St. Louis Cardinals Dream Team

 

Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the

size and athleticism of players to game strategy. 

Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique given

the pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former, full

segregation took place from 1887-1947. Full integration, which

was a gradual process, came in 1959. The Deadball Era was a

period in the early 20th century when baseball was characterized

by low scoring and emphasis on pitching. 

There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though

it is generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until the

late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run records

leading to exorbitant salaries. 

The St. Louis Cardinals have been a Major League Baseball

franchise since 1892. The franchise has 11 World Series titles and

19 National League pennants to its resume.

Today, I formed a Cardinals Dream Team that encompasses all

eras. For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Cardinal are

required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not going to

cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 

I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven relievers.

For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For

position players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best

regardless of era. For the bench players, it’s the best of the rest with

versatility being heavily considered. Merit achievements such as

Hall of Fame, All Star appearances and Gold Gloves are considered

but not guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also

considered.

Generational reminders

If I believe you were the best at your position in the pre-integration

era, you are on the team. If you played on a World Series champion,

there is no guarantee of landing on this roster. If you played during

a bad season, that does not deter you from being on this roster.

Unlike the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, there are no morality

clauses. This is baseball, not the Boys Scouts. 

Starting pitchers

Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean, Jesse Haines, Steve Carlton, John

Tudor

One would have to look long and hard to find a more intimidating

pitcher in Major League history than Gibson. On the way to a Hall of

Fame career, he was a nine-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove Award

winner, two time World Series MVP, two-time National League Cy

Young Award winner and National League MVP in 1968. Gibson one

251 games and pitched 255 complete games. On the way to a Hall

of Fame career, Dean was the National League MVP in 1934 and

won 30 games that season, becoming the first National Leaguer to

reach that total since 1917 and the last one to do it. Dean was a

four-time All-Star and helped deliver the Cardinals 1934 World Series

champion. That season he was the National League MVP. Haynes

pitched 18 seasons with the Cardinals and remains second and wins

and complete games behind Gibson. On the way to a Hall of Fame

career, he helped deliver three World Series Championships.

Carlton spent most of his Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia

Phillies but also had seven impactful seasons with the Cardinals. In

a St. Louis uniform, Carlton helped deliver the franchise’s 1967

World Series title and was a three-time All-Star. Tudor was the

epitome of a finesse pitcher and won 62 games in his five seasons

with the Cardinals with 1985 being his peak performance. That

season, he won 21 games and helped the Cardinals reach the World

Series. He led the Major Leagues in shutouts with 10 and ERA at

1.93. 

Bullpen

Closer -- Jason Isringhausen

Bruce Sutter, Todd worrell, Lee Smith, Al Hrabosky, Trevor Rosenthal,

Lindy McDaniel

Isringhausen recorded 300 career saves, 217 came in a Cardinals

uniform. Isringhausen compiled a 2.98 ERA in a Cardinals uniform

and 2.36 in the postseason. Though he missed the 2006 playoffs,

Isringhausen delivered a lot of greatness in his seven seasons with

the Cardinals. Sutter popularized the split-finger fastball on the way to

becoming a dominant closer. Sutter led the National League in saves

in three of his four seasons in a Cardinals uniform. Sutter was an All-

Star twice and helped deliver the Cardinals 1982 World Series

championship. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Smith recorded

478 career saves with only Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman

recording more. Smith recorded 160 saves in a four-year span with

the Cardinals. He was an All-Star twice and led the National League

in saves twice in a St. Louis uniform. 

Worrell made an immediate impact with the Cardinals and won

National League Rookie of the Year honors in 1986. That season he

led the National League in saves and was the National League

Rolaids Relief Man Award winner. Hrabosky spent eight seasons with

the Cardinals and was the National League saves leader in 1975. Arm

trouble ended Rosenthal's career with the Cardinals after six seasons.

He was an All-Star in 2015 and in back-to-back seasons, he recorded

45 and 48 saves. McDaniel's versatility earns him a spot on this roster

because he alternated between starter and reliever, in the process

recording 66 wins and 66 saves along with four seasons in which he

recorded double-figure victories. McDaniel was a two-time All-Star. 

Infield

Catcher -- Yadier Molina, First base -- Albert Pujols, Second base --

Rogers Hornsby, Third base -- Ken Boyer, Shortstop -- Ozzie Smith

Molina's legacy is still in progress but is still quite amazing even if he

never plays another inning of baseball. In Molina’s 17 year career, all

with the Cardinals, he is a nine-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove

Award winner and has delivered two World Series Championships for

the Cardinals. Pujols was drafted in the 13th round of the 1999 draft

and became an all-time great player. Pujols was a three-time National

League MVP, 10 time All Star, six-time Silver Slugger Award winner,

two-time Gold Glove Award winner and 2003 batting title. Although it's

easy to focus on his hitting exploits, Pujols became an above-

average defensive player and base runner. 

