April 24, 1964
Houston Colt 45’s (4-6)
At
St. Louis Cardinals (6-4)
“Sometimes I wish I could hit in the middle” – Red Schoendienst
The game 11 lineup:
- Curt Flood CF
- Dick Groat SS
- Bill White 1B
- Ken Boyer 3B
- Charlie James LF
- Tim McCarver C
- Johnny Lewis RF
- Julian Javier 2B
- Roger Craig
Wait, what’s that quote? OK. That’s an old quote. It’s a quote from a few days before when Red was commenting on how hard it was to hit Sandy Koufax and others. Jack Buck said, “and this from a switch hitter!” and Red said “Sometimes I wish I could hit in the middle!”
And I’m sure that drew laughs and such, but can I just say – 60 years later – NO! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TERRIBLE IDEA!
So why that quote?
Well, There were no quotes published after this game – which is literally the best part of doing this. I just have a game recap to go by, so what do I do now? Just recap a game from a single game recap? Should I just plagiarize some guy 60 years later?
Sure I should. Sue me. If you didn’t want me stealing your work, maybe you guys could have left me something to work with.
But no, and I didn’t even get a picture!
OK. That’s not true. I actually got 2, but neither of them are of game action.
This one is pretty cool. Cardinals players meeting young fans.
And then there’s this one. This is some stunning game action imagery of Nellie Fox and Eddie Kasko sitting together and watching…the Cardinals take infield practice. The heart pounds with excitement.
And just to be frank with you, Nellie’s smile has me incredibly creeped out. I can’t stand it. That thing is going to haunt my dreams.
As for the game, Roger Craig, Mr. No Luck, got his 2nd start of the season. And he was pretty darn dazzling in it.
The game recap is actually kind of fun – but worthless for me to type. Most of it is about the good Cardinals defense that kept the Colt’s off the board. Flood made a shoe string catch in the 1st, Dick Groat was throwing off-balance double plays. Good stuff.
But as for the hitting side, here’s a line typical of the night and the season thus far:
“The Redbirds went down in order in the 4th inning for the 3rd time.”
I feel that. Boy, I feel that.
It wasn’t until the 7th inning that the 0-0 score was broken. Charlie James hit a one out single, and Tim McCarver followed with a home run onto the right field pavilion. Can I just say, watching someone homer onto the right field pavilion is basically going to be my 1st ask in Heaven? It’s basically my motivation for going to heaven? I’d love to see a ball clang up there.
Anyhoo, it’s 2-0 Cardinals into the top of the 9th – and – just because it was such a theme of yesterday’s post – I must mention that Mike Shannon came in as a defensive replacement. Pinch runner and defensive extraordinaire that Mike Shannon was.
Bob Aspromonte led off with a single, and Keane had seen enough. He had to relief specialists in Bobby Shantz and Ron Taylor, and so far in the season both had managed to team up to blow games together. Well, Roger Craig, who never ever could win a baseball game, got to hand the ball off to Bobby Shantz to nail down the save.
Shantz proceeded to walk Eddie Kasko, and then he gave up a run scoring single to Jim Beauchamp.
OK. Shantz ain’t working. In comes Ron Taylor – for the 3rd game in a row.
A sac bunt got out 1, but moved both runners into scoring position. That’s when Mike White hit a 2 run triple to give the Colts the lead. Pouring a little salt on the wound, he then scored on a squeeze play.
4-2 Astros. No win for Roger Craig. Again.
The Cardinals never made a peep. They lost the game. And I’m sure there were lots of absolutely angry and on point quotes that happened after the game, but they never made it to any St. Louis papers, and Houston papers don’t give access, so… I got nothing.
Well, that’s not true. And this may be the most important thing of all:
Yeah baby. Just to be clear, the Cardinals lured teens into the stadium with cheap tickets, and then promoted the girls to enter a beauty contest. No word on if the Cardinals followed this with “Creepy Uncle Night.”
As for me, absolutely, it is my job and sworn duty as an amateur blogger to follow this story so you can know what Gilfs might still be out there. Stay tuned!
