St. Louis Cardinals: Beyond the HOF- Saluting Unsung Heroes

Roller coaster success?  It means lots of ups and downs, aptly describing Reggie Cleveland's MLB career. Up: The Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year (1971)           Down:  mid-season automobile crash- 15 stitches around an ear, 8 inside his mouth Up: Canadian Hall of Fame           Down: gained 30 pounds during one season Up: Pitched in the World Series (first Canadian to do so)           Down:  Over trained to the point of injury prepping for the strike-interrupted 1981 season This episode details Reggie's pendular MLB adventure that spanned 30 years. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/stlcards-beyondhof.bsky.social Email address: [email protected] Your Ride to Work Doesn't Have to be Boring

It's a 2-fer episode in which we spotlight two unsung heroes of Cardinal past.  One of the Cardinals contributed to the '67 and '68 championship teams while the other just missed being remembered as a hero in a weird finish to the 1973 season. Production note:  As explained in this episode, we curtailing our production of episodes from twice a month to once a month.  We'll continue to publish a Cardinal salute on the fourth Monday of each month.

You might think that a typical professional baseball player's early experience might include lessons from a paid instructor, inclusion on an exclusive travel ball team, or carefully guided support from a parent.  That's not even close to Danny Sheaffer's experience.  While enjoying over 40 years in professional baseball, Sheaffer played three seasons for the Cardinals (1995, 96 and 97).  It is a hilarious beginning to a long baseball journey.  Sheaffer is the author to his new book Keep Digging: Discovering the Greatest Story Ever Told, Through the Greatest Game Ever Played.   You can find it an Amazon or wherever fine books are sold.     The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

What a career in baseball!! Four World Series rings Member of Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame At 35, pivoted to a medical degree and became team physician for Toronto Blue Jays With the recent passing of Dr. Taylor, we are recasting one of our early episodes that saluted his career.  We start with giving additional information not included in the original episode.

Diminutive Al Jackson, nicknamed "Little Al", twice took on the formidable Bob Gibson and beat him 1-0, both complete game victories.  This occurred just before the Cardinals traded for Jackson in 1966.  Jackson went on to help the Redbirds win a pennant and World Series championship as a starter and a reliever.  Via phone interview,  teammates Dick Hughes and Larry Jaster share their memories of Al while we also give you the highs and lows of Jackson's exploits with the woeful Mets. Also, enjoy another edition of a regular feature "Redbird Recall," where our listeners share memories about their run-ins with players or memories of games or other Cardinal moments.  Ricky Carroll of Little Rock, Arkansas, tells us about his elevator run-in with Lars Nootbaar and Victor Scott II.   The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

Jaster, an integral member of the Cardinals success in the late '60s, spent an hour with Jon and I, talking about the World Series and pennant championships he helped to secure.  You'll hear more about Eucker and his antics along with anecdotes about Tom Seaver, Willie McCovey, and others.  This is part II of our conversation with our salute to Larry Jaster.   Check out part I to learn how he earned the nicknames of "The Creeper" and "The Dodger Killer" along with other highlights from his 40 plus years in baseball. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

When a Clemente line drive broke Bob Gibson's leg in '67, "The Creeper" stepped up.  With ace pitcher Gibson out of commission for a large part of the '67 season, the Redbirds had their wings clipped, but on the arms of his teammates like Larry "The Creeper" Jaster, they persevered, not only winning the pennant but ultimately taking the World Series trophy. In part 1 of our interview with 82-year-old Jaster, he shares his memories of that championship season, including how he earned his two nicknames, The Creeper and The Dodger Killer.  He also reminisces about the many legends he interacted with such as Ted Simmons, Red Schoendienst, George Kissell, and others.  Be a part of yesteryear baseball as he talks about what it was like to be a part of the inaugral season for the Montreal Expos.   The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

Larry Jaster's exploits in MLB earned him not one, but two nicknames: The Creeper and The Dodger Killer.  This spotlight of an unsung hero covers Larry's five decades in baseball as a player and coach.  He shares his recollections of helping the Cardinals win the pennant in '67, being the first person to pitch in Canada for the Expos, shutting out the Dodgers five times in a row, and rubbing elbows with legends like Willie McCovey, Ted Simmons, and George Kissell. His story about Bob Eucker is not to be missed. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]  

"No-Chin" Willis kept his chin up as he worked his way through the minor leagues and into a position to help the St. Louis Cardinals win the WS in '67 and the NL pennant in '68.  His adventures include being on fire in the Cardinal dugout and being among the league leaders in saves in '67. This episdoe also includes an interview with a guard at Busch Stadium in the late '60s who recounts his duties and interactions with various players. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]  

