SHADED BIRDS - St. Louis Cardinals of Color: Distinguished Careers

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Distinguished Careers - Players of Spanish Descent

Keith Hernandez - Ranking as a Cardinal player: 21th in hits, 24th in runs, 23rd in RBI’s. He fits comfortably into any discussion about the top 25 postion players in Cardinal history. Keith is not in the national Hall of Fame, although he should be. His statistics easily merit his induction. Keith’s time with the Mets would qualify him for their distinguished players of Spanish descent.

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Time line for integration for the St. Louis Cardinals.

1913 - Alfredo Cabrera becomes the first person of Spanish descent and the first and only person born on African soil to play in the majors on May 16. He goes 0 – 2 while playing shortstop. He never plays in the majors again but he plays ball in the Cuban leagues well enough to earn a spot in the Cuban Hall of Fame.

1914 - Miguel Gonzalez, born in Cuba, becomes the first regular player of Hispanic descent for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mike is a catcher and plays 20 years in the major leagues.

1918 - Oscar Tuero, born in Cuba, becomes the first starting pitcher of Hispanic descent for the St. Louis Cardinals. Tuero plays in 3 seasons and finishes with a record of 6 – 9.

1928 - Pepper Martin a member of the Osage tribe in Oklahoma becomes a St. Louis Cardinal. He is a mainstay at third and the outfield until 1940 and plays on 3 World Championship teams and is the first non white All Star for the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1944 he plays one more year after being out of baseball since 1940.

1938 – Miguel Gonzalez is named interim manager for a few games at the end of the season.

1954 – Tom Alston becomes the first African American to play for the Cardinals on April 13, 1954. Two days later he gets his first hit, a home run against the Chicago Cubs. He would play four more seasons in the major leagues, all with the Cardinals. His best year would be his first year in which he appeared in 66 games.

Memo Luna, a Mexican pitcher, starts a ball game on April 20, 1954. He goes 2/3 of an inning and gives up 2 runs. He never pitches in the majors again but he plays well enough to be elected to the Mexican Hall of Fame.

Bill Greason, a pitcher out of the Negro Leagues, made his debut on May 31, 1954 and becomes the first African American pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched in 3 games with 2 no decisions and 1 loss.

Brooks Lawrence, a pitcher out of the Negro Leagues, made his debut on June 24, 1954. He would be one of the greatest near mid season acquisitions ever for a team. He finished the season 15 – 6. In 1956 he was traded to the Reds where he made the All-Star team.

1955 – Luis Arroyo, born in Mexico, goes 11 – 8 for the Cardinals and is the first regular starter for the Cardinals of Hispanic descent since Tuero. He is promptly traded. In 1961 he has one of the greatest seasons ever for a pitcher when he goes 15 – 5 for the New York Yankees and saves 29 games.

1958 – Curt Flood, acquired in a trade, becomes the first African American regular player for the St. Louis Cardinals. Flood would go on to have a Hall of Fame trajectory career until his refusal to accept a trade. He remains one of the top 10 most important people to ever play the game for his stance.

1959 – Bob Gibson, called up from his native Omaha, becomes the first African American player that will one day be in the hall of fame to play for the Cardinals. Gibson will dominate teams for years and end his career as the greatest pitcher in St. Louis Cardinal history and one of the 10 greatest pitchers ever.

1960 – Julian Javier, born in the Dominican Republic, becomes the first regular player of Hispanic descent to play for the St. Louis Cardinals since Mike Gonzalez. Javier is a fierce competitor that plays 12 seasons in the majors and helps the Cards win 2 World series.

SHADED BIRDS - St. Louis Cardinals of Color

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Distinguished Careers - Players of Spanish Descent

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Time line for integration for the St. Louis Cardinals.

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