Posted on 06/06/2018 7:31:49 PM PDT by Borges
ST. LOUIS -- Red Schoendienst, the Hall of Fame second baseman who managed the St. Louis Cardinals to two pennants and a World Series championship in the 1960s, died Wednesday. He was 95.
The Cardinals announced Schoendienst's death before the top of the third inning during their game against the Miami Marlins. A photo was shown on the video board with "1923-2018" written along the bottom. Fans gave him a standing ovation and players stood and applauded.
"Red Schoendienst has passed away today surrounded by his family," Schoendienst's family said in a statement. "He had a life full of happiness for 95 years. He inspired all that knew him to always do their best. Red was a great ball player, but his legacy is that of a great gentleman who had respect for all. He loved his family, friends, teammates, the community and his country. He will be greatly missed."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.com ...
His heyday was way before my time, but I love baseball and know of him as an icon. He was part of baseball history when baseball was truly ‘America’s game’. I hope you are on to a better place, where the grass is thick and green, the wind is always blowing out, the skies are blue, and you are always at your peak.
He debuted in 1945. When I was a kid I had a book about the Hall of Fame. Somehow it got into my head that he was a Dead Ball Era player, alongside Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner and Zach Wheat. It was only much later that I found out he was (slightly) more modern and played into the 1960s. Still, quite the Old Timer.
RIP
I think I confused him with Red Faber for a long time. Faber was one of the last spitball pitchers.
Managerial record:
1041-955
.522
Not too shabby
Tommy Lasorda (90) oldest living Hall Of Fame manager.
Whitey Ford (89) oldest living Hall Of Fame player.
RIP Red. Led the Cardinals to their 1967 championship, helped by some guy named Gibson. He now rejoins Stan Musial and the Dean brothers in Cardinals heaven.
I remember him from the time he played for the Milwaukee Braves before they moved to Atlanta.
I remember him as the manager of the Cardinals in 1967 when I first discovered baseball and the Red Sox. Both in the World Series that year. The Cardinals with Gibson on the mound beat the Red Sox (Carl Yastrzemski, Rico Petrocelli, George Scott) in 7. The beginning of many years of suffering with the Red Sox. Back in the day when they played the games during the daytime, when everyone was at work or school. Someone would smuggle a transistor radio into class and listen secretly on the back row. Word you go around - Yastrzemski just hit a homer in the bottom of the 4th. Sox up 3-2. The game seemed more epic and heroic when it was less accessible.
I also remember the Cardinals in the Series against the Tigers in 1968. During gym class, we all watched the Series on TV along with the teachers.
He was shortstop on the great Milwaukee Braves teams in the 1950, great ss, clutch hitter, just a nice man.
A memory from youth. Mid 1970s. I attended a friend’s 13th birthday party. As did many boys at that time, I collected baseball cards. I asked my friend’s dad how to pronounce the name “Schoendienst.” He told me. The years passed, new friends were made. My friend’s dad passed. My childhood friend passed at a young age. And now Schoendienst passed. That memory lives.
I had 40 of those cards...but that just dates me...
He came back from TB to play again. My Dad took my brother and me to the Polo Grounds after he came back. I actually shook his hand as did my brother and Dad. I don’t remember anything else, but that was a cool movement for a young boy.
RIP.
Starts at 2:20 (Refer any kneelers to the other long time Hall of Famer coincidentally there, Tommy Lasorda!)
I went to Florida not that long ago to take my son to watch spring training. It was wonderful. On the flight there was a guy who must have been in his mid-80s, who was reading the sports pages and baseball magazines, looking at player statistics - and taking notes. I thought it was very cool he still had that passion for the game. I'll never forget what it was like to be a kid, running on the grass of a local baseball field, smelling the leather from the glove I oil-soaped and wrapped around baseballs in order to shape-form, the warmth of the sun on my face, my bicycle on it's side (no kick stand) off on the sideline, and being too young to have too many worries.
He was an example we and our kids would do well to follow. God bless his family, wherever they may be.
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