is baseball's career leader in assists (8,375) and ranks second in total chances (12,905) and double plays (1,590). He led the N.L. in fielding percentage seven times and had a career .978 mark. In 2007, Smith was named the shortstop on the All-Time Rawlings Gold Glove team, selected to honor the 50th anniversary of the Gold Glove Award.

Smith was selected to 15 All-Star Games and started 11 of them. At the time of his retirement following the 1996 season, he had received more votes in fan balloting for the Midsummer Classic than any other player in N.L. history (27,597,904). On the Cardinals' career lists, Smith ranks third in at-bats (7,160), walks (876) and stolen bases (433), fourth in games played (1,990), seventh in runs (991) and eighth in hits (1,944).

Held in high esteem for his civic-mindedness, Smith received the Lou Gehrig Award (presented to the player who best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig both on and off the field) in 1989, the Branch Rickey Award (in recognition of his exceptional community service) in 1994 and the Roberto Clemente Award (presented to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team) in 1995.

Smith was a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 2002, earning 92 percent of the votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America, and an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. He was voted the shortstop on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005.

B-T: S-R

HT: 6-0; WT: 170

BORN: 2/2/1923 in Germantown, Ill.

DIED: 6/6/2018 in Town and County, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1945-56, 1961-76, 1979-95

NUMBER RETIRED: 1996

CAREER:

The name Albert "Red" Schoendienst is synonymous with Cardinals baseball. After all, he wore the uniform for 45 seasons as a player, coach and manager and was involved with the organization for a total of 67 years.

It all started in 1945, when Schoendienst joined the club to fill in for left fielder Stan Musial, who was serving in the U.S. Navy. Schoendienst batted .278 with 47 RBI and a National League-leading 26 stolen bases. The following year, Musial returned to the Cardinals, and Schoendienst moved to third base and then shortstop before settling in at second base. St. Louis won the World Series over the Boston Red Sox as Schoendienst began to develop into one of the best hitting and fielding second basemen of all time.

In 1953, Schoendienst put together his finest season. He established career highs of a .342 batting average – second in the league to Carl Furrillo of the Brooklyn Dodgers (.344), 15 home runs and 79 RBI. In a surprising trade, Schoendienst was dealt to the New York Giants along with outfielder Jackie Brandt, pitcher Dick Littlefield, catcher Bill Sarni and shortstop Bobby Stephenson in exchange for shortstop Alvin Dark, catcher Ray Katt, pitcher Don Liddle and outfielder Whitey Lockman on June 14, 1956.

The following year, Schoendienst was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, who won the 1957 World Series and the 1958 N.L. pennant. He subsequently returned to St. Louis in 1961. On the Cardinals' career lists, Schoendienst ranks fourth in pinch-hits (54), fifth in at-bats (6,841); sixth in games played (1,795) and runs (1,025); seventh in hits (1,980); eighth in doubles (352); and ninth in total bases (2,657). He led the N.L. with 200 hits in 1957, and seven times he either led or tied for the league lead in fielding percentage.

Schoendienst served as a coach on the 1964 World Championship team and was named manager when Johnny Keane resigned at the conclusion of the season. Schoendienst piloted St. Louis to a World Series victory over the Red Sox in 1967 and another N.L. pennant in 1968 en route to a 12-year tenure as skipper, the longest in franchise history until Tony La Russa surpassed him in 2008. Schoendienst's 1,041 wins ranks second in franchise annals behind Tony La Russa (1,408).

A 10-time N.L. All-Star, Schoendienst socked a game-winning home run in the 14th inning of the 1950 Midsummer Classic off Ted Gray of the Detroit Tigers. It marked the switch-hitter's first career homer batting right-handed. Schoendienst later managed the Senior Circuit to victories in 1968 and 1969. After a stint as coach with the Oakland A's in 1977 and 1978, Schoendienst came back to St. Louis as a coach from 1979 to 1995. He filled in as interim manager in 1980 and 1990. From 1996 to 2018, Schoendienst served as special assistant to the general manager. Schoendienst was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989 by the Veterans Committee and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.

B-T: L-L

HT: 6-0; WT: 175

BORN: 11/21/1920 in Donora, Pa.

DIED: 1/19/2013 in Ladue, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1941-44, 1946-63

NUMBER RETIRED: 1963

CAREER:

Simply stated, Stan Musial is "The Man." Not only is he the greatest player in Cardinals history, he also is the most popular.

Musial played his entire 22-year career as an outfielder and first baseman in St. Louis. He is the franchise's career leader in virtually every batting category: games played (3,026), at-bats (10,971), runs (1,949), hits (3,630), doubles (725), triples (177), home runs (475), RBI (1,950), walks (1,605) and total bases (6,134). His .331 average is fourth behind Rogers Hornsby (.359), Johnny Mize (.336) and Joe Medwick (.335). And, despite being an everyday player most of his career, Musial ranks eighth with 35 pinch-hits. He has the most walk-off home runs in franchise history (12) and the second-most multiple homer games (37) behind Albert Pujols (42).

