1968 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 87th season in St. Louis, Missouri
and its 77th season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 97-65 during the season, winning their second consecutive NL pennant, this time by nine games over the San Francisco Giants
. They lost in 7 games to the Detroit Tigers
in the 1968 World Series
. The Cardinals would not return to postseason until 1982
.
Following the season, it was announced that the National League, along with the American League
, would be split into two divisions for the 1969
season in order to accommodate the admittance of two new franchises to each league. The Cardinals were assigned to the new National League East
division.
won both the MVP Award and the Cy Young Award
this year, with a 1.12 ERA, 22 wins, and 268 strikeouts. From June 2 to July 30, Gibson allowed only two earned runs in ninety-two innings pitched. For the season, opposing batters only had a batting average of .184, and an on base percentage
of .233 against Gibson. Gibson also won a Gold Glove
this year, as did shortstop Dal Maxvill
and outfielder Curt Flood
.
AL Detroit Tigers
(4) vs. NL St. Louis Cardinals (3)>
Game
Score
Date
Location
Attendance
Time of Game
1
Cardinals - 4, Tigers – 0
October 2
Busch Memorial Stadium
54,692
2:29
2
Tigers – 8, Cardinals - 1
October 3
Busch Memorial Stadium
54,692
2:41
3
Cardinals – 7, Tigers - 3
October 5
Tiger Stadium
53,634
3:17
4
Cardinals – 10, Tigers - 1
October 6
Tiger Stadium
53,634
2:34
5
Tigers – 5, Cardinals – 3
October 7
Tiger Stadium
53,634
2:43
6
Tigers – 13, Cardinals - 1
October 9
Busch Memorial Stadium
54,692
2:26
7
Tigers – 4, Cardinals - 1
October 10
Busch Memorial Stadium
54,692
2:07
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 87th 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 77th 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 97-65 during the season, winning their second consecutive NL pennant, this time by nine games over the San Francisco Giants
1968 San Francisco Giants season
- Offseason :* January 27, 1968: 1968 Major League Baseball Draft**Garry Maddox was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round.**George Foster was drafted by the Giants in the 3rd round....
. They lost in 7 games to the Detroit Tigers
1968 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
in the 1968 World Series
1968 World Series
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
. The Cardinals would not return to postseason until 1982
1982 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games...
.
Following the season, it was announced that the National League, along with the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, would be split into two divisions for the 1969
1969 in baseball
-Expansion:Four expansion teams joined Major League Baseball for this season: the San Diego Padres, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Pilots, and the first MLB team in Canada, the Montreal Expos. To accommodate the additional teams, the two leagues were split into two divisions of East and West...
season in order to accommodate the admittance of two new franchises to each league. The Cardinals were assigned to the new National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
division.
Offseason
- Prior to 1968 season: Luis MeléndezLuis Meléndez (baseball)Luis Antonio Meléndez Santana is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball from 1970 until 1977, for the St...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cardinals. - February 8, 1968: Jimy WilliamsJimy WilliamsJames Francis "Jimy" Williams is an American former manager of three Major League Baseball teams. He was born in Santa Maria, California.-Playing career:...
and Pat CorralesPat CorralesPatrick Corrales , is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who played from 1964–1973, primarily for the Cincinnati Reds, but also for the Philadelphia Phillies, St...
were traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Johnny Edwards.
Regular season
Pitcher Bob GibsonBob Gibson
Robert "Bob" Gibson is a retired American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Hoot" and "Gibby", he was a right-handed pitcher who played his entire 17-year Major League Baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals...
won both the MVP Award and the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
this year, with a 1.12 ERA, 22 wins, and 268 strikeouts. From June 2 to July 30, Gibson allowed only two earned runs in ninety-two innings pitched. For the season, opposing batters only had a batting average of .184, and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .233 against Gibson. Gibson also won a Gold Glove
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, as did shortstop Dal Maxvill
Dal Maxvill
Charles Dallan Maxvill is a former shortstop, coach and general manager in Major League Baseball. A graduate of St. Louis' Washington University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering, Maxvill signed a professional baseball contract in 1960 with the hometown St...
and outfielder Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
.
Notable transactions
- June 7, 1968: Bob ForschBob ForschRobert Herbert Forsch was an American right-handed starting pitcher who spent most of his sixteen years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his playing career with the Houston Astros...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 26th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft1968 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Los Angeles Dodgers laid the groundwork for their championship clubs of the 1970s with an outstanding draft...
. - June 14, 1968: Ramón Hernández was purchased by the Cardinals from the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Roster
| 1968 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 139 | 519 | 135 | .260 | 4 | 52 | |
| SS | 119 | 459 | 116 | .253 | 1 | 24 | |
| LF | 159 | 660 | 184 | .279 | 6 | 51 | |
| RF | 100 | 310 | 79 | .255 | 5 | 45 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 84 | 230 | 55 | .239 | 3 | 29 | |
| 69 | 127 | 28 | .220 | 1 | 8 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 304.2 | 22 | 9 | 1.12 | 268 | |
| 33 | 243.1 | 19 | 11 | 2.81 | 141 | |
| 34 | 231.1 | 13 | 11 | 2.99 | 162 | |
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 |
|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4.57 | 19 | |
1968 World Series
1968 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
(4) vs. NL St. Louis Cardinals (3)>
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
Major League Baseball records
- Bob Gibson, major league record, lowest ERA in one season for a pitcher with more than 300 innings pitched (1.12)