1983 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
1983 season
was a season in American baseball
. It was the team's 102nd season in St. Louis, Missouri
and the 92nd season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 79-83 during the season and finished 4th in the National League East
, eleven games behind the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies
.
First baseman Keith Hernandez
, shortstop Ozzie Smith
, and outfielder Willie McGee
won Gold Gloves
this year, although Hernandez was traded to the New York Mets
in mid-season.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
1983 season
1983 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It was the team's 102nd season in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and the 92nd season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Cardinals went 79-83 during the season and finished 4th in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
, eleven games behind the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies
1983 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season involved the Phillies winning the National League East Division title with a record of 90-72, six games over the Pittsburgh Pirates...
.
First baseman Keith Hernandez
Keith Hernandez
Keith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
, shortstop Ozzie Smith
Ozzie Smith
Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is an American former baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996...
, and outfielder Willie McGee
Willie McGee
Willie Dean McGee is a retired professional baseball player who won two batting titles and was named Major League Baseball's National League MVP. McGee primarily played center and right field, winning three Gold Glove Awards for defensive excellence. McGee spent the majority of his 18-year career...
won Gold Gloves
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
this year, although Hernandez was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in mid-season.
Offseason
- December 2, 1982: Julio GonzálezJulio González (infielder)Julio César González Hernández is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in the majors from until . He played about equally at shortstop and second base, with a lesser but still substantial number at third base.-Sources:...
was released by the Cardinals. - February 16, 1983: Jamie QuirkJamie QuirkJames Patrick Quirk is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs. Quirk attended Whittier College.-Playing career:Quirk was also a Parade Magazine All-America quarterback at St...
was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.
Regular season
- Steve CarltonSteve CarltonSteven Norman Carlton , nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965-1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards...
won his 300th game on September 23, 1983, against his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Opening Day starters
- Bob ForschBob ForschRobert Herbert Forsch was an American right-handed starting pitcher who spent most of his sixteen years in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals before finishing his playing career with the Houston Astros...
- David Green
- George HendrickGeorge HendrickGeorge Andrew Hendrick Jr. is a former major league outfielder for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. However Hendrick is best remembered as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, for whom he played for from 1979–84. He was a...
- Keith HernandezKeith HernandezKeith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
- Ken OberkfellKen OberkfellKenneth Raymond Oberkfell is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman and ex-coach for the New York Mets. He played from 1977-1992 for six different teams. Oberkfell primarily played third base but was also known to play second base and both corner outfield positions...
- Darrell PorterDarrell PorterDarrell Ray Porter was a former American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. He was known for his excellent defensive skills and power hitting...
- Mike RamseyMike Ramsey (infielder)Michael Jeffrey Ramsey was a Major League Baseball infielder. He attended Appalachian State University.Ramsey played for Roswell High School. He was drafted in the 26th round of the 1972 amateur draft by the Chicago Cubs, but did not sign. In 1975, Ramsey was again drafted, this time in the 3rd...
- Lonnie SmithLonnie SmithLonnie Smith is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He made his debut for the Philadelphia Phillies on September 2, 1978 and later played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles...
- Ozzie SmithOzzie SmithOsborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is an American former baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals from 1978 to 1996...
Notable transactions
- June 15, 1983: Keith HernandezKeith HernandezKeith Barlow Hernandez is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a baseball analyst working for the New York Mets, for whom he played from –, on SportsNet New York and WPIX television broadcasts...
was traded by the Cardinals to the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
for Neil AllenNeil AllenNeil Patrick Allen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher currently serving as pitching coach for the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Durham Bulls.-New York Mets:...
and Rick OwnbeyRick OwnbeyRichard Wayne Ownbey is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the New York Mets and St...
. - July 6, 1983: Jim KaatJim KaatJames Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
was released by the Cardinals. - August 2, 1983: Eric RasmussenEric RasmussenEric Ralph Rasmussen is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors, between and...
was purchased from the Cardinals by the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
Draft picks
- June 6, 1983: 1983 Major League Baseball Draft1983 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
- Jim LindemanJim LindemanJames William Lindeman is a former Major League Baseball player. He played mostly in the outfield and at first base, appearing in parts of nine seasons in the majors from until .- Professional career :...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1st round (24th pick). - Tom PagnozziTom PagnozziThomas Alan Pagnozzi is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a catcher, Pagnozzi also made 40 appearances at first base and seven appearances at third base during his 12-season career, which spanned from 1987 to 1998.Initially a backup catcher and utility...
was drafted by the Cardinals in the 8th round. Player signed June 18, 1983.
- Jim Lindeman
Roster
| 1983 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 144 | 529 | 168 | .318 | 18 | 97 | |
| SS | 159 | 552 | 134 | .243 | 3 | 50 | |
| CF | 147 | 601 | 172 | .286 | 5 | 75 | |
| RF | 146 | 422 | 120 | .284 | 8 | 69 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 218 | 62 | .284 | 3 | 26 | |
| 78 | 92 | 25 | .272 | 3 | 7 | |
| 48 | 86 | 18 | .209 | 2 | 11 | |
| 42 | 60 | 10 | .167 | 0 | 3 | |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 225 | 6 | 16 | 4.16 | 125 | |
| 34 | 187 | 10 | 12 | 4.28 | 56 | |
| 25 | 121.2 | 10 | 6 | 3.70 | 74 | |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3.29 | 21 | |
| 26 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.03 | 21 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.80 | 1 | |
| 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11.74 | 6 | |