The Chris Moeller Archives

The reddest Cardinal of them all

I want to take the time to reflect upon the life of Albert “Red” Schoendienst, who died last week and whose funeral will be held on Friday. Here are some highlights…

1890-- The Cincinnati Red Stockings baseball team changes its nickname to simply the "Reds" in honor of Schoendienst.

1923-- Red is born a German in the village of Germantown, Illinois, just 40 miles east of St. Louis. Germantown is the oldest Catholic German settlement in the state of Illinois. Its population was 766 in the 1920 U.S. census.

1942-- As a teenager, hitches a ride into the Browns and Cardinals’ Sportsman’s Park for an amateur tryout with the Cardinals. Scores a minor league contract as a shortstop.

1946-- First full year with the Cardinals as all the other players return from the war. Cards win their 6th-ever title with Schoendienst the regular at second base. Stan Musial moves in from the outfield to become the first baseman. Red and Stan are part of the historic three-man infield shift (against Ted Williams in the Series) that is now used in about 50% of all MLB plate appearances.

Late '40s-- Begins rooming with Musial on the road and will for the next decade or so.

1950-- Game winning home run in the 14th inning of the All-Star Game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.

'50s-- During the off-seasons, participates in the National Budweiser Bowling Tour, which is one of the most 1950s things you can say about a person.

1956-- Traded to the New York Giants.

1957-- Traded from the Giants to the Milwaukee Braves, where he again brings a World Championship to his team in his first year, alongside Aaron, Mathews, Burdette, and Spahn.

1963-- Retires as a player, back with the Cardinals since '61. Was a 10-time All-Star.

1964-- Wins another ring, this one as the bench coach for the Cardinals, under manager Johnny Keane. Keane leaves the world champs for the runners-up (the Yankees) after the series. Schoendienst becomes manager starting in ’65.

1967-- World title again, Schoendienst does little actual managing as this ultimate team of professionals manages itself. Stan serves his one and only season for Gussie Busch as Cards general manager, but the ultimate team of professionals doesn’t need a general manager either, and Musial makes no notable moves during his tenure. Red and Stan are there to provide the good luck charms that are Red and Stan.

1968-- Another NL Pennant, Cards lose to Detroit in 7 in the Series. Red remains chill.

1975-- Replaced as Cards' manager by Vern Rapp. The next four seasons are the only ones between 1964 and 2012 that the Cards are not managed by a future Hall of Famer, either Schoendienst, Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre, or Tony LaRussa. Blogger Chris Moeller is born this year.

1980-- Red serves as interim manager between Ken Boyer and Whitey.

1982-- Red is bench coach for Whitey and for another World Championship, the team's ninth. Red and Whitey are also, notably, the team’s colors.

1977 to 2015-- Red hits fungoes

August 1988-- A 65-year-old Red meets a 13-year-old Chris Moeller on the sidewalk outside the club office of Busch Stadium II and provides his autograph on a scorecard after a game against the Braves. And these then are the five great German names in Cardinals team history: Schoendienst, Herzog, Busch, Herr, and Moller.

1989-- Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame along with long-time Cardinals broadcaster Harry Caray. A framed Sports Illustrated magazine ad from the summer of '89 hangs in Moeller’s designated Cardinals’ room. The ad, purchased by the Anheuser-Busch brewery, reads in part, "On July 23rd, Two of our Good Friends Were Put in Their Place,” next to a mock-up of a Cooperstown highway sign. The ad also reminds us to “Know When to Say When.”

1990-- Serves as interim manager between Herzog and Torre. The ‘90s become Red's fourth decade as Cards manager.

1996-- Red's uniform number 2 is retired by the club. He's already the only man to wear it for the last half century. Chris Moeller attends the game at Busch II on Red Schoendienst Day in June, and a placard of this hangs in the Cardinals room as well. Red continues to wear the number 2 for at least ten years more.

2006-2017-- Red wears the Cardinals' Hall of Fame red sport jacket at every annual Busch III Opening Day. He earns two more World Series rings in '06 and '11 while serving as assistant to the general manager. He's the only man to possess a Cardinals World Series ring for every championship from 1946 to 2011.

2018-- Red dies at the age of 95 having worn a Major League Baseball uniform for 74 years as player, coach, and manager, and wears the Cardinals' uniform for 67 of his 76 years in the professional game. Musial was famously “the Man,” but Red Schoendienst was “Mr. Cardinal.”

posted by CM @ 9:46 PM