1976 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 95th season in St. Louis, Missouri
and the 85th season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 72-90 during the season and finished fifth in the National League East
, 29 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
.
as the Cardinals' full-time manager, although he would manage the club in parts of two later seasons (1980
and 1990
).
The Cardinals went to the Columbia blue
road uniforms for the first time in '76. They would continue to wear those uniforms through the 1984 season
.
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 95th 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 the 85th 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 72-90 during the season and finished fifth in the 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...
, 29 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies
1976 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 94th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their first National League East title, as they compiled a record of 101-61, nine games ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates....
.
Offseason
- October 28, 1975: Mike GarmanMike GarmanMichael Douglas Garman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher whom the Boston Red Sox selected with the third overall pick in the 1967 Major League Baseball Draft...
and a player to be named later were traded by the Cardinals to 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...
for Don KessingerDon KessingerDonald Eulon Kessinger is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from to for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox...
. The Cardinals sent completed the deal by sending Bobby Hrapmann (minors) to the Cubs on April 5, 1976. - December 12, 1975: Buddy BradfordBuddy BradfordCharles William Bradford is a former outfielder for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals...
and Greg TerleckyGreg TerleckyGregory John "Greg" Terlecky is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Terlecky played for the St...
were traded by the Cardinals to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Lee RichardLee RichardLee Edward "BeeBee" Richard is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played all or part of five seasons in the majors, between and , for the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. He played primarily at shortstop, especially early in his career, but his defense was poor, and he later...
. - December 22, 1975, Mick KelleherMick KelleherMichael Dennis Kelleher is the first base coach for the New York Yankees. He succeeded Tony Peña, who became the bench coach....
was traded by the Cardinals to 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...
for Vic HarrisVic Harris (second baseman)Victor Lanier Harris is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors between and...
. - January 7, 1976: John ButcherJohn Butcher (baseball)John Daniel Butcher is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for seven seasons. He played for the Texas Rangers from 1980 to 1983, the Minnesota Twins from 1984 to 1986, and the Cleveland Indians in 1986....
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft1976 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
, but did not sign. - February 3, 1976: Tom WalkerTom Walker (1970s pitcher)Robert Thomas Walker is a former professional baseball pitcher. Walker pitched all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1972 until 1977, for the Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals and California Angels....
was purchased by the Cardinals from the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. - March 2, 1976: Ted SizemoreTed SizemoreTed Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , 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 Willie CrawfordWillie CrawfordWillie Murphy Crawford was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played with Los Angeles Dodgers , St. Louis Cardinals , Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics . Crawford was born in Los Angeles, California. He batted and threw left-handed...
.
Regular season
This was the twelfth and final season for Red SchoendienstRed Schoendienst
Albert 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...
as the Cardinals' full-time manager, although he would manage the club in parts of two later seasons (1980
1980 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1980 season was the team's 99th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 89th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 74-88 during the season and finished fourth in the National League East, 17 games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series champion...
and 1990
1990 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1990 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 109th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 99th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 70-92 during the season and finished 6th in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
).
The Cardinals went to the Columbia blue
Columbia blue
Columbia blue, also known as Jordy blue, is a light blue tertiary color named after Columbia University. The typical Columbia blue is defined by Pantone Columbia Blue 3 .- Usage, symbolism, colloquial expressions :...
road uniforms for the first time in '76. They would continue to wear those uniforms through the 1984 season
1984 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1984 season was the team's 103rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 93rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 84-78 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East, 12½ games behind their arch-rivals, the Chicago Cubs...
.
Notable transactions
- April 9, 1976: Wayne NordhagenWayne NordhagenWayne Oren Nordhagen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter. He played eight seasons in the majors for the Chicago White Sox , Toronto Blue Jays , Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs .Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1968, Nordhagen played in 502 games in his eight...
was purchased from the Cardinals by the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - May 19, 1976: 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 traded by the Cardinals to the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Bill GreifBill GreifWilliam Briley Greif is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1971–76, for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and St. Louis Cardinals.- Astros :...
. - June 8, 1976: John LittlefieldJohn LittlefieldJohn Andrew Littlefield is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched two seasons in the major leagues, for the St. Louis Cardinals and for the San Diego Padres. He appeared in 94 games, all as a reliever.-Sources:...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 30th round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft1976 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
.
Roster
| 1976 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 151 | 526 | 120 | .228 | 13 | 71 | |
| SS | 145 | 502 | 120 | .239 | 1 | 40 | |
| RF | 120 | 392 | 119 | .304 | 9 | 50 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 259 | 59 | .228 | 1 | 19 | |
| 86 | 199 | 58 | .291 | 1 | 12 | |
| 71 | 189 | 38 | .201 | 4 | 21 | |
| 66 | 91 | 16 | .176 | 0 | 5 | |
| 20 | 24 | 3 | .125 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | 21 | 3 | .143 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | 10 | 3 | .300 | 0 | 1 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 212 | 12 | 16 | 3.23 | 138 | |
| 30 | 207 | 11 | 9 | 2.52 | 74 | |
| 33 | 205 | 13 | 15 | 3.91 | 106 | |
| 33 | 194 | 8 | 10 | 3.94 | 76 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 150.1 | 6 | 12 | 3.53 | 76 | |
| 37 | 134 | 6 | 11 | 4.50 | 52 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4.12 | 32 | |
| 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4.12 | 11 | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 5 | |