1996 St. Louis Cardinals season

Last updated

1996  St. Louis Cardinals
National League Central champions
St Louis Cardinals Cap Insignia.svg
League National League
Division Central
Ballpark Busch Memorial Stadium
City St. Louis, Missouri
Record88–74 (.543)
Divisional place1st
Owners William DeWitt, Jr.
General managers Walt Jocketty
Managers Tony La Russa
Television KPLR
Prime Sports Midwest
(Al Hrabosky, Bob Carpenter, Joe Buck)
Radio KMOX
(Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Joe Buck)
  1995 Seasons 1997  

The 1996 St. Louis Cardinals season was the Cardinals' 115th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 105th season in the National League. It was Tony La Russa's first season managing the club, after leaving the Oakland Athletics. During the first year of the William DeWitt, Jr. era, the Cardinals went 88–74 during the season and won their first-ever National League Central title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS after being up 3–1. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch during the 1995-96 offseason.

Contents

Offseason

Ozzie Smith's final season

Legendary veteran shortstop Ozzie Smith announced during the season that it would be his last season in the Major Leagues, while veteran outfielder Willie McGee, was brought back to the Cards as a free agent. Though the tension between Smith and exciting youngster Royce Clayton, acquired in a trade, grew thick and troublesome at times as they shared time at shortstop, both players had good seasons. McGee came off the bench and started when needed.

Regular season

Season standings

NL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 8874.54348334041
Houston Astros 8280.506648333447
Cincinnati Reds 8181.500746353546
Chicago Cubs 7686.4691243383348
Pittsburgh Pirates 7389.4511536443745

Record vs. opponents

TeamATLCHCCINCOLFLAHOULADMTLNYMPHIPITSDSFSTL
Atlanta 7–57–55–76–76–65–710–37–69–49–39–47–59–4
Chicago 5–75–85–76–65–88–56–67–57–64–96–67–55–8
Cincinnati 5–78–57–63–97–64–83–96–610–25–89–39–45–8
Colorado 7–57–56–75–88–56–73–97–56–67–58–55–88–4
Florida 7–66–69–38–57–56–75–87–66–75–73–95–76–6
Houston 6–68–56–75–85–76–64–98–410–28–56–68–42–11
Los Angeles 7–55–88–47–67–66–69–38–47–66–65–87–68–4
Montreal 3–106–69–39–38–59–43–97–66–77–54–89–48–4
New York 6–75–76–65–76–74–84–86–77–68–53–106–65–7
Philadelphia 4–96–72–106–67–62–106–77–66–77–54–86–64–8
Pittsburgh 3–99–48–55–77–55–86–65–75–85–74–98–43–10
San Diego 4–96–63–95–89–36–68–58–410–38–49–411–24–8
San Francisco 5–75–74–98–57–54–86–74–96–66–64–82–117–6
St. Louis 4–98–58–54–86–611–24–84–87–58–410–38–46–7

