The Greatest Rightfielders in AL history by team

Baltimore Orioles: Frank Robinson (1966-71)
Boston Red Sox: Dwight Evans (1972-90)
New York Yankees: Babe Ruth (1920-34)
Tampa Bay Rays: Matt  Joyce (2009-14)
Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Bautista (2008-Present)
Chicago White Sox: Harold Baines (1980-89; 1996-7; 2000-01)
Cleveland Indians: Manny Ramirez (1993-2000)
Detroit Tigers: Al Kaline (1953-74)
Kansas City Royals: Jermaine Dye (1997-2001)
Minnesota Twins: Sam Rice (via Washington) (1915-33)
Houston Astros: Terry Puhl (1977-90)
Los Angeles Angels: Tim Salmon (1992-2006)
Oakland A's: Reggie Jackson (1967-75; 1987)
Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki (2001-12)
Texas Rangers: Juan Gonzalez (1989-99; 2002-03)

Hank Aaron: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1982

Born: February 5, 1934

1949: Tryout with Dodgers

1951-2: Negro Leagues

1952: Signed by Boston Braves

1952-3: Minor Leagues

Debut: April 13, 1954 (Milwaukee Braves)

1956: NL Batting Champ (.328)

1957: Hit pennant winning home run

1957: NL MVP (.322, 44, 132, 118 runs, 198 hits, .978, 369 TB)

1957: Braves win World Series

1958: Braves win Pennant

1959: Three Home Run game vs Giants

1959: NL Batting Champ (.355)

1959: .355, 39 HR, 123 RBI, 116 runs, 223 hits, 46 doubles, 1.037 OPS, 400 TB, .636 slugging

1963: 44 HR/31 Steals

1966: Braves move to Atlanta

1968: 500th Home Run

1969: Braves win NL West

1970: 3000th hit

1970: Lou Gehrig Award

1971: 600th Home Run

1972: 2,000th RBI

1972: Broke TB record

1973: 700th Home Run

1974: Broke home run record (715)

1974: Traded to Milwaukee Brewers

1976: Hit 755th and final Home Run of career

1976: Became Braves Exec

1980-present: Braves Senior VP

1982: Elected to Hall of Fame (97.8%)

1990: Published autobiography

1999: All Century Team

1999: Hank Aaron Award debuted

2002: Presidential Medal of Freedom

2007: Bonds passed Aaron on HR List (Aaron recorded his congratulations)


Accomplishments:
1957 World Champion

1957 NL MVP

2x Batting Champion

25x All Star

3x Gold Glove

3,000 Hit Club

700 Home Run Club

All Time leader in TB (6,856)

All Time leader in RBI (2,297)

All Time leader in XBH (1,477)

1970 Lou Gehrig Award

2x Player of the Month

Player of the Week (April 14, 1974)

.305

2,174 Runs

3,771 Hits

624 Doubles

755 HR

240 SB

1402 walks-1383 Strikeouts

.374 OBP

.555 Slugging

.928 OPS

100+ Runs: 15x

200+ hits: 3x

30+ Doubles: 10x

40+ Doubles: 2x

10+ Triples: 3x

20+ HR: 20x

30+ HR: 15x

40+ HR: 8x

100+ RBI: 11x

20+ SB: 6x

31 SB (1963)

.300+ Average: 14x

.355 (1959)

.400 OBP: 3x

.500 Slugging: 18x

.600 Slugging: 6x

1.000+ OPS: 5x

300+ TB: 15x

400 TB (1959)

Led league in games (155): 1961

Led league in runs: 3x

Led league in hits: 2x

Led league in doubles: 4x

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in RBI: 4x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 3x

Led league in TB: 8x

Led league in SF (12): 1960

Postseason: .362, 6 HR, 16 RBI, 1.116 OPS (3 Series)

Mickey Mantle: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1974

Born: October 20, 1931

1931: Named after Mickey Cochrane

1930s-40s: Taught to switch-hit by father

1947: Osteomyelitis infection nearly ended his athletic career

1948-9: Semi-pro ball

1949: Signed with New York Yankees

1949-50: Minor Leagues

1950-3: Korean War deferral due to Osteomyelitis in 1947

Debut: April 17, 1951 (Yankees)

1951: Slumped early on, returned to minors, and father shamed him into staying in baseball

1951: Father, Mutt Mantle, dies

1951: Injured his right knee in outfield drain during World Series; Joe DiMaggio is often blamed for the injury because DiMaggio called Mantle off at the last minute.