What former Cardinal, while pitching a minor league game, collapsed on the mound and was taken to a hospital where he was issued his last rites?  Surviving this near fatal experience, years later he provided key pitching for the Redbirds in their championship seasons of '67 and '68. The answer is the unsung hero of this episode: Joe Hoerner. An All-Star reliever, Hoerner had an interesting life full of peaks and valleys.  Consider these examples: Wins a state championship.  Then almost dies in a hospital with heart problems.   Wins Rookie of the Year in the minors, then is stuck there for many years, moving 35 different times.   He earns a WS ring.  Then he is involved in a tragic boating accident that killed two different people.   Enjoy the ups and downs of professional baseball life during the late 60s and 70s in this spotlight of Joe Hoerner. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]  

Many father/son duos have been on the field of play in MLB: Ken/Ken Jr. Griffey, Bobby/Barry Bonds, Sandy/Roberto Alomar, Felipe/Moises Alou, Ray/Bob Boone, and Jose/Jose Jr. Cruz to name a few.  However, only one duo had both the father and son sporting multiple WS rings with each of them having a WS ring as a St. Louis Cardinal. This episode reveals this duo, focusing mainly on the father from Joliet, IL.  It covers the career of this unsung hero, his ups and downs as a player and as a father. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]      

Your hosts, Tom and Jon, are taking a much needed break from producing episodes this month.  We will be back in March to share more spotlights on unsung heroes from the storied St. Louis Cardinal franchise. Meanwhile, enjoy this previously released episode that interviews this rookie who beat out Tom Seaver for the 1967 MLB The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.  He's the same guy who led the Cardinals in wins that year.  He was a 29-year-old rookie who picked up the mantle when Gibson went down with a broken leg, leading the team with 16 wins, only becoming a regular starter in May.  He's currently  an eighty-six-year-old who delights us with an  interview that covers his adventures from minor league ball to pitching in Fenway as he helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series Championship.  Don't miss his recollection of battling Hank Aaron. Dick is accompanied by his wife Ann who provides unique perspective in living through professional baseball in the 60s.

Your hosts, Tom and Jon, are taking a much needed break from producing episodes this month.  We will be back in March to share more spotlights on unsung heroes from the storied St. Louis Cardinal franchise. Meanwhile, enjoy this previously released episode that features Car Warwick, his wife Nancy, and their son Greg.  Carl was a critical component of the 1964 WS Champion Cardinals.  Because of Carl's dementia, Nancy carries this interview with her hilarious recollections of what it was like for a family stuggling to make it in minor and major league baseball during the 60s.  She shares anecdotes that feature Bob Eucker, Bob Gibson, and others.  It's a fascinating look at this lifestyle from the wife's perspective.  Nancy's a hoot.  This episode has only the second half of our interview with Nancy; if you enjoy this, go back through our episode catalog and hear the first half of the interview. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

Mentored by Dave Ricketts and George Kissell, Danny Sheaffer played for various MLB teams, including the Cardinals in the mid 90s.  Armed with the knowledge of Ricketts and Kissell, Danny made an impact on recent Redbird stars such as Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright.  Powerful anecdotes concerning both Molina and Waino are depicted in this episode along with his experiences with Ricketts, Kissel, Tony Larussa, Jose Altuve, and others. Sheaffer provides unique insight into how baseball was when he played and how it has changed today. If you enjoyed this episode, please look at recent episodes where Sheaffer and Terry Kennedy- a 4X MLB All-Star mentored by Ricketts- speak at length about their reverence for Mr. Ricketts.  

How does a catcher "manage" a pitcher? What did Bob Gibson tell his catcher to do when the catcher was uncertain of which pitch to signal for? What does pre-game prep for pitchers and catchers look like? What was it like having a locker next to Ted Simmons, especially if you were the person trying to take his position? In July of 1980, with a field temperature of 149 degrees, while catching a 14 inning game, how many pounds did Terry Kennedy lose? The answers to these question are in our 50 minute rivoting insider look at MLB from the perspective of Terry Kennedy, a former Cardinal who spent four decades in professional ball. The Essential links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

  Part II of our spotlight on Mr. Dave Ricketts covers his later playing years and the molding of star players like Ozzie Smith, Tony Pean, Terry Kennedy, Ted Simmons, and others.  A good portion of the episode is a gripping interview with Danny Sheaffer, a former Cardinal catcher and minor league manager for the Redbirds.  He recounts fascinating stories that showcase his reverence for Mr. Ricketts and also has us on the edge of our seats recalling pivotal conversations he had with Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright when he managed them in the minors.  Don't miss the opening minutes of this episode that lay out a moment that has Yadi wanting to quit baseball.

