1961 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 80th season in St. Louis, Missouri
and its 70th season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 80-74 during the season and finished fifth in the National League. It was the last season before the NL went to a 162-game schedule the following season
to adjust for the new ten-team league.
was fired and replaced by Johnny Keane
. The team went 47-33 from that point forward.
First baseman Bill White and third baseman Ken Boyer
won Gold Gloves
this year.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
season was the team's 80th season in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and its 70th season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Cardinals went 80-74 during the season and finished fifth in the National League. It was the last season before the NL went to a 162-game schedule the following season
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
to adjust for the new ten-team league.
Offseason
- October 11, 1960: Leon WagnerLeon WagnerLeon Lamar Wagner was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Los Angeles Angels , Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, Cal BrowningCal BrowningCalvin Duane Browning was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1960.-External links:...
, a player to be named later, and cash were traded by the Cardinals to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Al CicotteAl CicotteAlva Warren Cicotte , , nicknamed "Bozo," was a Major League Baseball player....
. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending Ellis BurtonEllis BurtonEllis Narrington Burton is a retired American professional baseball player, an outfielder who played in 215 games over parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1958 and 1960, the Cleveland Indians in 1963, and the Chicago Cubs from 1963 to 1965...
to the Blue Jays on January 26, 1961. - December 29, 1960: Marv GrissomMarv GrissomMarvin Edward Grissom was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York & San Francisco Giants , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals . He was born in Los Molinos, California.He helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series...
was released by the Cardinals. - March 15, 1961: Red SchoendienstRed SchoendienstAlbert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals. - Prior to 1961 season: Don TaussigDon TaussigDonald Franklin Taussig is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors: for the San Francisco Giants, for the St. Louis Cardinals, and for the Houston Colt .45s.-Sources:...
was acquired by the Cardinals from the Portland BeaversPortland BeaversThe Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
as part of a minor league working agreement.
Regular season
On July 6, with the Cardinals at 33-41, manager Solly HemusSolly Hemus
Solomon Joseph Hemus is a retired infielder, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball.As a player with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, Hemus was primarily a shortstop, although he also saw significant time as a second baseman. He compiled a lifetime batting average...
was fired and replaced by Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
. The team went 47-33 from that point forward.
First baseman Bill White and third baseman Ken Boyer
Ken Boyer
Kenton Lloyd Boyer was an American Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During a 15-year baseball career, he played for 1955-1969 for four different teams, playing primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals...
won Gold Gloves
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
this year.
Notable transactions
- May 10, 1961: Bob NiemanBob NiemanRobert Charles Nieman was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles , St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Joe MorganJoe Morgan (manager)Joseph Michael Morgan is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, a player to be named later, and cash. The Indians sent Mike LeeMike Lee (baseball)Michael Randall Lee is a former professional baseball player who played two seasons for the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.-References:...
to the Cardinals on June 1 to complete the trade. - May 16, 1961: Duke CarmelDuke CarmelLeon James "Duke" Carmel is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1959 and 1965, for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and New York Yankees, primarily as an outfielder.-External links:...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Joe KoppeJoe KoppeJoseph Koppe , born Joseph Kopchia in Detroit, Michigan, was an American Major League Baseball player for the Milwaukee Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Los Angeles Angels....
. - May 30, 1961: Daryl SpencerDaryl SpencerDaryl Dean Spencer , is a former professional baseball player. He was a utility infielder, playing shortstop, second base, and third base in the major leagues from 1952-1963. He played for the New York Giants, San Francisco Giants, St...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Bob LillisBob LillisRobert Perry Lillis is a retired American infielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball...
and Carl WarwickCarl WarwickCarl Wayne Warwick is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played from 1961 to 1966.He appeared in the 1964 World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, and tied a World Series record with three pinch hits...
.
Roster
| 1961 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | 188 | 54 | .287 | 2 | 25 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 75 | 2 | 6 | 5.28 | 51 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3.26 | 21 | |