After initially joining the Cardinals late in 1941, Musial arrived for good the following season, beginning a stretch of 16 straight years in which he batted .300 or better. In 1943, Musial led the National League with a .357 average, 220 hits, 48 doubles and 20 triples en route to earning the first of his three Most Valuable Player awards. Musial also was named MVP in 1946 (led league with .365 average, 124 runs, 228 hits, 50 doubles and 20 triples) and 1948 (topped N.L. with .376 average, 135 runs, 230 hits, 46 doubles, 18 triples and 131 RBI). All told, the sweet-swinging left-handed batter paced the Senior Circuit in batting seven times.

A member of four World Series teams (1942, 1943, 1944 and 1946), Musial was chosen to play in 24 All-Star Games (tied for the most in major league history with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays). His six home runs are the most in Midsummer Classic annals. He won the 1955 game with a 12th-inning homer off Frank Sullivan of the Boston Red Sox at County Stadium in Milwaukee.

On May 13, 1958, Musial collected the 3,000th hit of his career with a pinch-hit double off Moe Drabowsky of the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Musial finished his career with 3,630 hits. At the time of his retirement, he held major league records for extra-base hits and total bases and N.L. marks for runs, hits, doubles and RBI. He still has the fourth-most hits in baseball history – behind Pete Rose (4,256), Ty Cobb (4,190) and Hank Aaron (3,771).

Following his playing days, Musial was a long-time senior vice-president with the Cardinals and served as general manager when they won the 1967 World Series over the Boston Red Sox.

Musial was the first player in Cardinals history to have his uniform number retired, and he was a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 1969, receiving 93 percent of the votes from the Baseball Writers Association of America. He was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century team in 1999 and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2015, Musial was voted by the fans as a member of Franchise Four, joining Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Rogers Hornsby as one of the most impactful players who best represented the history of the Cardinals.

More than anything else, the personable Musial was a great emissary for all that is good about the game of baseball. A bronze statue of Musial stands outside Busch Stadium with the following words: "Here stands baseball's perfect warrior. Here stands baseball's perfect knight." In 2010, Musial was chosen by former President Barack Obama to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor for a United States citizen.

B-T: L-R

HT: 5-9; WT: 190

BORN: 4/27/1916 in Roxboro, N.C.

DIED: 8/12/2002 in Durham, N.C.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1938-42, 1946-53

NUMBER RETIRED: 1996

CAREER:

He didn't have the nickname, but Enos Slaughter was a genuine "Charlie Hustle." Throughout his career, he was known for his all-out style of play.

Slaughter dashed into baseball immortality in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series against the Boston Red Sox. With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Slaughter led off with a single. He remained at first base as the next two batters were retired and then took off to steal second with left fielder Harry Walker at the plate. Walker stroked a double into center field, and Boston’s Leon Culberson threw the ball to shortstop Johnny Pesky. While Pesky hesitated on the relay, Slaughter kept on running, ignoring third base coach Mike Gonzalez’s stop sign and scoring what proved to be the series-deciding run.

Long before his "Mad Dash," Slaughter was a bona fide all-star. He broke into the major leagues with the Cardinals in 1938 and the next year led the National League with 52 doubles while batting .320. It was the first of four straight seasons in which Slaughter batted at a .300 clip. In 1942, he had a .318 average –second in the N.L. to Ernie Lombardi of the Boston Braves (.330) – and league-leading totals of 188 hits and 17 triples. St. Louis' outfield of Slaughter in right, Terry Moore in center and Stan Musial in left is regarded as the best in franchise history. The Cardinals won the 1942 World Championship over the New York Yankees.

After a three-year stint in the service, Slaughter returned to the Cardinals in 1949 and topped the league with 130 RBI to go with a .300 average and 18 home runs. In 1950 and 1952, Slaughter drove in 101 runs while hitting fewer than 15 home runs.

On April 11, 1954, Slaughter was traded to the Yankees for outfielder Bill Virdon, pitcher Mel Wright and minor league outfielder Emil Tellinger. Upon being told of the deal, Slaughter sat in front of his locker and cried. On the Cardinals' career lists, he ranks third in triples (135) and RBI (1,149); fourth in walks (838); fifth in games played (1,820), runs (1,071), hits (2,064) and total bases (3,138); sixth in at-bats (6,775); and seventh in doubles (366). He batted .300 in eight of his 13 seasons with the Cardinals.

Slaughter subsequently played for the Kansas City Athletics (1955-56) before returning to the Yankees (1956-59) and finishing his career with the Milwaukee Braves (1959). The Veterans Committee elected the 10-time All-Star, who was nicknamed "Country," into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, and he was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

Manager

BORN: 10/4/1944 in Tampa, FL

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1996-2011

NUMBER RETIRED: 2012

CAREER:

Tony La Russa was tantamount with winning. As manager of the Cardinals from 1996 to 2011, La Russa amassed 1,408 victories. He became the winningest manager in franchise history ON Aug. 31, 2007, surpassing Red Schoendienst with No. 1,042. La Russa also won championships in St. Louis: eight division titles, three N.L. pennants and the 2006 and 2011 World Series. All told, the Cardinals made nine postseason appearances in La Russa's 16 seasons at the helm, and his teams finished first, second or third in the N.L. Central Division 13 times.