Hornsby is still considered by many to be the best second baseman

of all time and for good reason. On the way to a Hall of Fame career,

he was a seven-time National League batting champion, two-time

Triple Crown winner, two-time National League MVP, two-time National

League home run leader and four-time National League RBI leader.

He helped deliver the Cardinals their 1926 World Series championship.

Boyer was a centerpiece for the Cardinals, especially in the 1960s. He

spent 11 seasons in St Louis, seven as an All-Star. He was a five-time

Gold Glove Award winner, National League RBI leader in 1964. He

also won the MVP this season and helped deliver the Cardinals their

World Series championship. Smith is known for his spectacular

defense, and rightfully so, because he was a 13 time Gold Glove

Award winner on the way to a Hall of Fame career but he gradually

got better throughout his career as a hitter in amassing 2,460 career

base hits. Smith was a 15 time All Star who helped the Cardinals

deliver their 1982 world series title and he helped them win two more

pennants as well. He was the NLCS MVP in 1985. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Lou Brock, Centerfield -- Jim Edmonds, Rightfield --

Stan Musial

Brock was the stolen base king for both a single-season and career

records until Rickey Henderson broke both marks. Brock led the

National League in stolen bases eight times and the Major Leagues

on four other occasions. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Brock

was a six-time All-Star and helped deliver two World Series titles for

the Cardinals. In centerfield, the Cardinals have an embarrassment

of riches but Edmunds gets the top choice with this team. In his eight

seasons with the Cardinals, he was a five-time Gold Glove Award

winner and three-time All-Star. He was a Silver Slugger Award winner

in 2004 and helped deliver the 2006 World Series title. Musial spent

all 22 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Cardinals and

might be the best player in franchise history regardless of position.

Musial spent a one year hiatus serving the US Navy but was a 20-

time All Star, seven-time National League batting champion, three-

time National League MVP, two-time National League RBI leader

and helped deliver three World Series titles for the Cardinals. 

Bench

Ted Simmons, Johnny Mize, Red Schoendienst, Scott Rolen, Enos

Slaughter, Curt Flood

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Simmons compiled 1,389 RBIs,

ranked second among history and catchers to Yogi Berra. He is

considered one of the top hitting catchers of all time and one of the

best switch hitters. Six of Simmons' eight All-Star appearances came

in a Cardinals uniform. Mize spent six of his Hall of Fame seasons

with the Cardinals, during which time he compiled a .336 batting

average. He was second in the MVP voting in 1939 and 1940. Aside

from Pujols, there is not a better first baseman in franchise history

than Mize. You simply cannot mention the Cardinals without

mentioning Schoendienst, who on the way to a Hall of Fame career

spent 14 years as a player, 14 is a manager and 20 others in a

supporting role. Quite simply Mr. Cardinal. As a player, Schoendiest

was an All-Star nine times and helped deliver the franchise's 1946

World Series championship. 

Rolen played for four different teams but the most successful stretch

of his career were his six seasons with the Cardinals. Rolen helped

deliver the franchise's 2006 World Series title. Five of his seven

career All-Star appearances came in a Cardinals uniform and he

also won three of his eight Gold Gloves in St Louis uniform. On the

way to a Hall of Fame career, Slaughter was an All-Star in 10 of his

13 Seasons with the franchise that he helped deliver two World

Series titles.  Slaughter was a reliable contact hitter and was known

for his trademark intensity. He was the national league RBI leader

in 1946, the year he returned to Major League Baseball after

serving three years in the Army in World War II. Flood was a fixture

in 12 seasons after coming over in a trade from the Cincinnati Reds.

Flood was a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner, three-time All-

Star and helped the Cardinals win two World Series titles.

Some may see Mark McGwire as one who should be on this team.

He set the record for single-season home runs in 1998 before Barry

Bonds broke it four years later. McGwire’s association with PEDs

did not keep him off this team because the franchise is loaded with

too many Hall of Famers who were more impactful. McGwire made

the Oakland Athletics Dream Team.

Manager

Tony LaRussa

LaRussa, who is a Hall of Famer and recently took over the Chicago

White Sox managerial position, is third among Major League

managers with 2,728 victories and counting behind Connie Mack

and John McGraw. LaRussa is the winningest manager in franchise

history and guided the Cardinals to nine playoff appearances in his

six seasons including World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. LaRussa

took over a losing culture in 1996 and quickly turned them into

winners. 

Team

1967

When you are a franchise with 11 World Series titles, you are not

without choices but the 1967 team gets the nod based on the depth

of greatness. Gibson and Brock were each in their prime of their Hall

of Fame careers. The lineup also featured two other Hall of Famers

with Carlton and Orlando Cepeda, who was the National League

MVP. The team also included Hall of Famers managing from the

dugout and front office with Schoendiest (field manager) and Musial

(general manager). On the field, the Cardinals won 101 regular

season games to win the National League pennant, outdistancing

the San Francisco Giants by 10 1/2 games and they defeated the

Boston Red Sox in the World Series.