At the end of the World Series, I wrote a blog post where I paid tribute to every single Boston Red Sox pitcher who threw the clinching pitch in a post season series.
It was a fascinating walk down the proverbial baseball memory lane. But this is not exclusively a Red Sox blog. And with the St. Louis Cardinals making the World Series, there are many post seasons to revisit with them as well.
The Cardinals have one of the most storied franchises in history and some great Hall of Famers have thrown the final pitch in October, plus a few obscure names as well.
St. Louis fans cheered at the end of 27 total playoff series, including 9 Division Series, 7 NLCS, 11 World Series and the 2012 Wild Card Game.
No post season series won by the Cardinals finished with an offensive play. There are no series walk off hits in St. Louis history.
Here are the Cardinal pitchers who delivered the ultimate triumph.
GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER
Game 7, 1926 World Series
Cardinals 3, Yankees 2
October 10, 1926
At Yankee Stadium
2 1/3 innings of relief of starter Jesse Haines for the save.
FINAL OUT: Babe Ruth caught stealing, catcher to shortstop.
BILL HALLAHAN
Game 7, 1931 World Series
Cardinals 4. Athletics 2
October 10, 1931
At Sportsman Park, St. Louis
1/3 of an inning of relief of starter Burleigh Grimes for the save.
FINAL OUT: Max Bishop flies out to center fielder Pepper Martin.
DIZZY DEAN
Game 7, 1934 World Series
Cardinals 11, Tigers 0
October 9, 1934
At Briggs Stadium, Detroit
Complete game 6 hit shutout.
FINAL OUT: Marv Owen hits into a force to shortstop Leo Durocher who throws to second baseman Frankie Frisch to retire Billy Rogell.
JOHNNY BEAZLEY
Game 5, 1942 World Series
Cardinals 4, Yankees 2
October 5, 1942
At Yankee Stadium
Complete game victory.
FINAL OUT: George Selkirk grounds to second baseman Jimmy Brown who throws to first baseman Johnny Hopp for the out.
TED WILKS
Game 6, 1944 World Series
Cardinals 3, Browns 1
October 9, 1944
At Sportsman Park
3 2/3 innings of shutout relief of Max Lainer for the save.
FINAL OUT: Strikeout of pinch hitter Mike Chartak.
HARRY BRECHEEN
Game 7, 1946 World Series
Cardinals 4, Red Sox 3
October 15, 1946
At Sportsman Park
2 innings of relief for starter Murry Dickson for the win.
FINAL OUT: Tom McBride grounds out to second baseman Red Schoendienst who throws to shortstop Marty Marion to force out Pinky Higgins.
BOB GIBSON
Game 7, 1964 World Series
Cardinals 7, Yankees 5
October 15, 1964
At Sportsman Park
Complete Game Victory.
FINAL OUT: Bobby Richardson pops up to second baseman Dal Maxvill.
Game 7, 1967 World Series
Cardinals 7, Red Sox 2
October 12, 1967
At Fenway Park
Complete Game Victory.
FINAL OUT: Strikeout of George Scott.
BRUCE SUTTER
Game 3. 1982 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 6, Braves 2
October 10, 1982
Atlanta – Fulton County Stadium
2 1/3 innings of relief for starter Joaquin Andujar for the save.
FINAL OUT: Chris Chambliss flies out to left fielder Lonnie Smith.
Game 7, 1982 World Series
Cardinals 6, Brewers 3
October 20, 1982
Busch Stadium, St. Louis
2 innings of relief for starter Joaquin Andujar for the save.
FINAL OUT: Strikeout of Gorman Thomas.
KEN DAYLEY
Game 6, 1985 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 7, Dodgers 5
October 16, 1985
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
1 inning of relief for starter Joaquin Andujar and reliever Todd Worrell for the save.
FINAL OUT: Pedro Guerrero flies out to center fielder Willie McGee.
DANNY COX
Game 7, 1987 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 6, Giants 0
October 14, 1987
Busch Stadium
Complete Game 8 hit shutout.
FINAL OUT: Chili Davis flies out to left fielder Vince Coleman.
DENNIS ECKERSLEY
Game 3, 1996 National League Division Series
Cardinals 7, Padres 5
October 5, 1996
Jack Murphy Stadium, San Dieg0
1 Inning of relief of four pitchers including starter Donovan Osborne for the save.
FINAL OUT: Steve Finley flies out to centerfielder Ray Lankford.