His finest hour may have been his last. Trailing the Texas Rangers three games to two in the 2011 World Series – and twice down to their final strike in Game 6 – the Cardinals rallied to force Game 7 and went on to capture the franchise’s 11th world championship. It capped a magical two-month odyssey for the ball club, which had been staving off elimination seemingly at every turn since Aug. 25, when it trailed the N.L. wild card race by 10 1/2 games, and made the playoffs on the season’s final day.

When La Russa announced his retirement Oct. 31, 2011, his 16 years of continuous service were the most among active managers/head coaches in the four major professional sports leagues.

Prior to the Cardinals, La Russa managed the Chicago White Sox (1979-86) and Oakland A's (1986-95). Over 33 seasons, he totaled 2,728 victories, ranking third in Major League Baseball history behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763). La Russa managed 5,097 games, second to Mack (7,755).

La Russa is the only manager to win multiple pennants in both leagues and one of two to win a World Series title in both, following Sparky Anderson. La Russa's 70 postseason victories (50 with St. Louis, 19 with Oakland and 1 with Chicago) rank second to Joe Torre's 84 among big league skippers.

In Oakland, La Russa piloted the A's to four division titles, three American League pennants and the 1989 World Championship. He is the A's franchise leader with 798 wins. The 1983 White Sox won the A.L. Western Division to make their first postseason appearance in 24 years.

La Russa and Leo Durocher are the only managers in major league history to win 500 games with three different teams. La Russa was named Major League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1996; A.L. Manager of the Year in 1983, 1988 and 1992; and N.L. Manager of the Year in 2002. La Russa is the only manager to win an All-Star Game in both leagues, and he had a 4-2 record in the Midsummer Classic.

A native of Tampa, Fla., La Russa played second base, shortstop and third base in the majors for parts of six seasons with the Kansas City A’s (1963), Oakland (1968-71), Atlanta (1971) and Chicago Cubs (1973).

Nineteen years before becoming manager of the Cardinals, La Russa served as a player-coach for the organization's New Orleans Triple-A affiliate in 1977. He began his managerial career a year later in the White Sox minor league system with Double-A Knoxville.

La Russa is a 1978 graduate of the Florida State University College of Law. He passed the bar exam in 1979 and became one of five lawyer/managers in baseball history, joining Monte Ward, Hughie Jennings, Miller Huggins and Branch Rickey.

In 2014, La Russa was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. He and his wife, Elaine, are the founders of Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, which saves abandoned dogs and cats and finds them homes.

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-2; WT: 200

BORN: 5/20/1931 in Liberty, Mo.

DIED: 9/7/1982 in St. Louis, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1955-65, 1971-72, 1978-80

NUMBER RETIRED: 1984

CAREER:

Only one player in Cardinals history has hit for the cycle twice. Ken Boyer accomplished the feat Sept. 14, 1961, against the Chicago Cubs and June 16, 1964, against the Houston Colt .45s.

Boyer was a solid all-around third baseman. He hit for average and power and earned five Gold Glove Awards for his fielding prowess. From 1958 to 1963, he averaged 26 home runs and 98 RBI to go with a .304 batting average. Then in 1964, Boyer was named the National League Most Valuable Player after batting .295 with 24 homers and a league-leading 119 RBI. In the World Series against the New York Yankees, Boyer clubbed a grand slam in Game 4 to give the Cardinals a 4-3 victory and contributed three hits and three runs to help St. Louis win the seventh and deciding game, 7-5.

An N.L. All-Star in 1956 and from 1959 to 1964, Boyer hit a two-run homer in the second 1960 game at Yankee Stadium and a solo blast in the 1964 contest at Shea Stadium. He was a .348 batter (8-for-23) in the Midsummer Classic.

"The Captain" was traded to the New York Mets on Oct. 20, 1965, in exchange for pitcher Al Jackson and third baseman Charley Smith. On the Cardinals' career lists, Boyer ranks third in home runs (255); sixth in RBI (1,001) and total bases (3,011); seventh in at-bats (6,334); eighth in runs (988); ninth in hits (1,855) and games played (1,667) and 10th in walks (631). His seven grand slams are tied for third in club history behind Albert Pujols (12) and Stan Musial (9).

Being a native Missourian, Boyer was always a Cardinal at heart. He returned to the organization as a minor league manager in 1970 and again from 1973 to 1976 and served as a major league coach in 1971 and 1972. He replaced Vern Rapp as manager of the big league club on April 29, 1978, and piloted the Cardinals to an 86-76 record and third-place finish in the N.L. Eastern Division the following year. But, in 1980, with expectations high, the Cardinals never got on track, and Boyer was dismissed June 8 after a 6-4 loss in the first game of a double-header against the Montreal Expos dropped their record to 18-33.

Boyer was diagnosed with lung cancer in the early 1980s, and the disease ultimately took his life in 1982 at just 51 years of age. He was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-2; WT: 182

BORN: 1/16/1910 in Lucas, Ark.

DIED: 7/17/1974 in Reno, Nev.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1930, 1932-37

NUMBER RETIRED: 1974

CAREER:

Dizzy Dean was the prototypical member of the Gas House Gang. The right-handed pitcher was one of baseball's zaniest characters. He also was a warrior and a winner.