1951-3: Yankees win World Series

1952: Took over CF for retired Joe DiMaggio

1953: Hit 565 foot HR in Washington

1955: Yankees win Pennant

1956: Mantle wins Triple Crown (.353, 52, 130)

1956: AL MVP

1956: Yankees win World Series

1957: .365, 34 HR, 94RBI, 1.177 OPS, 146 walks

1957: AL MVP

1957: Yankees win Pennant

1958: Yankees win World Series

1960: Hit 643 foot HR in Detroit

1960: Yankees win Pennant

1961: Mantle challenges Babe Ruth’s 60 HR. Roger Maris breaks the record with 61.

1961: Mantle suffers an injury that limits his playing time at the end of the year

1961: .317, 54 HR, 128 RBI, 1.135 OPS

1961-2: Yankees win World Series

1963-4: Yankees win Pennant

1964: Mantle hits GW walk off HR in Game 3 breaking Babe Ruth’s World Series HR record

1965-8: Injuries limited Mantle’s effectiveness

1969: Retired

1969: Yankees retired his #7 and given a plaque in Yankee Stadium

Post career: Did some announcing

1980s: Became regular on card circuit

1983: Banned for life for working at an Atlantic City Casino

1985: Reinstated

1985: Wrote The Mick

1992: Wrote My Favorite Summer 1956

1995: Died

1997: Topps retired #7 card

1999: All Century Team

2006: Received USPS stamp

Accomplishments:

7x World Champion

3x MVP

20x All Star

1956 Triple Crown

1956 Batting Champ (.353)

1962 Gold Glove

1965 Hutch Award

3.1 seconds from home to first is a record never broken

Longest official home run: 565 feet

Most WS HR (18)

Most WS RBI (40)

.298 average

1676 runs

2415 hits

536 HR

1509 RBI

.421 OBP

.557 Slugging

.977 OPS

4511 TB

Led league in HR: 4x

Led league in runs: 5x

Led league in triples (11): 1955

Led league in RBI (130): 1956

Led league in walks: 5x

Led league in OBP: 3x

Led league in slugging: 4x

Led league in OPS: 6x

Led league in TB: 3x

Led league in IBB: 2x

100+ Runs: 9x

37 doubles (1952)

10+ triples: 2x

100+ RBI: 4x

21 SB (1959)

100+ Walks: 10x

1733 walks-1710 strikeouts

Hit .300+: 9x

Hit .350+: 2x

.400 OBP: 9x

.512 OBP (1957)

.500 slugging: 12x

.600 slugging: 6x

.705 slugging (1956)

1.000+ OPS: 8x

300+ TB: 5x

Postseason: .257, 18 HR, 40 RBI, .908 OPS (12 World Series)

Ford Frick: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1970

Born: December 19, 1894

After college, he worked as a sportswriter and then for the Hearst Newspapers. He served as Babe Ruth's ghostwriter.

1934: Became NL's public relations director.

1934-51: NL President

1934: Helped spearhead the Baseball Hall of Fame

1947: Intervened when players threatened a boycott over Jackie Robinson

1951-65: Baseball Commissioner

1957: Overruled fans vote in All Star Game due to ballot stuffing

1957: Took ASG vote from fans

1961-2: Oversaw expansion

1961: Ok'd 162 game balanced schedule

1961: Demanded Roger Maris break Babe Ruth's record in 154 Games

1970: Elected to Hall of Fame

1978: Died

1978: Ford C. Frick Award introduced

1991: Asterisk struck from Roger Maris HR record

 

Ted Williams: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1966

Born: August 30, 1918

1936-7: Played in the Pacific Coast League (discovered by Eddie Collins)

1938: Signed by Red Sox

Debut: April 20, 1939 (Red Sox)

1939: Babe Ruth declared Williams “rookie of the year”

1940: Pitched two innings against the Tigers, he allowed one run and struck out Rudy York

1941: Hit GW walk-off in ASG

1941: Hit .406 (won Batting Title)

