“Call of a disco ball” St. Louis Cardinals furnishing a tribute to their 1982 World Series team
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St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals’ 1982 team were back in St. Louis on Saturday to celebrate the 40-year anniversary of the 1982 World Series championship team. One of those legendary teammates was Jim Kaat, who upon his induction to the Hall of Fame told anyone who would listen that his favorite season as a pro came in 1982 with the World Series champion.
It is indeed said that the 1982 team was tailored to perfection and the style of baseball crafted by then manager Whitey Herzog of St. Louis Cardinals impressed Jim Kaat in every way imaginable. The surrounding while playing in cavernous Busch Stadium was electrifying as the team were swept their opponents.
Jim Kaat said, “The last part of my [Hall of Fame] induction speech was that this was the most exciting team that I’ve played on, and it was my most exciting and rewarding season ever,”
The 1982 Cardinals relied more on their 200 stolen bases than their 67 home runs. Jim Kaat added, “I didn’t find out a lot of this until my career was over, but I had 17 years between World Series appearances.”
St. Louis Cardinals 1982 team reflect upon their marvelous World Series Championship
St. Louis Cardinals’ Jim Kaat continued, “And then, after we won the World Series, no player in any professional sport had to play 24 years before winning a championship ring. Those aren’t records of accomplishment, but they are examples of how honored I am to be a part of that Cardinals team because it was such an exciting one.”
Willie McGee, the assistant coach for the St. Louis Cardinals was a rookie with the 1982 championship team, “What a team, you had Tommy Herr at second, Ozzie [Smith] at short, [Ken] Oberkfell at third and Keith Hernandez at first — one of the better infields to ever play this game.”
St. Louis Cardinals’ Willie McGee, hit two home runs and defensively robbed a Gorman Thomas home run in Game 3 of the World Series, “[Paul Goldschmidt] is a great first baseman [for the current Cardinals], but I’ve never seen anybody play first like Keith. Keith could come flying in on bunts and throw the ball to second or third better than anybody I’ve ever seen.”
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Yagya Bhargava
(611 Articles Published)