After a cup of coffee with the Cardinals in 1930, Dean became a mainstay two years later. He put together his best season in 1934, going 30-7 with a 2.66 ERA and 195 strikeouts. Dean led the National League in wins and strikeouts and ranked second in ERA en route to being named the Most Valuable Player. He is the only pitcher in Cardinals history to win 30 games and the last N.L. hurler to accomplish the feat. St. Louis won the World Series that year over the Detroit Tigers four games to three, with Dean and his brother, Paul, accounting for all four victories. Dizzy fired a six-hit shutout in an 11-0 Game 7 win.

Dean, who led the league with 28 wins in 1935, was selected to four consecutive All-Star Games from 1934 to 1937. He was the winning pitcher in 1936 and the loser in 1937. But Dean lost more than the game in 1937. A line drive off the bat of Cleveland Indians' outfielder Earl Averill in the third inning broke one of Dean’s toes. Dean refused to take time off to let the injury heal, and he began utilizing an unnatural pitching delivery that led to an arm injury from which he never fully recovered.

On April 16, 1938, the Cardinals traded Dean to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitchers Clyde Shoun and Curt Davis, outfielder Tuck Stainback and $185,000. On the Cardinals’ career lists, Dean ranks third in strikeouts (1,095); fourth in winning percentage (.641); sixth in complete games (141) and shutouts (23); seventh in wins (134); and 10th in innings pitched (1,738.1).

Dean was known for his fun-loving lifestyle and story telling as much as his success. In a double-header against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Sportsman's Park on Sept. 21, 1934, Dizzy authored a three-hit shutout in the opener and Paul followed with a no-hitter. "Gee whiz," Dizzy said afterwards. "If I'd a known Paul was gonna do it, I'd a thrown one, too."

Following his playing days, Dean was a colorful broadcaster who became an ambassador for baseball. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953 and was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

B-T: L-L

HT: 5-11; WT: 170

BORN: 6/18/1939 in El Dorado, Ark.

DIED: 9/6/2020 in St. Louis, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1964-79

NUMBER RETIRED: 1979

CAREER:

If it's been said once, it's been said a million times. The Cardinals' acquisition of outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs on June 15, 1964, ranks as perhaps the greatest steal in baseball history. St. Louis traded pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens in exchange for Brock and pitchers Jack Spring and Paul Toth.

Over the course of his career with the Cardinals, Brock established himself as the most prolific base stealer in baseball history to that time. His 938 stolen bases stood as the major league record until Rickey Henderson bettered the mark in 1991. Brock's total remains the National League standard, and he owns the major league record with 12 seasons of 50 or more steals. Brock led the N.L. in thefts on eight occasions (1966 to 1969 and 1971 to 1974). He set the season record with 118 in 1974, bettering Maury Wills' mark of 104 during the 1962 campaign. In 1978, the N.L. announced that its annual stolen base leader would receive the Lou Brock Award, making Brock the first active player to have an award named after him.

But Brock was more than a base burglar. He was a career .293 batter with 3,023 hits. Seven times he batted at a .300 or better clip. In 1967, Brock slugged 21 home runs and had 76 RBI from the leadoff spot. He also had 52 stolen bases, making him the first player in baseball history with 20 homers and 50 steals. The following year, Brock topped the N.L. in doubles (46), triples (14) and stolen bases (62), becoming the first player in the Senior Circuit to do so since Honus Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1908. Brock joined the 3,000-hit club Aug. 13, 1979, with a fourth-inning single off Dennis Lamp of the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Brock's 3,023 career hits rank 28th on baseball’s all-time list through 2019.

Upon his arrival in St. Louis, Brock paid immediate dividends, batting .348 for the balance of the 1964 season and propelling the Cardinals from eighth place in the N.L. to a World Championship over the New York Yankees. The Cardinals won the World Series again in 1967 over the Boston Red Sox and were N.L. champions in 1968. Brock was at his best in postseason play. His .391 career batting average (34-for-87) ranks as the third-best in World Series history, while his 14 stolen bases are tied for the most all time with Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox. Brock holds the Fall Classic record for stolen bases in a single series (7 in both 1967 and 1968).

On the Cardinals' career lists, Brock ranks first in stolen bases (888 – Vince Coleman is second with 549); second in games played (2,289), at-bats (9,125), runs (1,427) and hits (2,713); third in doubles (434) and total bases (3,776); fourth in triples (121); and sixth in walks (681). His 21 career leadoff home runs are the second-most in club annals behind Matt Carpenter (24).

Brock remained active in baseball since retiring as a player following the 1979 season. He worked in the Cardinals' broadcast booth from 1981 to 1984; was a base-running consultant for the Minnesota Twins in 1987, Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988 and Montreal Expos in 1993; and has served as a special instructor for the Cardinals (base running and outfield play) since 1995.

The six-time N.L. All-Star was a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 1985 and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. He was voted the left fielder on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005. In 2015, Brock was voted by the fans as a member of Franchise Four, joining Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial as one of the most impactful players who best represented the history of the Cardinals.