Game log

1996 Game Log: 88–74 (Home: 48–33; Away: 40–41)
April: 12–15 (Home: 7–8; Away: 5–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
1April 1@ Mets 6–7DipotoFossas (0–1)Franco42,0600–1
2April 3@ Mets 5–3Stottlemyre (1–0)PersonEckersley (1)13,3231–1
3April 4@ Mets 9–10FrancoEckersley (0–1)15,5071–2
4April 5@ Braves 5–4 (14)Bailey (1–0)BieleckiEckersley (2)31,0712–2
5April 6@ Braves 3–2 (12)Parrett (1–0)Clontz34,6493–2
6April 7@ Braves 3–13SchmidtBusby (0–1)28,4983–3
7April 8 Expos 3–4 (10)RojasParrett (1–1)52,8413–4
8April 10 Expos 4–1Benes (1–0)Paniagua27,7344–4
9April 11 Phillies 2–1Benes (2–0)MulhollandMathews (1)23,4125–4
10April 12 Phillies 6–1Urbani (1–0)Williams26,7536–4
11April 13 Phillies 2–4HunterFossas (0–2)Bottalico28,9136–5
12April 14 Phillies 6–5Mathews (1–0)FernandezEckersley (3)27,5457–5
13April 15 Pirates 6–4Benes (3–0)EricksHoneycutt (1)18,7318–5
14April 16 Pirates 3–13SmithBenes (3–1)Lieber21,3498–6
15April 17 Pirates 6–1Osborne (1–0)Darwin23,0749–6
16April 18 Pirates 2–6WagnerStottlemyre (1–1)25,7009–7
17April 19@ Phillies 1–0Bailey (2–0)SpringerEckersley (4)25,61410–7
18April 20@ Phillies 1–0Benes (4–1)BottalicoEckersley (5)23,63011–7
19April 21@ Phillies 2–4GraceBenes (4–2)Bottalico32,89611–8
20April 22@ Expos 0–8CormierOsborne (1–1)9,77811–9
21April 23@ Expos 11–12ScottMathews (1–1)8,35211–10
22April 24 Mets 9–4Petkovsek (1–0)Harnisch23,18912–10
23April 25 Mets 3–9ClarkBenes (4–3)26,93312–11
24April 26 Braves 1–6AveryBenes (4–4)34,59812–12
25April 27 Braves 2–7MadduxOsborne (1–2)20,75712–13
26April 29 Braves 1–4GlavineStottlemyre (1–2)Wohlers25,45212–14
27April 30@ Cubs 6–7WendellEckersley (0–2)20,77112–15
May: 12–14 (Home: 4–6; Away: 8–8)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
28May 1@ Cubs 3–9TrachselBenes (4–5)25,66812–16
29May 3@ Padres 3–1Osborne (2–2)AshbyEckersley (6)21,33513–16
30May 4@ Padres 4–3Stottlemyre (2–2)BergmanEckersley (7)44,37514–16
31May 5@ Padres 4–10HamiltonBenes (4–6)27,43514–17
32May 7 Giants 2–4WatsonFossas (0–3)Beck23,49214–18
33May 8 Giants 7–10GardnerBenes (4–7)Beck22,51714–19
34May 9 Giants 16–8Parrett (2–1)Dewey37,92015–19
35May 10 Dodgers 2–3 (12)WorrellEckersley (0–3)36,82115–20
36May 11 Dodgers 2–4ValdezBenes (4–8)Worrell38,00815–21
37May 12 Dodgers 6–5Petkovsek (2–0)NomoEckersley (8)38,54916–21
38May 13@ Marlins 2–5BurkettBenes (4–9)Powell19,22716–22
39May 14@ Marlins 5–11MathewsParrett (2–2)16,07016–23
40May 15@ Marlins 6–0Stottlemyre (3–2)Rapp18,06617–23
41May 17@ Rockies 11–12LeskanicBailey (2–1)Ruffin48,07417–24
42May 18@ Rockies 8–9HabyanEckersley (0–4)48,10317–25
43May 19@ Rockies 3–10ThompsonBenes (4–10)48,07517–26
44May 20@ Astros 5–3Osborne (3–2)Drabek14,54718–26
45May 21@ Astros 8–2Stottlemyre (4–2)Reynolds17,93519–26
46May 22@ Astros 5–2Benes (5–10)KileMathews (2)15,35320–26
47May 24@ Marlins 4–2Morgan (1–0)BurkettMathews (3)19,58321–26
48May 25@ Marlins 5–0Benes (6–10)Rapp26,31222–26
49May 26@ Marlins 2–8 (7)WeathersOsborne (3–3)20,57322–27
50May 27 Rockies 2–5RitzStottlemyre (4–3)Ruffin38,80422–28
51May 28 Rockies 5–6PainterMathews (1–2)Holmes26,91322–29
52May 29 Rockies 6–5Petkovsek (3–0)LeskanicBenes (1)27,85623–29
53May 31 Astros 6–4Osborne (4–3)SwindellFossas (1)37,62524–29
June: 17–10 (Home: 10–1; Away: 7–9)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
54June 1 Astros 5–4 (10)Bailey (3–1)Hernandez34,95825–29
55June 2 Astros 2–0Stottlemyre (5–3)Kile32,70326–29