Tony LaRussa said, "There have been some truly great Cardinals who have come through the organization, but I don't know anyone greater or more beloved than him."  To whom is Tony referring?  It could be Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, or a host of other HOF players, but he wasn't.  This beloved Redbird isn't even in the MLB Hall of Fame.  LaRussa was speaking of Dave Ricketts, a teaching pillar of the Cardinal Way.  Mr. Ricketts, and that is how he is often referred to by his proteges like Yadier Molina, spent approximately three decades with the Redbirds.  His enormous impact upon the way they played the game and lived their life is chronicled in this and following episodes.  This episode features former Cardinal and All-Star catcher Terry Kennedy, who speaks at length of his reverence for Mr. Ricketts.

On September 18, 1967, the Cardinals clinched the National League pennant.   The next day's game against the Phillies was almost as interesting.  Starting for the Cardinals was Dick Hughes, who owned the best winning percentage of all NL pitchers.  Dick talks about this game and other highlights of the '67 WS champions, including how he got his nickname "The Sniper."  This episode is part two of our interview with Dick Hughes, The Sporting News 1967 Rookie of the Year.  Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email address: [email protected]

He's the same guy who Tom Seaver beat out for the 1967 MLB Rookie of the Year.  He's the same guy who led the Cardinals in wins that year.  He was a 29-year-old rookie who picked up the mantle when Gibson went down with a broken leg, leading the team with 16 wins, only becoming a regular starter in May.  He's an eighty-six-year-old who delights us with an  interview that covers his adventures from minor league ball to pitching in Fenway as he helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series Championship.

It started with a state championship in high school and concluded with a World Series ring in 1967, with a slew of minor league crowns in between.   Despite various setbacks, Dick Hughes pitched for one successful team after another, including the 1967 World Series champion Cardinals, in a season that he would lead the team in wins and be named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year.  This spotlight is punctuated with excerpts from our interview with Dick and his wife Anne in which they share the ups and downs of his journey through professional baseball, all the while being one the very few Redbirds to have his entire career with St. Louis.

Who is the best all-time second baseman for the Cardinals?  Roger Hornsby, a two-time Triple Crown winner?  Frankie Frisch, who set a record for most assists in a single season (643) that still stands today? Tommy Herr?  Red Schoendienst?  Among others who should be in this conversation is Julian "The Phantom" Javier, who played more games at second than any other Redbird (1960-1971).  He was a key figure in the World Series championships of '64 and '67 and the pennant crown of '68.  While it was his glove that provided the most value for his team, his penchant for clutch at bats helped make him at two-time All-Star and this episode's unsung hero.

Why was Bob Uecker rejected as a roommate while with the '64 Cardinals? Why did Augie Busch rent an entire motel for the Cardinals to use during spring training in '64? What were the circumstances surrounding the time Bob Uekeer had to drive his teammate Carl Warwick to a St. Louis hospital? These stories are a just a few of the memories that Carl and Nancy Warwick share in our interview about Carl's time with the WS '64 Champion Cardinals and other clubs.   This episode is part II of our interview with them and their grandson.  Be sure to listen to part I first. You'll also hear one of our listeners tell us about the afternoon he spent pestering Tim McCarver. Our podcast that spotlights unsung heroes from Cardinal lore like Carl Warwick can be found here and wherever fine podcasts are hosted:   Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441  

Being a professional baseball player sounds like a glamourous occupation, right?  Not so much in the early 60s, especially if you were playing in the minors.  Nancy Warwick shares with us the struggles of managing a family amid trades, poor pay, and a husband who was absent half the time playing on the road.  With husband Carl Warwick, a significant player on the 1964 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, Nancy gives her unique perspective of a wife as she and Carl navigate the arduous journey from minor league play to baseball's biggest stage.  Their amusing stories include a bologna road trip from Chicago to Houston while toting two young daughters, one only a few months old.  Take an engaging walk down memory lane to baseball as it was in the 1960s. ALSO! Be a guest on our podcast!  To be a part of a future episode, share with us an early memory of the St. Louis Cardinals.  It could be about a game you watched on TV or in person or listened to on the radio.  It could be about a game you attended.  It might be about how the Cardinals were a bonding element between you and a grandparent.  Additionally, you could tell us about your favorite unsung hero. Email me with your memory and we'll set up a time for us to have a brief phone conversation so that I can record your recollection and put it in an upcoming episode.  I'd prefer to record your voice, but if you just want to only share it via email, that can work, too.  Email address: [email protected] Other links: Website: https://stlouiscardinalsbeyondthehof.libsyn.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkRx0bBfd2KyDcY9MEvdPaPhli56Ou4Ow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441

Did you know that The Sporting News named Bing Devine, the Cardinals General Manager, Baseball's Executive of the Year for both 1963 and 1964?  It would be no surprise in 1964 as the Redbirds were World Series Champions, but did you know that August Busch fired Devine in the latter part of the '64 pennant run?  That's an example of one of the many interesting developments covered in this episode that details the members of the '64 roster.  While the marquee players are noted, equal coverage is given to the role players, like those who closed out Gibson's victories and got on base to set up Boyer's grand slam.  Relive the thrill of that season in this episode that also includes excerpts from actual game broadcasts by Jack Buck and Harry Caray.