B-T: S-L

HT: 5-11; WT: 193

BORN: 8/9/1949 in Highland Park, Mi.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1968-80

NUMBER RETIRED: 2020

CAREER:

Ted Simmons was a switch-hitting catcher for the Cardinals and a fan favorite from 1968 to 1980 as part of a 21-year major league career that eventually led to his election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Simmons was selected by the Cardinals in the first round (10th overall) of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft. He made his big league debut a year later at age 19 and went on to become a six-time All-Star with the Cardinals: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978 and 1979. He was voted the National League starter in 1978, ending Johnny Bench's streak of nine straight starts.

Simmons placed in the top 10 in the N.L. in batting average and RBI five times with the Cardinals. He was runner-up for the batting crown with a .332 average in 1975, when he had 18 home runs and 100 RBI and finished sixth in Most Valuable Player voting. Simmons boasted two other top-10 MVP campaigns (ninth in 1977 and 10th in 1972) and won a Silver Slugger Award in 1980 (its inaugural season). From 1972 to 1978, he played an average of 153 games per season.

On the Cardinals' career lists, Simmons ranks third in sacrifice flies (67), eighth in RBI (929), ninth in home runs (172) and 10th in total bases (2,626). A .298 batter, he is third with 151 intentional walks and tied for third with seven grand slams – trailing only Stan Musial and Albert Pujols in both categories. His 1,439 games behind the plate are second to Yadier Molina in franchise history. Simmons holds season records for home runs (26 in 1979) and RBI (96 in 1972) by a catcher.

Acclaimed for handling pitchers with aplomb, Simmons caught two no-hitters – Bob Gibson at Pittsburgh on Aug. 14, 1971, and Bob Forsch against Philadelphia on April 16, 1978 – and 122 shutouts (eighth-most in baseball history).

On Dec. 12, 1980, the Cardinals traded Simmons, Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovich to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Sixto Lezcano, Lary Sorensen, Dave LaPoint and David Green. Simmons was instrumental in helping the Brewers reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history in 1982 against the Cardinals. In Game 1 of the Fall Classic – his first time back in St. Louis – Simmons socked a home run, and he hit another one the next night.

Simmons played in Milwaukee through the 1985 season and then spent three years with the Atlanta Braves before retiring. For his career, he slashed .285/.348/.437 with 2,472 hits, 248 home runs and 1,389 RBI. He drew 855 walks and struck out only 694 times in 8,680 at-bats.

Simmons returned to the Cardinals as director of player development from 1988 to 1991 and then was general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for a year before becoming a coach, advisor and scout with several organizations.

Simmons was a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 after receiving 13 votes from the 16-member Modern Baseball Era Committee. His selection came 25 years after receiving just 3.7% of the vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America in his year first of eligibility and being dropped from the ballot. He was the 19th catcher inducted and merely the eighth who debuted after World War II, following Roy Campanella (1969), Yogi Berra (1972), Bench (1989), Carlton Fisk (2000), Gary Carter (2003), Mike Piazza (2016) and Ivan Rodriguez (2017).

Nicknamed "Simba" for his shoulder-length hair that resembled a lion's mane, Simmons was voted the catcher on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005 and was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2015.t

Manager

BORN: 11/9/1931 in New Athens, Ill.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1980-90

NUMBER RETIRED: 2010

CAREER:

Baseball in St. Louis was reborn in the 1980s under Whitey Herzog. A native of New Athens, Ill., in the Metro East area of St. Louis, Herzog managed the Cardinals from 1980 to 1990. He ranks third in franchise history with 822 victories – trailing only Tony La Russa (1,408) and Red Schoendienst (1,041) – and his teams won three National League pennants and the 1982 World Series.

Hand-picked by club president August Busch Jr., Herzog took over the Redbirds on June 9, 1980. Two months later, Herzog turned over his on-field managerial duties to become general manager and have more direct involvement in player personnel. He assumed the dual role of field manager and general manager in October. At the winter meetings that December, Herzog began to transform the Cardinals with three blockbuster trades involving 21 players. He envisioned a team built on speed and defense in spacious Busch Stadium.

St. Louis posted the best record in the N.L. in 1981 but finished second in the Eastern Division in both halves of the strike-interrupted season and did not make the playoffs. Herzog relinquished his general manager duties on Opening Day of the 1982 season. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series with a thrilling seven-game victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. It marked the franchise’s first championship in 15 years.

Two more pennants followed in 1985 and 1987. Meanwhile, fans flocked to Busch Stadium to watch the Cardinals' entertaining style of play that became known as "Whiteyball." In Herzog's eight full seasons as skipper, St. Louis drew at least 2.4 million spectators annually while topping the 3-million plateau for the first two times in club annals (1987 and 1989). Herzog, who valued his sterling relationship with Busch, resigned July 5, 1990, less than a year after Busch died, and did not manage again.

Before coming to St. Louis, Herzog managed the Texas Rangers (1973), California Angels (1974 on an interim basis) and Kansas City Royals (1975-79). The Royals won three straight American League Western Division titles from 1976 to 1978 but fell to the New York Yankees in the League Championship Series all three times.

Herzog's lifetime managerial record was 1,281-1,125, a .532 winning percentage. His win total ranks 37th on baseball's all-time list through 2020. He was named the 1982 Major League Manager of the Year and 1985 N.L. Manager of the Year. The charismatic "White Rat" also spent time as a big league coach, farm system director and scout and briefly served as general manager of the Angels in 1993 and 1994.