DAVE VERES
Game 3, 2000 National League Division Series
Cardinals 7, Braves 1
October 7, 2000
Turner Field, Atlanta
1 inning of relief for four pitchers including starter Garrett Stephenson and winner Britt Rheames.
FINAL OUT: Paul Bako strikes out.
JASON ISRINGHAUSEN
Game 3, 2002 National League Division Series
Cardinals 6, Diamondbacks 3
October 5, 2002
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Andy Benes and three other relievers for the save.
FINAL OUT: David Delucci grounds to second baseman Fernando Vina who throws to first baseman Tino Martinez.
Game 4, 2004 National League Division Series
Cardinals 6, Dodgers 2
October 10, 2004
Dodger Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Jeff Suppan and two other relievers.
FINAL OUT: Alex Cora strikes out.
Game 7, 2004 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 5, Astros 2
October 21, 2004
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Jeff Suppan and two other relievers for the save.
FINAL OUT: Jose Vizcaino grounds out to second baseman Tony Womack who throws to first baseman Albert Pujols for the out.
Game 3, 2005 National League Division Series
Cardinals 7, Padres 4
October 8, 2005
PetCo Park, San Diego
1 1/3 innings of relief for starter Matt Morris and three other relievers for the save.
FINAL OUT: Ryan Klesko grounds to Isringhausen who throws to first baseman Albert Pujols for the out.
ADAM WAINWRIGHT
Game 4, 2006 National League Division Series
Cardinals 6, Padres 2
October 8, 2006
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Chris Carpenter and two other relievers.
FINAL OUT: Dave Roberts grounds out to first baseman Albert Pujols.
Game 7, 2006 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 3, Mets 1
October 19, 2006
Shea Stadium, New York
1 inning of relief for starter Jeff Suppan and winning pitcher Randy Flores for the save.
FINAL OUT: Carlos Beltran called out on strikes.
Game 5, 2006 World Series
Cardinals 4, Tigers 2
October 27, 2006
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Jeff Weaver.
FINAL OUT: Brandon Inge strikes out.
Game 5, 2013 National League Division Series
Cardinals 6, Pirates 1
October 9, 2013
Busch Stadium
Complete game victory
FINAL OUT: Pedro Alvarez strikes out.
CHRIS CARPENTER
Game 5, 2011 National League Division Series
Cardinals 1, Phillies 0
October 7, 2011
Citizens Bank Ballpark, Philadelphia
Complete Game 3 Hit Shutout
FINAL OUT: Ryan Howard grounds out to second baseman Nick Punto who throws to first baseman Albert Pujols for the out.
JASON MOTTE
Game 6, 2011 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 12, Brewers 6
October 16, 2011
Miller Park, Milwaukee
1 inning of relief for starter Edwin Jackson, winner, Marc Rzepczynski and three other relievers.
FINAL OUT: Pinch Hitter Mark Kotsay strikes out.
Game 7, 2011 World Series
Cardinals 6, Rangers 2
October 28, 2011
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Chris Carpenter and three other relievers.
FINAL OUT: David Murphy flies out to left fielder Allen Craig
2012 National League Wild Card Game
Cardinals 6, Braves 3
October 5, 2012
Turner Field
1 inning of relief for starter Kyle Lohse and four other relievers for the save.
FINAL OUT: Dan Uggla grounds out to second baseman Daniel Descalso who throws to first baseman Allen Craig for the out.
Game 5, 2012 National League Division Series
Cardinals 9, Nationals 7
October 12, 2012
Nationals Park, Washington
2 innings of relief for starter Adam Wainwright and four other relievers for the win.
FINAL OUT: Ryan Zimmerman pops up to second baseman Daniel Descalso.
TREVOR ROSENTHAL
Game 6, 2013 National League Championship Series
Cardinals 9, Dodgers 0
October 18, 2013
Busch Stadium
1 inning of relief for starter Michael Wacha and reliever Carlos Martinez.
FINAL OUT: Mark Ellis strikes out.
That’s quite a collection of Hall of Famers and some relievers you may have forgotten. Alexander, Dean, Gibson, Sutter and Eckersley are all in Cooperstown as of now.
Alexander had thrown a complete game victory in Game 6 of the 1926 World Series and earned the save in Game 7.
Likewise, Breechen won Game 6 as a starter and Game 7 as a reliever.
Bob Gibson, Bruce Sutter, Jason Isringhausen, Adam Wainwright and Jason Motte clinched multiple series. Wainwright is the only one to do so as both a starter and a reliever.
With the Cardinals pitching staff as deep as it is, no doubt this list will be updated very soon.
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