1942: Won Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (36, 137, .356)

1943-5: World War II

1946: Williams shift first employed by Cleveland Indians’ manager Lou Boudreau

1946: Red Sox win Pennant

1946: Williams wins AL MVP

1947: Wins Triple Crown/DiMaggio wins MVP (.343, 32, 114)

1948: Sox lose pennant playoff against Indians

1948: Won batting title (.369)

1949: Wins AL MVP

1950: Breaks arm in ASG

1952-3: Korean War

1954: Broke collarbone

1956: Spat on a fan

1957: Hit .388 at age 40 (Won Batting Title)

1958: Won Batting Title (.328)

1960: Hit 500^th home run

1960: Homered in last AB of career

1966: Elected to Hall of Fame

1966: Gave memorable speech honoring Negro League players and calling for their recognition

1969-72: Managed Washington Senators/Texas Rangers (273-364)

1991: Presidential Medal of Freedom

1999: Honored at Fenway Park ASG

1999: All Century Team

2000: Elected to the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame in 2000

2002: Died (litigation followed)

2004: Son, John-Henry died

2004: Red Sox finally win World Series

Accomplishments:

19x All Star

2x MVP

2x Triple Crown winner

6x Batting Champ

4x Home run champ

Last man to hit .400

Led league in games (155): 1949

Led league in runs: 6x

.344

521 HR

1839 RBI

1798 runs

2654 hits

525 doubles

2021 walks-709 strikeouts

.482 OBP (1^st all time)

.634 slugging

1.116 OPS

4884 TB

100+ runs: 9x

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 4x

Led league in doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 2x

30+ HR: 8x

43 HR (1949)

4x RBI Champ

100+ RBI: 9x

159 RBI (1949)

100+ walks: 11x

Led league in walks: 8x

Hit .300+: 15x

Hit .350+: 5x

.406 (1941)

.400 OBP: 15x

.500 OBP: 3x

Led league in OBP: 12x

.500 slugging: 15x

.600 slugging: 12x

.700 slugging: 3x

Led league in slugging: 9x

OPS 1.000 or higher: 17x

Led league in OPS: 10x

300 TB: 9x

Led league in TB: 6x

Postseason: .200, 0 HR, 1 RBI, .533 OPS

Miller Huggins: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1964

Miller Huggins

Born: March 27, 1879

1899-1903: Played minor league ball

c. 1900: Graduated with law degree; William Howard Taft advised him to play baseball to make more money.

1904: Purchased by Reds

Debut: April 15, 1904 (Reds)

1908: Played in the Cuban-American series

1909: Broken ankle limited him to 57 games

1910: Traded to Cardinals

1913: Became player-manager for Cardinals (346-415)

1917: Contract expired; moved to New York Yankees

1921-22: Won Pennant

1923: Yankees won World Series

1925: Won battle with Babe Ruth by suspending him

1926: Won Pennant

1927-28: Won World Series

1929: Died of pyaemia

1932: Earned monument at Yankee Stadium

1964: Elected to Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:

3x World Champion

6 AL Pennants

1413-1134 (.555)

Managed 1927 Yankees (110-44)

Won 90+ games: 7x

Won 100+ games: 2x

As a player:

.265

9 HR

318 RBI

.696 OPS

.382 OBP

Led league in games (156): 1907

948 runs

100 runs: 3x

324 steals

20+ steals: 9x

30+ steals: 6x

41 steals (1906)

1003 walks-556 strikeouts

100+ walks: 3x

Led league in walks: 4x

.400 OBP: 2x

Led league in  OBP (.432): 1913

Bill McKechnie: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1962

Bill McKechnie

Born: August 6, 1886

Debut: September 8, 1907 (Pirates)

1912: Traded to the American Association

1913: Selected off Waivers by Yankees

1914: Jumped to Federal League

1915: Player-Manager in Federal League (54-45)

1915: Purchased by Giants

1916: Traded to Reds

1918: Purchased by Pirates

1920: Retired as a player

1922: Became manager of Pirates (409-293)

1925: Pirates won World Series

1928-29: Managed Cardinals (129-88)

1928: Cardinals won World Series

1930-37: Managed Braves (560-666)

1934-35: Babe Ruth on Braves

1938-46: Managed Reds (744-631)