Primarily an outfielder during an eight-year big-league playing career, Herzog batted .257 with 25 home runs and 172 RBI for the Washington Senators (1956-58), Kansas City Athletics (1958-60), Baltimore Orioles (1961-62) and Detroit Tigers (1963).

As a minor leaguer with the McAlester (Okla.) Rockets in 1949, Herzog was christened with the name "Whitey" by sportscaster Bill Speith for his light-colored hair.

Herzog was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010 by the Veterans Committee. Two days before the enshrinement ceremonies on July 25, Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. announced that Herzog's number 24 would be retired by the organization. Herzog wore No. 3 in 1980, but infielder Ken Oberkfell gave up No. 24 after the season and Herzog took it. Herzog was voted the manager on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005 and was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-2; WT: 190

BORN: 1/8/1953 in Lancaster, Pa.

DIED: 10/13/2022 in Cartersville, GA

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1981-1984

NUMBER RETIRED: 2006

CAREER:

Bruce Sutter was a pioneer whose journey landed him in Cooperstown. The right-handed lights-out closer, who made the split-fingered fastball famous, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He became the fourth reliever enshrined into baseball's hallowed ground, following Hoyt Wilhelm (1985), Rollie Fingers (1992) and Dennis Eckersley (2004). Sutter was the first player never to start a game to be selected.

Sutter pitched for the Cardinals from 1981 to 1984. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs on Dec. 9, 1980, in exchange for first baseman Leon Durham, third baseman Ken Reitz and minor-league third baseman Ty Waller, Sutter proved to be a key acquisition for general manager and manager Whitey Herzog in his transformation of the Cardinals from underachievers to World Champions.

During the strike-shortened 1981 season, Sutter saved 25 games – the most by a St. Louis pitcher since the save became an officially recognized statistic in 1969. Chants of "Bruuuuuce!" bellowed throughout Busch Stadium every time he ran in from the bullpen. Sutter recorded 36 saves in 1982 and struck out Gorman Thomas of the Milwaukee Brewers to wrap up Game 7 of the World Series.

Sutter had 45 saves in 1985 to tie the Major League record – set by Dan Quisenberry of the Kansas City Royals two years earlier – that since has been eclipsed. The Cardinals elected not to re-sign Sutter after that season, and he moved on to the Atlanta Braves. He subsequently was hampered by shoulder problems that led to his retirement following the 1988 campaign at the age of 35.

Struggling in the minor leagues with Class-A Quincy (Ill.) in 1973, Sutter learned the revolutionary split-fingered pitch from former Cardinals right-hander Fred Martin, then a Chicago minor-league pitching coach. The pitch, an offshoot of the forkball that Sutter was suited to throw because of his long fingers, aptly was described as "a fastball that winds up like a dead fish" because of its wicked forward spin.

By 1976, Sutter was in the big leagues with the Cubs. He won the 1979 N.L. Cy Young Award after amassing 37 saves and a 2.22 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 101.3 innings pitched. He was only the third reliever to be so honored, following Mark Marshall of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1974 and Sparky Lyle of the New York Yankees in 1977.

In 12 major-league seasons, Sutter totaled 300 saves to rank third on baseball's all-time list at the time of his retirement and tied for 29th through 2020. He worked more than one inning for 188 of his rescues and surpassed 100 innings pitched in a season on five occasions, with one more year at 99. Sutter led the Senior Circuit in saves in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984. He was a six-time All-Star – appearing in four games and earning two wins (1978 and 1979) and two saves (1980 and 1981) while not allowing a run – and received the Rolaids Relief Man Award four times.

Sutter's four-year St. Louis save total of 127 established a franchise record and now ranks fourth behind Jason Isringhausen (217), Lee Smith (160) and Todd Worrell (129). Sutter was voted the relief pitcher on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005 and was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

B-T: R-R

HT: 6-1; WT: 195

BORN: 11/9/1935 in Omaha, Neb.

DIED: 10/2/2020 in Omaha, Neb.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1959-1975

NUMBER RETIRED: 1975

CAREER:

Bob Gibson ranks as the greatest pitcher in Cardinals history. A glance at the record book supports the claim. On the franchise's career lists, the right-hander ranks first in wins (251), games started (482), complete games (255), shutouts (56), innings pitched (3,884.1) and strikeouts (3,117). He is second in games pitched (528) and tied for ninth in ERA (2.91).

An outstanding athlete, Gibson played with the Harlem Globetrotters before arriving in St. Louis to stay in 1961. Three years later, he posted a 19-12 record with a 3.01 ERA in helping the Cardinals win the National League pennant. After losing Game 2 of the World Series to the New York Yankees, Gibson posted complete-game victories in Game 5 (5-2 in 10 innings) and Game 7 (7-5) and earned series Most Valuable Player honors.

Gibson was on his way to another banner season in 1967 when a line drive off the bat of Pittsburgh Pirates' outfielder Roberto Clemente on July 15 broke Gibson's right leg. He was sidelined 52 days but returned to pitch the N.L. pennant clincher against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 18. In the Cardinals' World Series victory over the Boston Red Sox, Gibson went 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA, three complete games and 26 strikeouts to again be named series MVP.