56June 3@ Padres 3–0Benes (7–10)Tewksbury13,62527–29
57June 4@ Padres 11–5Petkovsek (4–0)Worrell13,42728–29
58June 5@ Padres 4–6HoffmanFossas (0–4)12,21628–30
59June 7@ Giants 9–4Benes (8–10)Fernandez13,00929–30
60June 8@ Giants 1–4DeLuciaStottlemyre (5–4)Beck20,40129–31
61June 9@ Giants 0–9WatsonBenes (8–11)24,17629–32
62June 10@ Dodgers 1–2ParkMorgan (1–1)Osuna54,04329–33
63June 11@ Dodgers 6–3Osborne (5–3)MartinezHoneycutt (2)29,09630–33
64June 13 Mets 1–2PersonBenes (8–12)Henry30,69730–34
65June 14 Mets 13–4Stottlemyre (6–4)Isringhausen38,55631–34
66June 15 Mets 4–2Benes (9–12)JonesEckersley (9)50,63532–34
67June 16 Mets 5–4Petkovsek (5–0)HenryEckersley (10)31,37533–34
68June 18 Phillies 3–2Osborne (6–3)FernandezEckersley (11)31,31134–34
69June 19 Phillies 3–2Benes (10–12)Bottalico34,61235–34
70June 20@ Expos 3–8RueterStottlemyre (6–5)15,09535–35
71June 21@ Expos 3–4 (12)RojasEckersley (0–5)16,13635–36
72June 22@ Expos 9–4Morgan (2–1)Urbina16,89536–36
73June 23@ Expos 2–3FasseroOsborne (6–4)Rojas22,16836–37
74June 24@ Braves 9–2Benes (11–12)Smoltz31,97137–37
75June 25@ Braves 3–4SchmidtStottlemyre (6–6)Wohlers30,94237–38
76June 26@ Braves 11–7Benes (12–12)Avery31,19138–38
77June 27@ Braves 0–3MadduxMorgan (2–2)Wohlers32,24338–39
78June 28 Pirates 6–1Osborne (7–4)Neagle34,49039–39
79June 29 Pirates 6–5Honeycutt (1–0)Miceli34,42640–39
80June 30 Pirates 10–3Stottlemyre (7–6)Smith38,90141–39
July: 15–11 (Home: 6–8; Away: 9–3)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
81July 1 Reds 5–8CarrascoBenes (12–13)Brantley27,22141–40
82July 2 Reds 4–3Honeycutt (2–0)SmithEckersley (12)29,07442–40
83July 3 Reds 4–0Osborne (8–4)Smiley32,65843–40
84July 4@ Pirates 7–1Benes (13–13)Dessens23,32144–40
85July 5@ Pirates 7–4Stottlemyre (8–6)SmithFossas (2)18,75945–40
86July 6@ Pirates 9–5Benes (14–13)Darwin19,14446–40
87July 7@ Pirates 2–8LieberMorgan (2–3)16,25546–41
88July 11@ Cubs 0–6NavarroOsborne (8–5)38,80246–42
89July 12@ Cubs 13–3Benes (15–13)Trachsel38,91847–42
90July 13@ Cubs 10–5Stottlemyre (9–6)BullingerEckersley (13)39,25448–42
91July 14@ Cubs 7–6Benes (16–13)AdamsEckersley (14)38,63849–42
92July 15@ Reds 8–3Morgan (3–3)Salkeld38,45050–42
93July 16@ Reds 5–4Osborne (9–5)ShawEckersley (15)23,37051–42
94July 17@ Reds 6–4Benes (17–13)PortugalEckersley (16)28,87952–42
95July 18 Cubs 5–6BottenfieldPetkovsek (5–1)Wendell38,98352–43
96July 19 Cubs 9–1Benes (18–13)Castillo45,33653–43
97July 20 Cubs 0–3TrachselMorgan (3–4)Wendell50,41853–44
98July 21 Cubs 6–5 (10)Petkovsek (6–1)Wendell42,25754–44
99July 22 Braves 6–8McMichaelMathews (1–3)Wohlers36,21554–45
100July 23 Braves 2–3SmoltzStottlemyre (9–7)Wohlers35,52054–46
101July 24 Braves 1–4WadeBenes (18–14)McMichael35,41154–47
102July 25 Expos 2–4UrbinaPetkovsek (6–2)Rojas34,27154–48
103July 26 Expos 1–5FasseroOsborne (9–6)30,04854–49
104July 27 Expos 6–3Benes (19–14)DyerEckersley (17)44,26955–49
105July 28 Expos 6–4Petkovsek (7–2)MartinezMathews (4)31,22656–49
106July 30@ Phillies 7–8RyanMathews (1–4)20,16656–50
August: 15–15 (Home: 10–8; Away: 5–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
107August 1@ Phillies 1–2SpringerOsborne (9–7)Ryan56–51
108August 1@ Phillies 7–1Benes (20–14)Mimbs22,93457–51
109August 2@ Mets 4–3Stottlemyre (10–7)JonesHoneycutt (3)34,09158–51
110August 3@ Mets 4–5HarnischBenes (20–15)Franco28,59458–52
111August 4@ Mets 4–2Morgan (4–4)IsringhausenEckersley (18)24,59559–52