1939: Reds lose World Series to Yankees

1940: Reds win World Series

1940: Becomes first manager to win World Series with 2 teams 

1947-49: Indians coach

1948: Indians win World Series

1952-3: Red Sox coach

1962: Baseball Hall of Fame

1965: Died

1967: Reds Hall of Fame

Accomplishments:

1896-1723 (.524)

4 Pennants

2 World Series titles

First Manager to win World Series with 2 teams

100 wins (1940)

90+ wins: 5x      

3x World Champion overall

As a player: .251, 8 HR, 240 RBI, .614 OPS (11 years)

Bobby Veach: Timeline

Born: June 29, 1888

Debut: September 6, 1912 (Detroit Tigers)

1913: Became starting left fielder for Tigers

1915: Veach, Cobb, and Crawford made up the greatest outfield of all time

1915-22: Had more RBI and extra base hits than any other player

1916: Scored run that ended Babe Ruth’s 25 inning scoreless streak.

1921: Began feud with Ty Cobb

1924: Sold to Red Sox

1925: Traded to Yankees

1925: Released by Yankees, signed with Senators

1925: Washington won the pennant (lost World Series)

1926-29: Played with Toledo Mudhens.

1943: Had operation

1945: Died after a long illness

Accomplishments:
.310 hitter

64 HR

1166 RBI

.370 OBP

.442 Slugging

.812 OPS

Led league in games played: 2x

110 runs (1921)

200+ hits: 2x

Led league 191 hits (1919)

30+ doubles: 8x

40+ doubles: 3x

Led league in doubles: 2x

10+ triples: 10x

Led league 17 triples (1919)

100+ RBI: 6x

Led league in RBI: 3x

20+ steals: 5x

Hit .300: 8x

.355 (1919)

.500 slugging: 2x

324 total bases (1921)

Led league HBP (9) in 1917

Postseason:
0-for-1 (1925 World Series)

Babe Ruth: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1936

Boston Red Sox (1914-1919)

New York Yankees (1920-1934)

Boston Braves (1935)

Born: February 6, 1895

1902: Sent St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, where he learned baseball and became a qualified tailor.

1914: Signed with minor league Baltimore Orioles. His teammates dubbed him "Babe" because of his youthful looks (he was 19).

1914: The Orioles sold Ruth to the Boston Red Sox after the A's and Reds passed.

MLB Debut: July 14, 1914

1914: Ruth appeared in 5 games and spent most of the season in the minors.

1915: Earned a spot on the Red Sox as a starting pitcher. He won 18 games. He also hit his first home run.

1915: Red Sox win the World Series. Ruth does not pitch and goes 0-for-1.

1916: Ruth wins 23 games and leads the league in shutouts and ERA. His 9 shutouts were a record for AL left handed pitchers (since matched).

1916: July 11: Starts both games of a doubleheader. Also, he beat Walter Johnson four times in 1916.

1916: Red Sox win World Series. Ruth throws a 14-inning complete game victory in Game 2.

1917: Ruth walked the lead-off hitter on a June 23 game. He threw a tantrum, punched the umpire, and his relief, Ernie Shore retired every batter he faced after the runner was thrown out trying to steal.

1917: Ruth suspended for 10 games for hitting an umpire.

1918: Ruth begins to transition to the outfield and leads the league with 11 home runs.

1918: Red Sox win the World Series (Ruth goes 2-0)

1919: Ruth sets a new home run record with 29.

1919: Sold to the Yankees

1920s

1920: Ruth finishes transition to the outfield and rewrites the record books. In 1920, he hit 54 homers.

1921: 378, 59 HR, 171 RBI. If today's rules regarding foul balls existed, Ruth would have hit 104 home runs. He set the MLB record for Total Bases, Extra Base Hits, and Times on Base, which still stand. He also becomes the All Time Home Run champ (passed by Henry Aaron).

1921-1922: Yanks win Pennant but lose World Series to Giants (Ruth hit .313 and .118 in the two series with 1 homer).

1922: Ruth leapt into the stands to confront a heckler, is suspended, and stripped of the captaincy.

1923: Yankee Stadium opens; Ruth hits the first home run. It is dubbed "The House that Ruth Built" because of the gate he drew.

