1975 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 94th season in St. Louis, Missouri
and its 84th season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 82-80 during the season and finished in a tie for third (with the New York Mets
) in the National League East
, 10½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
won a Gold Glove
this year. 1975 was also the final major league season for pitcher Bob Gibson
.
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 94th 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 84th 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 82-80 during the season and finished in a tie for third (with the New York Mets
1975 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 14th regular season for the Mets, who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Initially led by manager Yogi Berra followed by Roy McMillan, the team had an 82-80 record yielding a third-place finish in the National League's Eastern Division.- Offseason :* October...
) 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...
, 10½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates
1975 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 89th in the history of the franchise. The Pirates' 92-69 record was good enough to win their fifth National League East title in six seasons by 6½ games over their cross-state rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies...
.
Offseason
- October 14, 1974: Marc HillMarc HillMarc Kevin Hill is a former Major League Baseball catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , Seattle Mariners , and Chicago White Sox ....
was traded by the Cardinals to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Ken RudolphKen RudolphKenneth Victor Rudolph , is a retired American professional baseball player. A catcher, he appeared in 328 Major League games played between – for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles...
and Elias SosaElias SosaElías Sosa Martínez , is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants , St...
. - November 18, 1974: Alan Foster, Rich FolkersRich FolkersRichard Nevin Folkers is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to for the New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers....
and Sonny SiebertSonny SiebertWilfred Charles Siebert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1964 to 1975. He finished with a record of 140-114 and a 3.21 ERA. He threw a no-hitter on June 10, 1966 against the Washington Senators. He was originally drafted simultaneously by the Cleveland Indians and the St...
were 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...
as part of a three team trade. The Padres sent a player to be named later to the Cardinals, and 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...
sent Ed BrinkmanEd BrinkmanEdwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
to the Cardinals. The Tigers sent Bob StrampeBob StrampeRobert Edwin "Bob" Strampe is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1972...
and Dick SharonDick SharonRichard Louis Sharon was a professional Major League Baseball player.Sharon graduated Kennedy Middle School and Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.-Baseball career:...
to the Padres. The Padres sent Nate ColbertNate ColbertNathan Colbert Jr. , is a former American Major League Baseball player who was a first baseman with the Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Detroit Tigers , Montreal Expos and Oakland Athletics .Signed by his hometown St...
to the Tigers. The Padres completed the deal by sending Danny BreedenDanny BreedenDanny Richard Breeden is a former right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who played in 1969 and 1971 for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs....
to the Cardinals on December 12. - March 26, 1975: Ron HuntRon HuntRonald Kenneth Hunt is a former Major League Baseball player. A second baseman who also played third base sparingly, Hunt played for the New York Mets , Los Angeles Dodgers , San Francisco Giants , Montreal Expos and St...
was released by the Cardinals. - March 29, 1975: Danny GodbyDanny GodbyDanny Ray Godby was a professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1974 season.Godby was born in Logan, West Virginia. He went to Bowling Green University, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971.After his pro baseball days were...
was traded by the Cardinals to 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"...
for Danny CaterDanny CaterDanny Anderson Cater is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder. He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 18 on June 8,...
.
Regular season
Third baseman Ken ReitzKen Reitz
Kenneth John Reitz is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. A right-handed hitter, Reitz played for the St...
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. 1975 was also the final major league season for pitcher Bob Gibson
Bob 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...
.
Opening Day starters
- Ed BrinkmanEd BrinkmanEdwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
- Lou BrockLou BrockLouis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
- Bob GibsonBob GibsonRobert "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...
- Keith HernandezKeith HernandezKeith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
- Bake McBrideBake McBrideArnold Ray "Bake" McBride , also nicknamed "Shake n' Bake" and "The Callaway Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, known primarily as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies' teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He made his major league debut for the St...
- Ken ReitzKen ReitzKenneth John Reitz is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. A right-handed hitter, Reitz played for the St...
- Ted SimmonsTed SimmonsTed Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
- Ted SizemoreTed SizemoreTed Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , St...
- Reggie SmithReggie SmithCarl Reginald Smith is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, coach and front office executive. During a 17-year big league career , Smith appeared in 1,987 games, hit 314 home runs and batted .287. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. In his prime, he had one of the strongest...
Notable transactions
- May 28, 1975: Elías SosaElias SosaElías Sosa Martínez , is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent on March 4, 1968. He played for the Giants , St...
and Ray SadeckiRay SadeckiRaymond Michael Sadecki is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. A left-hander, Sadecki pitched for the St...
were traded by the Cardinals to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Ron ReedRon ReedRonald Lee Reed is a retired American starting/relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves , St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox...
and a player to be named later. The Braves completed the deal by sending 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...
to the Cardinals on June 2. - June 3, 1975: Jim LentineJim LentineJames Matthew Lentine is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.-External links:...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 12th round of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft1975 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
. - June 4, 1975: Ed BrinkmanEd BrinkmanEdwin Albert Brinkman was a Major League Baseball shortstop. He played fifteen years in the Major League Baseball, led the American League in games played twice, won a Gold Glove Award at shortstop, and had a career batting average of .224...
and Tommy MooreTommy Moore (baseball)Tommy Joe Moore is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets , St. Louis Cardinals , Texas Rangers , and Seattle Mariners .-External links:...
were traded by the Cardinals to the Texas RangersTexas 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...
for Willie DavisWillie Davis (baseball)William Henry Davis was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. - July 22, 1975: Ken CrosbyKen CrosbyKenneth Stewart Crosby is a former major league baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs....
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 Eddie SolomonEddie Solomon (baseball)Eddie Solomon, Jr. , nicknamed "Buddy J," was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1973-1982. Born in Perry, Georgia, he died in a car accident in Macon, Georgia at age 34.-External links:...
.
Roster
| 1975 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 | 64 | 188 | 47 | .250 | 3 | 20 | |
| 3B | 161 | 592 | 159 | .269 | 5 | 63 | |
| LF | 136 | 528 | 163 | .309 | 3 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 291 | 77 | .265 | 2 | 27 | |
| 44 | 80 | 16 | .200 | 1 | 6 | |
| 28 | 75 | 18 | .240 | 1 | 6 | |
| 22 | 35 | 8 | .229 | 0 | 2 | |
| 7 | 8 | 1 | .125 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 136 | 10 | 7 | 3.97 | 72 | |
| 22 | 109 | 3 | 10 | 5.04 | 60 | |
| 14 | 81 | 5 | 5 | 3.78 | 59 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 146.2 | 8 | 9 | 3.44 | 67 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4.00 | 15 | |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16.62 | 7 | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.70 | 2 |