The postseason dominance was a sign of things to come. In 1968, Gibson authored the greatest season by a pitcher in modern history. His 1.12 ERA established an all-time record for 300 or more innings. Gibson posted a 22-9 record with league-leading totals of 13 shutouts and 268 strikeouts. During one stretch, he surrendered merely two earned runs over 95 innings. Gibson was named the N.L. Cy Young Award winner and MVP. For an encore, Gibson set a record with 17 strikeouts in Game 1 of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers (a 4-0 victory). He pitched two more complete games (winning Game 4 by the score of 10-1 before losing Game 7 by a 4-1 margin) to run his streak to a record eight straight distance-going performances. Gibson totaled 35 strikeouts in the three games to establish a Fall Classic standard.

Gibson won his second Cy Young Award in 1970 on the strength of a 23-7 record and 3.12 ERA. He fired a no-hitter against Pittsburgh on Aug. 14, 1971, winning 11-0 at Three Rivers Stadium, and became the second pitcher in baseball history to record 3,000 career strikeouts July 17, 1974 (following Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators).

Accompanying his blazing fastball and pinpoint control was an intense demeanor. Gibson was a complete pitcher, socking 24 home runs and winning nine Gold Glove Awards. The nine-time N.L. All-Star was a first-ballot National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee in 1981 and an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. He was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century team in 1999 and voted the starting pitcher on the All-Busch Stadium II team in 2005. In 2015, Gibson was voted by the fans as a member of Franchise Four, joining Lou Brock, Rogers Hornsby and Stan Musial as one of the most impactful players who best represented the history of the Cardinals.

"Gibby" served as pitching coach for the New York Mets (1981) and Atlanta Braves (1982-84) and bullpen coach for St. Louis (1995). He also did some broadcasting and was a special instructor for the Cardinals for over 20 years starting in 1996.

President

BORN: 3/28/1899 in St. Louis, Mo.

DIED: 9/29/1989 in St. Louis, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1953-89

NUMBER RETIRED: 1984

CAREER:

August A. Busch Jr.'s reign as president of the Cardinals was marked by success on and off the field. Between 1953 and 1989, the Cardinals won three World Championships (1964, 1967 and 1982) and three additional National League pennants (1968, 1985 and 1987). They also forged the reputation of having the classiest organization in Major League Baseball.

Busch purchased the franchise from Fred Saigh on Feb. 20, 1953. Busch was president of Anheuser-Busch brewery, which benefited from the acquisition of the ball club. Although he didn't devote a tremendous amount of time to baseball-related matters early on, by the 1960s Busch had grown tired of the Cardinals routinely finishing no higher than the middle of the pack in the N.L.

After winning the 1964 World Series over the New York Yankees, Busch was instrumental in the building of Busch Stadium II. The $26 million ballpark opened May 12, 1966, with a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in 12 innings and became the foundation of a rejuvenated downtown. In 1967, the Cardinals surpassed 2,000,000 in home attendance for the first time in franchise history.

Busch retired as leader of the brewery in 1975, handing over control to his son, August III. The Cardinals failed to win during the 1970s, leaving Busch anxious for the ball club to return to prominence. He made arguably his best baseball decision June 8, 1980, when he hired Whitey Herzog as manager. Busch and Herzog enjoyed a sterling relationship that played a major role in the Cardinals' renewed success. Home attendance soared, with the club drawing 3,000,000-plus fans in both 1987 and 1989.

Throughout his ownership of the Cardinals, "Gussie" was one of the city of St. Louis' most-popular citizens. He was a regular at home games, and on special occasions would ride around the stadium atop a Budweiser wagon pulled by a team of signature Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales.

The Cardinals retired the number 85 in Busch's honor in conjunction with his 85th birthday in 1984. He died Sept. 29, 1989, at the age of 90. August III subsequently served as chief executive until Anheuser-Busch sold the club to the current ownership group March 21, 1996. August Jr. was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

B-T: R-R

HT: 5-11; WT: 175

BORN: 4/27/1896 in Winters, TX

DIED: 1/5/1963 in Chicago, Ill.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1915-26, 1933

YEAR HONORED: 1997 (The Cardinals did not have numbers on their uniforms during Hornsby's tenure.)

CAREER:

Since 1900, only two players have batted .400 on three occasions – Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby. And only two players have won multiple Triple Crowns – Ted Williams and Hornsby.

Primarily a second baseman during his 23-year career, Hornsby batted .401 in 1922, .403 in 1925 and .424 (a modern-day record) in 1924. He is the lone player in Cardinals history to reach the coveted plateau. Hornsby led the National League in batting six consecutive seasons from 1920 to 1925, compiling a .397 average during that span. From 1921 to 1925, his average was .402, making him the only player ever to bat .400 over a five-year period.

Arguably the greatest right-handed batter of all time, Hornsby won the Triple Crown in 1922 and 1925. The first time, he batted .401 with 42 home runs (then an N.L. record) and 152 RBI while setting club records that still stand of 141 runs, 250 hits, 450 total bases, a .756 slugging percentage and a 33-game hitting streak. The second time, Hornsby had a .403 average with 39 homers and 139 RBI en route to being named the N.L. Most Valuable Player.