112August 5 Padres 8–2Benes (21–15)Tewksbury28,65360–52
113August 6 Padres 0–1WorrellOsborne (9–8)Hoffman25,78260–53
114August 7 Padres 1–0Petkovsek (8–2)Bochtler24,82361–53
115August 8 Giants 3–5 (10)PooleHoneycutt (2–1)Beck34,84461–54
116August 9 Giants 6–8FernandezMorgan (4–5)Beck30,11861–55
117August 10 Giants 7–1Benes (22–15)VanLandingham49,34462–55
118August 11 Giants 5–3Osborne (10–8)WatsonEckersley (19)30,13963–55
119August 13 Dodgers 4–8CandiottiStottlemyre (10–8)30,76163–56
120August 14 Dodgers 6–1Benes (23–15)Valdez26,94564–56
121August 15 Dodgers 2–5NomoMorgan (4–6)Worrell32,93064–57
122August 16 Marlins 6–2Benes (24–15)Rapp30,50765–57
123August 17 Marlins 4–3Mathews (2–4)PowellEckersley (20)30,79266–57
124August 18 Marlins 5–3Stottlemyre (11–8)LeiterEckersley (21)34,56467–57
125August 20@ Rockies 4–5 (13)MunozMathews (2–5)48,12667–58
126August 21@ Rockies 2–10ReynosoBenes (24–16)48,04567–59
127August 22@ Rockies 5–10BaileyMorgan (4–7)48,08667–60
128August 23@ Astros 1–0Osborne (11–8)KileEckersley (22)35,55468–60
129August 24@ Astros 1–3ReynoldsStottlemyre (11–9)43,25868–61
130August 25@ Astros 1–4WallBenes (24–17)Hernandez31,60968–62
131August 26@ Astros 3–2Benes (25–17)HamptonEckersley (23)21,62469–62
132August 27 Marlins 3–6HuttonMorgan (4–8)Nen24,78469–63
133August 28 Marlins 2–3 (10)HammondBailey (3–2)Nen21,76769–64
134August 29 Marlins 9–10LeiterStottlemyre (11–10)Nen23,10569–65
135August 30 Rockies 7–4Benes (26–17)WrightEckersley (24)25,53070–65
136August 31 Rockies 2–1Benes (27–17)BaileyEckersley (25)35,80471–65
September: 17–9 (Home: 11–2; Away: 6–7)
#DateOpponentScoreWinLossSaveAttendanceRecord
137September 1 Rockies 15–6Petkovsek (9–2)Rekar28,55272–65
138September 2 Astros 8–7 (10)Benes (28–17)Brocail32,95573–65
139September 3 Astros 12–3Stottlemyre (12–10)Reynolds23,95574–65
140September 4 Astros 6–4Benes (29–17)WallEckersley (26)34,89175–65
141September 6 Padres 8–3Petkovsek (10–2)Tewksbury28,11676–65
142September 7 Padres 8–3Osborne (12–8)Ashby42,84677–65
143September 8 Padres 4–5ValenzuelaStottlemyre (12–11)Hoffman30,89777–66
144September 9@ Giants 6–2Benes (30–17)Gardner10,30778–66
145September 10@ Giants 1–0Petkovsek (11–2)RueterEckersley (27)8,77079–66
146September 11@ Giants 2–4ScottBenes (30–18)Beck9,67379–67
147September 12@ Dodgers 1–4NomoOsborne (12–9)Osuna34,19179–68
148September 13@ Dodgers 2–0Batchelor (1–0)GuthrieEckersley (28)36,65780–68
149September 14@ Dodgers 5–9MartinezBenes (30–19)44,54880–69
150September 15@ Dodgers 5–6RadinskyEckersley (0–6)Worrell35,80380–70
151September 17 Cubs 5–3Osborne (13–9)PattersonMathews (5)29,61281–70
152September 18 Cubs 5–3Stottlemyre (13–11)TrachselEckersley (29)32,84382–70
153September 19 Cubs 5–4 (13)Bailey (4–2)Campbell34,92383–70
154September 20@ Reds 2–4BurbaBenes (30–20)Brantley23,49683–71
155September 22@ Reds 3–6ShawMathews (2–6)Brantley83–72
156September 22@ Reds 0–6SmileyJackson (0–1)38,22583–73
157September 23@ Reds 3–2Stottlemyre (14–11)MorganEckersley (30)17,31384–73
158September 24@ Pirates 7–1Benes (31–20)Loaiza8,61185–73
159September 25@ Pirates 8–7 (11)Bailey (5–2)MiceliMathews (6)20,02286–73
160September 27 Reds 2–1 (11)Batchelor (2–0)Shaw39,73087–73
161September 28 Reds 5–2Jackson (1–1)MorganHoneycutt (4)52,87688–73
162September 29 Reds 3–6LyonsLudwick (0–1)Brantley51,37988–74
Legend:       = Win       = Loss
Bold = Cardinals team member