1923: Wins MVP (rules prevented multiple winners)

1923: Yanks win their first world title. Ruth hits .368 with 3 homers.

1924: Ruth is seriously injured in a collision with a wall. Still, he just misses the Triple Crown by 8 RBI.

1925: The Bellyache heard 'round the world: Ruth suffers a season long ailment and the Yanks experience their last losing season until 1965.

1926: Ruth rebounds to form (.372, 47, 146) and the Yanks win the pennant

1926 World Series: Game 4: Ruth hits 3 homers in a single game (matched by Reggie in 1977).

1926 World Series: Game 7: With NY trailing 3-2 with 2 out in the 9th, Ruth is thrown out trying to steal ending the series. Cardinals win the World Series.

1927: Yanks win 110 games. Ruth hits 60 (17 in September).  Lou Gehrig hits 47.

1927: Yanks sweep World Series

1928: Ruth only hits 54 homers and the Yanks sweep the World Series.

1929: Assigned uniform #3

1930s

1930: The Babe pitches a complete game victory as a stunt.

1930: Ruth demands $80,000 and quips he had a better year than the president (Herbert Hoover)

1932: Yanks win pennant.

1932: Ruth calls his shot in the World Series. Yanks win Series in 4 (Babe hits .333 with 2 homers and 6 RBI)

1933: Hit first All Star Game home run

1934: Hits 700th homer

1934: Barnstorms the Far East with other star players.

1934: Turns down offer to manage minor league club. The Babe wants to manage the Yanks. NY sells Ruth to the Boston Braves in 1935.

1935: May 25: Hits the final three homers of his career.

1935: Retires

1936: Elected to Hall of Fame

1938: Coaches for the Dodgers

1939: Appears at Lou Gehrig Day

1940s and beyond:

1942: Yanks retire his #3

1942: Appears in charity exhibition against Walter Johnson

1947: Served as Director of the American Legion Youth Baseball Program

1947: Yanks hold "Babe Ruth Day"

1948: Attends 25th anniversary festivities for Yankee Stadium

1948: Babe dies

1999: All Century Team

2008: Ruth's daughter throws out first pitch in the final game at Yankee Stadium.

Accomplishments:

7x World Champion (1915-16, 1918, 1923, 1927-28, 1932)

1923 AL MVP

1924 Batting Title

.342 Career Hitter

2x All Star

SI's Greatest Player of the 20th century

714 Home Runs (#2 all time)

Led League HR: 12x

50+ HR: 4x (60 in 1927)

2174 Runs Scored (Led League 8x)

2873 Hits

506 doubles

2213 RBI (#2 All Time)

Led League in RBI: 6x

150+ RBI: 6x

2062 Walks (Led League 11x)

.474 OBP (Led League 10x)

.690 SLG (#1 All Time)

Led League in SLG: 13x

OPS: 1.164 (#1 All Time)

Led League in OPS: 13x

94-46 Win-Loss Record

.671 Win %

2.28 ERA (Led League 1916)

17 Shutouts (Led League 1916)

Postseason Pitching: 3-0 record; 0.87 ERA

Postseason Hitting: .326, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 1.211 OPS

Walter Johnson: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1936

Washington Senators: 1907-1927

Born: 11-6-1887

In High School: Struck out 27 batters in a 15 inning game

Debut: 11-2-1907

Johnson may have been the hardest thrower in history which resulted in 3509 strikeouts.

1913: Won Triple Crown (1.14 ERA, 36 wins, 243 strikeouts)

1913: 1.14 ERA

1913: AL MVP

1918: Won Triple Crown (23 wins, 1.27 ERA, 162 Strikeouts)

1924: Won Triple Crown

1924: AL MVP (23 wins, 2.72 ERA, 158 strikeouts)

1924: Senators win World Series behind Johnson. Washington never wins another championship until the team moved to Minnesota.

1924: World Series: Johnson loses first two starts, but saves the team in Game 7 in relief. Game 7 of the 1924 World Series is one of the greatest games ever played.

1925: Sens repeat as AL Champs, but lose World Series

1927: Retired. His final appearance was as a pinch hitter.

