St. Louis Cardinals star Stan Musial collected his 3,000th hit 54 years ago today, on May 13, 1958, at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
The future Hall of Famer had been left out of manager Fred Hutchinson’s lineup so he could achieve the milestone at home in the next series. However, with the Cubs up 3-1 in the sixth inning and a runner in scoring position, Hutch sent Musial up to pinch hit. “The Man” launched an RBI double off Moe Drabowsky to help power the Cards to a comeback 5-3 win.
The umpires stopped the game and presented the ball to Musial. After a pre-game ceremony the next day at Busch Stadium, Musial homered in the first inning. He ended that season with a .337 average.
The bat used by the left-handed hitter for his 3,000th hit is part of the collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian.
The pictured card is part of the Topps 1959 set.
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Poor decision today to have Lance Lynn throw 121 pitches. Its a long season, you need to keep pitchers strong. We were likely to lose, as indeed we now know that we did, so why burn Lynn? Matheny needs to play for the season, not get caught up in just one game.
Good for the Birds to get swept at home, so they can consider ways to improvei future. The bullpen has a few weaknesses. The Braves have a better pitching staff. One vulnerability may be Jaime Garcia. He threw a lot of innings last year, including playoffs. He was not impressive in game 1.
No, it is not good to be swept by anyone, anywhere at any time for any reason.
Two of the games were not close. Right now, Atlanta is the better team, including a better pitching staff.
Overcoming losses is just a normal part of the game. Like poster of the year (2011) Bw52 sagely advises: “time to regroup and get ready for the next game.”
You did not and cannot explain how being swept is “Good for the Birds.” Better to not even try.
I have heard it argued that if the Birds hadn’t got swept by Dodgers they wouldn’t have won the world series, or even gotten to postseason. Not saying I agree, and also not saying this is a similar situation, but some would argue it is an example of good coming from getting swept.
Others may just as effectively argue that without a supporting explanation as to why, two potentially unrelated points were simply and conveniently joined together by those itching for a tidy cause-and-effect. Rarely are matters that simple.
I guess my point was that rarely are matters that simple, so we agree
Nice!
Jumbo-agree about Lynn……………..its a long season.Matheny will make rookie mistakes as others do.Learning on the job.The bullpen can use some improvement.Romero has been a letdown.Marte is reverting to his norm.Garcia hasn`t been consistently good since his contract extension.Still Craig is hitting as is Beltran.Time to regroup and get ready for next game.
Romero is iffy, but this is not a surprise.
Marte has been good and he will learn with time at this level.
Garcia had TJ surgery once already. He is not a big innings eater, but we have been working him hard for more than a year. He seems vulnerable.
Beltran is hitting extremely well, though this is to be expected if healthy.
Craig is a really good hitter and its nice to see him feeling his oats at the plate.
Berkman should add to the offense as he gets back in there.
In the bottom of the sixth, two out and sacks jammed, with a chance to take the lead and put Lance in line for win #7, Tyler Greene steps into the box and does the best Tyler Green impression anybody’s ever seen. Looked like he’d never seen a pitched ball before. Redeeming himself later with a boot.
Colby had a real knack for looking bad conspicuously and Tyler’s the same way. I’ll give TLR credit for his relutance to rely on either one as events seem to have proven him right.
Ability or no, there comes a point were you have to move on. Maybe at some point Mo will try to come up with the Furcal of second basemen. (Not the Feliz of second basemen).
I’ve listened to the Ozzie interview several times. The thing I keep zeroing in on is that Brian served up a chance for Ozzie to say something good about Jackson, Wong, or any other middle infield prospect, and Ozzie didn’t do it. I find that rather disturbing. He’d be likely to know, after all, and I can think of no reason he wouldn’t have mentioned being impressed if he was.
Another thing that’s disturbing is getting swept as soon as we play somebody good.
Trivia:
Since 1918, 25 players have had a 5 hit game without an RBI or run scored. The last two players to do it both had two stints with the Cards. Who are they?
Interesting question, bb, and I haven’t the time to research it, so I’ll just guess…Adam Kennedy and Willie McGee?
Seems more are deciding the TG experiment should come to an end. What is wrong with just playing Schumaker at 2nd base 5 times weekly?
Bait not taken.
Half right friend. Kennedy was the most recent player to get 5 hits in a game with no RBIs or runs scored. He did it on 8-15-09, the year after his second stint with the Cards.
Here is a link to the box score and play by play log.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK200908150.shtml
A much rarer feat is going 0 for 4, with no walks, no hit by pitches, no sacrifice bunts and no sacrifice flys, but still logging at least 2 runs scored and at least 2 RBIs. The last player to do that was drafted by the Cards but was traded before getting to the big leagues. I believe he was a PTBNL from an earlier trade. He accomplished the rare feat while playing for the Indians, coincidentaly, in a game which also featured the other two time Cardinal from the trivia question above.
Aaron Miles had 5 hits for the Cards on 6-22-08 without scoring a run or driving one in.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS200806220.shtml
As pointed out below by friendmouse, Kennedy was the other two time Cardinal to do it.
above, not below.
In 1999 the Cards drafted Coco Crisp in the seventh round but traded him away before he reached the bigs, as the PTBNL for Chuck Finley. On June 25, 2004, playing for Cleveland he stepped to the plate 4 times and had no hits, no walks, no hit by pitch, no sacrifice bunts and no sacrifice flys, but still managed to score twice and drive in two runs.
The game also featured Aaron Miles for the Rockies and a cornucopia of others who have worn the birds on the bat: Matt Holliday, Larry Walker, Royce Clayton, Preston Wilson, Ronnie Belliard, Jose Jimenez.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE200406250.shtml
The nain thing wrong with it is it would mean Mo didn’t learn anything from trying to win without a real shortstop last year. Defense up the middle is key (as acquiring Furcal reminded us).
I don’t think Skip is all that bad at 2B, but I understand the advanced defensive metrics don’t paint a pretty picture, especially as to range, I believe.
I would not like to see our fellow commenter tormented and traumatized 5 days a week, nor would I like to see Skip get carpal tunnel from pulling the velcro on his batting gloves so many times.
last line is hilarious