Detailed records

Opening Day starters

Roster

1996 St. Louis Cardinals
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

OutfieldersManager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Tom Pagnozzi 119407110.2701355
1B John Mabry 151543161.2971374
2B Luis Alicea 12938098.258542
SS Royce Clayton 129491136.277635
3B Gary Gaetti 141522143.2742380
LF Ron Gant 122419103.2463082
CF Ray Lankford 149545150.2752186
RF Brian Jordan 140513159.31017104

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Willie McGee 12330995.307541
Ozzie Smith 8222764.282218
Danny Sheaffer 7919845.227220
Mark Sweeney 9817045.265322
David Bell 6214531.21419
Mike Gallego 5114330.21004
Pat Borders 266922.31904
Dmitri Young 16297.24102
Miguel Mejia 45232.08700
Terry Bradshaw 15217.33303
Mike DiFelice 472.28602
Aaron Holbert 130.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Andy Benes 36230.118103.83160
Todd Stottlemyre 34223.114113.87194
Donovan Osborne 30198.21393.53134
Alan Benes 34191.013104.90131
Mike Morgan 18103.0485.2455
Mike Busby 14.00118.004
Brian Barber 13.00015.001

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Mark Petkovsek 4888.21123.5545
Danny Jackson 1336.1114.4627
Tom Urbani 311.2107.711
Eric Ludwick 610.0019.0012

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
Dennis Eckersley 6306303.3049
T.J. Mathews 672663.0180
Tony Fossas 650422.6836
Rick Honeycutt 612142.8530
Cory Bailey 515203.0038
Jeff Parrett 332204.2542
Rich Batchelor 112001.2011

NLDS

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

GameHomeScoreVisitorScoreDateSeries
1St. Louis3San Diego1October 11-0 (STL)
2St. Louis5San Diego4October 32-0 (STL)
3San Diego5St. Louis7October 53-0 (STL)

NLCS

Game 1

October 9: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789 R H E
St. Louis010000100251
Atlanta00002002X490
WP: John Smoltz (1-0)   LP: Mark Petkovsek (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (1)
Home runs:
STL: None
ATL: None

Game 2

October 10: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789 R H E
St. Louis1020005008112
Atlanta002001000352
WP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-0)   LP: Greg Maddux (0-1)
Home runs:
STL: Gary Gaetti (1)
ATL: Marquis Grissom (1)

Game 3

October 12: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789 R H E
Atlanta100000010281
St. Louis20000100X370
WP: Donovan Osborne (1-0)   LP: Tom Glavine (0-1)   Sv: Dennis Eckersley (1)
Home runs:
ATL: None
STL: Ron Gant 2 (2)

Game 4

October 13: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789 R H E
Atlanta010002000391
St. Louis00000031X450
WP: Dennis Eckersley (1-0)   LP: Greg McMichael (0-1)
Home runs:
ATL: Mark Lemke (1), Ryan Klesko (1)
STL: Brian Jordan (1)

Game 5

October 14: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team123456789 R H E
Atlanta52031001214220
St. Louis000000000070
WP: John Smoltz (2-0)   LP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-1)
Home runs:
ATL: Fred McGriff (1), Javy López (1),
STL: None

Game 6

October 16: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789 R H E
St. Louis000000010161
Atlanta01001001X370
WP: Greg Maddux (1-1)   LP: Alan Benes (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (2)
Home runs:
STL: None
ATL: None

Game 7

October 17: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team123456789 R H E
St. Louis000000000042
Atlanta60040320X15170
WP: Tom Glavine (1-1)   LP: Donovan Osborne (1-1)
Home runs:
STL: None
ATL: Javy López (2), Andruw Jones (1), Fred McGriff (2)

Awards and honors

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Louisville Redbirds American Association Joe Pettini
AA Arkansas Travelers Texas League Rick Mahler
A St. Petersburg Cardinals Florida State League Chris Maloney
A Peoria Chiefs Midwest League Roy Silver
A-Short Season New Jersey Cardinals New York–Penn League Scott Melvin
Rookie Johnson City Cardinals Appalachian League Steve Turco

[3]

References

  1. Willie McGee Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
  2. Mike Gallego Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
  3. Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007