In this episode we conclude our conversation with 85-year-old Gordie Richardson, a key player in the Cardinals journey to win the  World Series in 1964.  Gordie recalls his interactions with legends like Mike Shannon, Bop Gibson, Dizzy Dean, Yogi Berra, and his memories of winning the pennant and his time in New York taking down the Yankees.  He also talks about life after baseball and explains how his home town is billed as "Home of Swamp Gravy." All of our episodes can be accessed on YouTube: YouTube Playlist for St. Louis Cardinals: Beyond the HOF Facebook        

85-year-old Gordie Richardson spends an hour with us talking about his experience in helping the St. Louis Cardinals to a thrilling finish atop the National League in 1964.  He shares memories of Dick Allen, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, and many of his Cardinal teammates.   Gordie left his peanut farm near a small town of 2,000 people for the spotlights of St. Louis and New York City where the '64 World Series played out.  Enjoy part one of our interview as Gordie walks us back 60 years through his journey of becoming a major league pitcher and earning a WS ring.

Who is the most famous peanut farmer from Georgia?  Most likely, your answer is former president Jimmy Carter.   If you're an ardent Cardinal fan, you might come up with Gordon Richardson, the featured Cardinal from the 1964 WS champions.  Gordie was a 25-year-old peanut farmer boy who stood in the way of the Phillies as the Cards grabbed the pennant by winning only one game more than the Phils.  Enjoy listening to how this youngster climbed from the depths of the minor leagues to become a pivotal role player that beat back the Phillies several times late in the '64 season.

Maybe you know your baseball.  Maybe you don't. Test your baseball knowledge by answering these six baseball trivia questions.  Here's the fun part: they all have the same answer: Who was the pitcher that figured prominently in World Series championships with both the Brooklyn Dodgers and Los Angeles Dodgers? Who was the starting pitcher for the last game ever played by the Brooklyn Dodgers? Name the pitcher that started the first regular season game in the inaugural season for the New York Mets. Who earned his fourth World Series ring as a pitching coach for the 1984 Detroit Tigers? Name the manager of the San Francisco Giants for the 1989 World Series, aka Earthquake series. To whom did Bob Brenly give a World Series ring for delivering valuable coaching advice as Brenly managed the Arizona Diamondbacks to a World Series title in 2001? So who is the baseball player whose career spanned four plus decades and is the answer to all of these questions?  He's our featured unsung hero of this podcast episode. Email:  [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441

Carl Warwick may not have been a large man at 5' 10", 170 lbs., but he had some big pinch hits in the 1964 World Series when the Cardinals defeated the Yankees in 7 games.  Warwick bounced around during his MLB career with the spotlight finally finding him coming through in the clutch on the biggest stage.  Join us for our third look at a role player who played a pivotal role in claiming a WS trophy for the Redbirds.

How many Cardinals have earned three World Series rings with three different teams?  The surprising answer is that there are several more Redbirds than just the unsung hero featured in this episode.  Join us as we sing the praises of Ron Taylor who played a critical role on two teams- the 1964 Cardinals and the 1969 Mets- that had unlikely come from behind late season runs as WS champions.  Now, what's the name of the third team from which he collected a ring?  

Most Cardinal fans will easily rattle off the names of stars who headlined St. Louis's late season drive to the 1964 pennant and eventual World Series crown:  Brock, Gibson, Shannon, Boyer, Flood and others.  Not ordinarily included on this list is Barney Schultz, the knuckleballer who put out one fire after another, especially in the critical month of September when the Redbirds scrambled from behind to the top of the National League, winning the pennant by one game.  Enjoy this episode that chronicles Schultz's extraordinary performance as a key player in a memorable Cardinal season. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559227930441 Email: [email protected]

Welcome to the St. Louis Cardinals: Beyond the HOF players - Saluting Unsung Heroes.  Join hosts Tom Nance, a lifelong Cardinals fan, umpire and former baseball coach, and Jon Krost, a research aficionado and underdog enthusiast, a lifelong Cardinals fan who takes delight in the clutch hits of players like Daniel Descalso.  Come along on this journey as they celebrate stories of greatness by role players that helped make the Cardinals a legendary organization.  Enjoy the deep dives into the lives and careers of these men who played a pivotal part in St. Louis success, who embodied the Cardinal Way in this compelling exploration of unsung heroes. Our inaugral episode will be published Monday, May 13, 2024, with episodes on the second and fourth Monday of each month.