1963 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 82nd season in St. Louis, Missouri
and its 72nd season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 93-69 (.574) during the season, and finished 2nd in the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
. The season was Stan Musial
's 22nd and final season with the team, and in MLB
.
.
All four starting infielders in the 1963 All-Star Game were Cardinals. Ken Boyer
(3B), Dick Groat
(SS), and Bill White (1B) were elected, and Julián Javier
(2B) took over for the elected but injured Bill Mazeroski
of Pittsburgh
.
Pitcher Bobby Shantz
, first baseman Bill White, third baseman Ken Boyer
, and outfielder Curt Flood
won Gold Gloves
this year.
All-Star Game
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 82nd 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 72nd 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 93-69 (.574) during the season, and finished 2nd in the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series
1963 World Series
The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers sweeping the Series in four games to capture their second title in five years, and their third in franchise history....
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1963 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers were led by pitcher Sandy Koufax, who won both the Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player Award. The team went 99–63 to win the National League title by six games over the runner-up St...
. The season was Stan Musial
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
's 22nd and final season with the team, and in MLB
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Offseason
- October 5, 1962: 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 released by the Cardinals. - October 17, 1962: Larry JacksonLarry JacksonLawrence Curtis Jackson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1955 to 1968...
, Lindy McDanielLindy McDanielLyndall Dale McDaniel, known as Lindy is a right-handed former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who had a 21-year career from 1955 to 1975. During McDaniel's career he witnessed approximately 3,500 major league games , had more than 300 teammates, and played under eight different managers...
, and Jimmie SchafferJimmie SchafferJimmie Ronald Schaffer is an American former Major League Baseball catcher with an eight-year career from 1961 to 1968. He played for the St...
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 CardwellDon CardwellDonald Eugene Cardwell was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1957 to 1970...
, George AltmanGeorge AltmanGeorge Lee Altman is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. From through , Altman played for the Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets...
and Moe ThackerMoe ThackerMorris Benton Thacker , was an American professional baseball player. His usual position was catcher. He played from 1958 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals....
. - November 19, 1962: Don Cardwell and Julio GotayJulio GotayJulio Enrique Gotay Sánchez was a professional baseball player who played ten seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, California Angels, and Houston Astros of Major League Baseball....
were traded by the Cardinals to the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
for Dick GroatDick GroatRichard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
and Diomedes OlivoDiomedes OlivoDiomedes Antonio Olivo Maldonado was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of three seasons in the majors, between and , for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals...
. - November 26, 1962: Tom MatchickTom MatchickJohn Thomas Matchick is a former professional baseball player. He was a utility infielder over parts of 6 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles. Matchick was a member of the 1968 World Series champion Tigers...
was drafted from the Cardinals by 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...
in the 1962 first-year draft. - Prior to 1963 season: 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 acquired from the Indians by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe 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...
. - February, 1963: Coco LaboyCoco LaboyJosé Alberto "Coco" Laboy was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 1959 but remained mired in the minor leagues until the 1969 expansion of major league baseball, which added two teams to both leagues. The expansion...
was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.
Regular season
Future Hall of Famer Stan Musial played his final game on September 29, a 3-2 victory in 14 innings against the visiting Cincinnati Reds1963 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds finishing in fifth place in the National League with a record of 86-76, 13 games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
All four starting infielders in the 1963 All-Star Game were Cardinals. 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...
(3B), Dick Groat
Dick Groat
Richard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
(SS), and Bill White (1B) were elected, and Julián Javier
Julián Javier
Manuel Julián Javier Liranzo , best known as Julián Javier [hoo-lee-AN hah-vee-ER], is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter. He played with the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds...
(2B) took over for the elected but injured Bill Mazeroski
Bill Mazeroski
William Stanley Mazeroski , nicknamed "Maz", is a former Major League Baseball player who spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
Pitcher Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
, first baseman Bill White, 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...
, 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...
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
- April 2, 1963: Minnie Miñoso was purchased from the Cardinals by the Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. - April, 1963: Bobby Gene SmithBobby Gene SmithBobby Gene Smith , is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and Los Angeles Angels.-External links:...
was purchased from the Cardinals by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. - June 13, 1963: Elrod HendricksElrod HendricksElrod Jerome "Ellie" Hendricks was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. Hendricks played during a 12-year career that lasted from through for the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees...
was released by the Cardinals. - July 29, 1963: Duke Carmel was traded by the Cardinals to the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for Jacke DavisJacke DavisJacke Sylvesta Davis , often misspelled "Jack" Davis, is a retired professional baseball outfielder who spent eight season in professional baseball, including part of a season in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies. After his playing career was over, Davis became a coach at...
and cash.
Roster
| 1963 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 162 | 658 | 200 | .304 | 27 | 109 | |
| 2B | 161 | 609 | 160 | .263 | 9 | 46 | |
| SS | 158 | 631 | 201 | .319 | 6 | 73 | |
| LF | 124 | 337 | 86 | .255 | 12 | 58 | |
| RF | 135 | 464 | 127 | .274 | 9 | 47 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 49 | 10 | .204 | 1 | 5 | |
| 57 | 44 | 10 | .227 | 1 | 2 | |
| 3 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 250 | 18 | 8 | 2.99 | 145 | |
| 21 | 98 | 3 | 8 | 3.77 | 45 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 133.1 | 9 | 7 | 2.84 | 91 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3.93 | 30 | |
| 19 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5.40 | 9 | |
| 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5.26 | 25 | |
Awards and honors
- Johnny KeaneJohnny KeaneJohn 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...
, Associated Press NL Manager of the Year
All-Star Game
1963 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1963 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 31st playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held in Cleveland, Ohio, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, home of the American...
- Bill White, first base, starter
- Ken BoyerKen BoyerKenton 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...
, third base, starter - Dick GroatDick GroatRichard Morrow Groat is a former two-sport athlete best known as a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for four National League teams, mainly the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, and was named the league's Most Valuable Player in after winning the batting title with a .325...
, shortstop, starter - Stan MusialStan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
, reserve