1928: Began managerial career

1929-1932: Managed Washington Senators (350-264)

1933-1935: Managed Cleveland Indians (179-168)

1936: Elected to Hall of Fame

1939: Served as a broadcaster

1940: Ran for Congress and lost

1942: Exhibition vs. Babe Ruth to benefit military

Died: 12-10-1946

1999: Voted to All Century Team

Accomplishments:

World Champion: 1924

2x MVP (1913, 1924)

417 wins (2nd all time)

Led league in wins 6x

Twelve 20-win seasons

Two 30-win seasons (1912-1913)

110 Shutouts (1st all time)

Led league in Shutouts: 7x

Win % leader: 2x (1913, 1924)

2.17 Career ERA (led league 5x)

Three Triple Crowns (1913, 1918, 1924)

Led League in Appearances: 2x

Led League in Games Finished: 4x

531 Complete Games (Lead league 6x)

5914.1 Innings Pitched (Led League 5x)

3509 Strikeouts (first all-time when he retired-not surpassed until the 80s)

Led League in Strikeouts: 12x

200 Strikeout Seasons: 7

300 Strikeout Seasons: 2x

1.061 WHIP

Postseason Record: 3-3, 2.52 ERA

Ty Cobb: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1936

Detroit Tigers: 1905-1926

Philadelphia A's: 1927-1928

Born: 12-18-1886
August 30, 1905: Mother fatally shoots his father. She was acquitted in 1906.

MLB Debut: August 30, 1905 (doubled in his first AB vs. Jack Chesbro).

1906: Cobb became full time centerfielder for Detroit.

1907: Fought a black groundskeeper during Spring Training.

1907: Youngest batting champ in history (until Al Kaline)

1907: Began investing in Coca Cola, which eventually made him a millionaire.

1907-09: Tigers win three consecutive pennants, but lose the World Series each year. Cobb hits .262 in three World Series.

1909: Won Triple Crown. Also, became last man to lead league in home runs without hitting a single ball over the fence.

1910: Chalmers Controversy

1911: 40-Game Hitting Streak

1911: Hit .420
1911: AL MVP

1912: Cobb attacked a heckler in the stands. He was suspended and the Tigers went on strike in support of their teammate. The team fielded replacement players and lost 24-2.

1915: Set single season stolen base record (96). It was later broken by Maury Wills.

1917: 35-Game Hitting Streak

1917: Sent to France for WWI. Served 67 days and was discharged

1921: Collects 3000th hit

1921-1926: Player/Manager for Detroit Tigers

1925: Goes 6-for-6 with 3 HR and 16 TB for an AL record

1927-1928: Finished his career with A's.

1927: Collects 4000th hit.

1928: Retired

1936: Elected to Hall of Fame in Cooperstown

1941: Celebrity golf matches with Babe Ruth

c. 1959-60: Worked on autobiography with Al Stump

July 17, 1961: Died

1994: Cobb biopic is released starring Tommy Lee Jones as Cobb

1999: All Century Team

Accomplishments:

.366 Lifetime Average (#1 all time)

54 Steals of Home (#1 all time)

Hit .400 three times (1911, 1912, 1922)

12 Batting Titles (1907-15, 1917-19)

897 Stolen Bases (3rd all time, led league 6x)

2246 runs scored (led league 6x)

4189 hits (led league 8x)

724 doubles (led league 3x)

295 triples (led league 4x)

1938 RBI (led league 4x)

.433 OBP (led league 7x)

.512 SLG (led league 8x)

.945 OPS (led league 10x)

5854 TB (led league 6x)

Top 10 Right Fielders of All Time

Not in any order...other than Ruth is #1. Ichiro is probably the most glaring omission.

Babe Ruth

Hank Aaron

Al Kaline

Roberto Clemente

Sam Crawford

Mel Ott

Reggie Jackson

Frank Robinson

Paul Waner

Dave Winfield

Top 10 St Louis Cardinals Moments

Rogers Hornsby hits a 20th century high .424 (1924): Rogers Hornsby’s numbers were ridiculous. He hit .400 over a five year span during the twenties. He hit .400 three times during that stretch with a high of .424 and that was not even his best year!