"The Rajah" spent the first 12 years of his career in St. Louis, leading the league in slugging percentage seven times; total bases six times; hits, doubles and RBI four times; runs three times; triples and home runs twice; and walks once. He was well-known for refusing to go to movies because he thought the "strain" of watching the screen in darkness would hinder his eyesight.

On June 1, 1925, Hornsby took over as manager of the Cardinals, replacing Branch Rickey. Hornsby continued in the dual role in 1926 and piloted the club to an 89-65 record and its first-ever World Championship, a seven-game victory over the New York Yankees. He tagged out Babe Ruth attempting to steal second base for the final out of Game 7, calling the play that clinched the 3-2 victory "the biggest thrill of my baseball career."

An outspoken individual, Hornsby at times was critical of owner Sam Breadon. Eventually, Breadon had enough, and on Dec. 26, 1926, Hornsby was traded to the New York Giants for infielder Frankie Frisch (who had had a falling out with his manager, John McGraw) and pitcher Jimmy Ring.

Hornsby subsequently played for and managed the Boston Braves (1928) and Chicago Cubs (1929-32), winning a second MVP Award in 1929, before returning to the Cardinals in 1933. His second stint, however, lasted just three months before Hornsby was released to become manager of the cross-town Browns. He remained in the Browns' dugout until midway through the 1937 season. Hornsby returned to manage the Browns for the first two months of the 1952 campaign before moving on to the Cincinnati Reds for roughly a season and a half.

On the Cardinals' career lists, Hornsby ranks first in batting average (.359); second in triples (143); third in hits (2,110); fourth in runs (1,090) and total bases (3,342); sixth in doubles (367); seventh in home runs (193); eighth in walks (662); and 10th in at-bats (5,881). His 30 career inside-the-park home runs are the most in club annals, while he is tied for third with seven grand slams behind Albert Pujols (12) and Stan Musial (9).

Hornsby, whose lifetime batting average of .358 is the highest of any right-handed batter and second only to Cobb's .366 among all players, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942. He was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Century team in 1999 and was an inaugural member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2015, Hornsby was voted by the fans as a member of Franchise Four, joining Lou Brock, Bob Gibson and Stan Musial as one of the most impactful players who best represented the history of the Cardinals.

Broadcaster

BORN: 8/21/1924 in Holyoke, Mass.

DIED: 6/18/2002 in St. Louis, Mo.

YEARS WITH CARDINALS: 1954-59, 1961-2001

YEAR HONORED: 2002

CAREER:

He never swung a bat or threw a pitch, yet Jack Buck ranks as one of the most popular individuals ever associated with the Cardinals – perhaps the most popular.

Buck served as the "Voice of the Cardinals" on KMOX Radio for 47 years (1954-59 and 1961-2001). He was behind the microphone for some of the franchise's most-memorable moments: Bob Gibson's no-hitter in 1971, Lou Brock's 105th stolen base in 1974 and Mark McGwire's 61st home run in 1998. And his legendary call of Ozzie Smith's game-winning home run in Game 5 of the 1985 National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when Buck told St. Louis fans to "Go crazy, folks! Go crazy," still sends chills up Cardinals fans spines every time it is replayed.

Through it all, Buck's signature phrase after every Cardinals victory was "That's a winner."

From 1954 to 1969, Buck worked alongside another legend, Harry Caray, to form what is widely regarded as the best baseball broadcast duo ever assembled. From 1972 to 2001, Buck teamed with former Cardinals third baseman Mike Shannon, and the pair became as synonymous with St. Louis baseball as Stan Musial and Bob Gibson. Beginning in 1991, Buck had the pleasure of calling games with his son, Joe, who now is the lead baseball and football announcer for FOX Sports television.

Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987 and was an inaugural member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

There was more to Buck than Cardinals baseball. He broadcast seven World Series for CBS Radio. His most-famous non-St. Louis call came in Game 1 of the 1988 Fall Classic when an injured Kirk Gibson hit a game-winning pinch-hit homer for the Dodgers against the Oakland A's. "Unbelievable!" Buck exclaimed. "I don't believe what I just saw." Buck was CBS television's lead play-by-play announcer in 1990 and 1991.

Buck enjoyed a distinguished football broadcasting career, as well. He was the radio voice of Monday Night Football for CBS from 1978 to 1995, working with Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram. Buck called one of the most famous games ever, the 1967 Ice Bowl between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers, for CBS television. Buck, whose total of 17 Super Bowl broadcasts is the most of any announcer, received the Pete Rozelle Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

In addition, Buck announced basketball and hockey over the course of his career and also worked with Chris Schenkel on the Pro Bowler's Tour. Outside of sports, he served as the original host of "At Your Service" on KMOX, a program that essentially started the phenomenon of talk radio.

Buck's popularity extended well beyond his trademark gravelly voice. Fans from coast to coast, but particularly those in St. Louis, knew him as a tremendously generous man who made time for everyone. He was named St. Louis' Citizen of the Year in 2000 for his contributions to the community. Late in his life, Buck became interested in writing poetry, and he authored a piece called "For America" that he read to the crowd at Busch Stadium prior to the Cardinals' first game following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Buck passed away June 18, 2002, and some 10,000 fans attended his public memorial service at Busch Stadium.