Grover Alexander strikes out Tony Lazzeri (October 10, 1926 Game 7 World Series): Grover Cleveland Alexander celebrated his Game 6 World Series victory with a drinking binge. Supposedly, he was drinking out of a flask throughout Game 7 when called upon to save the Cardinals. Starter Jesse Haines loaded the bases with two out in the seventh. Alexander trudged in, but refused to warm up lest he allow the Yanks know his true condition. New York sent rookie second baseman, and future Hall of Famer, Tony Lazzeri to bat. Alexander struck out the rookie saving the game for the Cardinals. He pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and got the first two out in the 9th when he walked Babe Ruth. With Bob Meusel at the plate, Ruth decided to steal second. He was gunned down and St. Louis claimed the World Series.

Cards upset the A’s (1931): St. Louis won 101 games in 1931. Despite this, the “Gashouse Gang” were decisive underdogs in the World Series. Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics won the 1929 and 1930 World Series titles and 107 regular season games in 1931. The two sides battled to a seventh game. St. Louis won the game 4-2 clinching the championship.

Whitey Kurowski’s World Series clinching home run (October 5, 1942 Game 5 World Series): Whitey Kurowski’s homer is often forgotten. In 1942, the Cardinals led the Yankees 3 games to 1 in the World Series. The two teams entered the 9th inning of Game 5 tied at 2. With one out, Kurowski slammed a two-run homer to provide the series winning margin.

Enos Slaughter’s Mad Dash (October 15, 1946 Game 7 World Series): The Red Sox and Cardinals went to the bottom of the 8th inning of Game 7 of the World Series tied 3-3. From Mel Allen’s recreated broadcast: "Enos Slaughter is on first base with two away. Harry Walker at bat. Bob Klinger on the mound. He takes the stretch. Here's the pitch... there goes Slaughter. The ball is swung on, there's a line drive going into left-center field. It's in there for a base hit. Culberson fumbles the ball momentarily and Slaughter charges around second, heads for third. Pesky goes into short left field to take the relay from Culberson... And here comes Enos Slaughter rounding third, he's going to try for home. Here comes the throw and it is not in time. Slaughter scores!" Boston failed to score in the 9th. Neither team returned to the Fall Classic until the sixties.

Gibson wins Game 7 (1964 and 1967): Bob Gibson cemented his reputation as an ace with a pair of Game 7 victories. In 1964, the underdog Cardinals defeated the mighty Yankees. Three years later, Gibson bested the “Impossible Dream” Red Sox. The following year, he added to his legend with a game for the ages.

Bob Gibson strikes out 17 Tigers (October 2, 1968 Game 1 World Series): Bob Gibson dominated the Detroit Tigers like few pitchers have ever dominated. He struck out 17 batters en route to a 4-0 victory. Gibson allowed five hits in outdueling 31 game winner Denny McLain. Al Kaline and Norm Cash each struck out three times. Gibson nailed Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, and Bill Freehan twice each. The Cardinal righty returned to defeat Detroit 10-1 in Game 4, but the Tigers finally beat the ace in Game 7 breaking the air of invincibility.

Keith Hernandez 2-run single sparks Game 7 win (October 20, 1982 Game 7 World Series): Milwaukee led St. Louis 3-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning with Cy Young Winner Pete Vuckovich on the hill. St. Louis put two on with one out in the frame when the Brewers went to the pen. Rollie Fingers was unavailable and Bob McClure entered the game instead. Keith Hernandez lined a two-run single tying the score. George Hendrick followed with the game winning hit. The Cards tacked on two additional runs for good measure. Four years later, Hernandez repeated his feat tying Game 7 of the 1986 World Series for the Mets with a two-run single.

Go Crazy Folks! (October 14, 1985 Game 5 NLCS): The switch hitting Ozzie Smith never homered left handed. Then, he met Los Angeles Dodgers relief ace Tom Niedenfuer. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Smith homered for the victory and a 3-2 series lead for the Cardinals. The homer is also known for the great call by Cards announcer Jack Buck.

Should have pitched to Van Slyke (October 16, 1985 Game 6 NLCS): The Dodgers led the Cardinals 4-3 in the 9th inning of Game 6 of the 1985 NLCS. They hoped to force a seventh game. With two on, Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda agonized over whether to walk slugger Jack Clark and pitch to Andy Van Slyke. He chose to pitch to Clark and Niedenfuer coughed up another game winning home run. St. Louis went to the World Series.