1968 St. Louis Cardinals season

{{About|the Major League Baseball team|the National Football League team|1968 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season}}

{{Infobox baseball team season

| name = St. Louis Cardinals

| season = 1968

| misc = National League Champions

| image = St Louis Cardinals Cap Insignia.svg

| league = National League

| ballpark = Busch Memorial Stadium

| city = St. Louis, Missouri

| record = 97–65 (.599)

| league_place = 1st

| owners = August "Gussie" Busch

| general_managers = Bing Devine

| managers = Red Schoendienst

| television = KSD-TV

| radio = KMOX
(Harry Caray, Jack Buck)

}}

The 1968 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 87th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 77th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 97–65 during the season, winning their second consecutive NL pennant, this time by nine games over the San Francisco Giants. They lost in 7 games to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. The Cardinals would not return to the postseason until 1982.

Following the season, Major League Baseball announced plans to split both the National and American Leagues into East and West divisions starting with the 1969 season in order to accommodate the inclusion of two new franchises to each league. The Cardinals were assigned to the new National League East division. Originally, the Cardinals were placed in the National League West division. However, the New York Mets, wanting to compensate for the loss of home games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, desired three extra games against the Cardinals, the two-time defending NL champions. The Cardinals were thus moved to the National League East division along with the Chicago Cubs, who wished to maintain their long-standing rivalry with the Cardinals. The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds were correspondingly shifted to the National League West despite both being east of St. Louis and Chicago, a configuration maintained until 1993.

Offseason

Prior to 1968 season: Luis Meléndez was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cardinals.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/m/melenlu01.shtml Luis Meléndez page at Baseball Reference]
February 8, 1968: Jimy Williams and Pat Corrales were traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds for Johnny Edwards.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/w/williji03.shtml Jimy Williams page at Baseball Reference]

Regular season

Pitcher Bob Gibson won both the MVP Award and the Cy Young Award this year, with a 1.12 ERA, 22 wins, and 268 strikeouts. From June 2 to July 30, Gibson allowed only two earned runs in 92 innings pitched.Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records, p. 25, Kerry Banks, 2010, Greystone Books, Vancouver, BC, {{ISBN|978-1-55365-507-7}} For the season, opposing batters only had a batting average of .184, and an on-base percentage of .233 against Gibson. Gibson also won a Gold Glove this year, as did shortstop Dal Maxvill and outfielder Curt Flood.

=Season standings=

= Record vs. opponents =

=Opening Day lineup=

=Notable transactions=

June 7, 1968: Bob Forsch was drafted by the Cardinals in the 26th round of the 1968 Major League Baseball Draft.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/forscbo01.shtml Bob Forsch page at Baseball Reference]
June 14, 1968: Ramón Hernández was purchased by the Cardinals from the Chicago Cubs.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hernara01.shtml Ramón Hernández page at Baseball Reference]

=Roster=

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="10" style="background-color: #c41e3a; color: white; text-align: center;" \| 1968 St. Louis Cardinals
colspan="10" style="background-color: #0a2252; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" \| Roster
valign="top" \| Pitchers {{MLBplayer\|34\|Nelson Briles}} {{MLBplayer\|32\|Steve Carlton}} {{MLBplayer\|45\|Bob Gibson}} {{MLBplayer\|47\|Hal Gilson}} {{MLBplayer\|29\|Wayne Granger}} {{MLBplayer\|43\|Joe Hoerner}} {{MLBplayer\|31\|Dick Hughes}} {{MLBplayer\|39\|Larry Jaster}} {{MLBplayer\|46\|Pete Mikkelsen}} {{MLBplayer\|47\|Mel Nelson}} {{MLBplayer\|47\|Mike Torrez}} {{MLBplayer\|44\|Ray Washburn}} {{MLBplayer\|36\|Ron Willis}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Catchers {{MLBplayer\| 7\|Johnny Edwards}} {{MLBplayer\|15\|Tim McCarver}} {{MLBplayer\|10\|Dave Ricketts}} {{MLBplayer\|23\|Ted Simmons}} Infielders {{MLBplayer\|30\|Orlando Cepeda}} {{MLBplayer\|16\|Phil Gagliano}} {{MLBplayer\|25\|Julián Javier}} {{MLBplayer\|27\|Dal Maxvill}} {{MLBplayer\|11\|Dick Schofield}} {{MLBplayer\|18\|Mike Shannon}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Outfielders {{MLBplayer\|20\|Lou Brock}} {{MLBplayer\|14\|Ron Davis}} {{MLBplayer\|21\|Curt Flood}} {{MLBplayer\|12\|Joe Hague}} {{MLBplayer\| 9\|Roger Maris}} {{MLBplayer\|12\|Dick Simpson}} {{MLBplayer\|26\|Ed Spiezio}} {{MLBplayer\|17\|Bobby Tolan}} Other batters {{MLBplayer\|37\|Floyd Wicker}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Manager {{MLBplayer\| 2\|Red Schoendienst}} Coaches {{MLBplayer\| 8\|Bob Milliken}} {{MLBplayer\| 4\|Billy Muffett}} {{MLBplayer\| 3\|Joe Schultz}} {{MLBplayer\| 5\|Dick Sisler}}

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"

colspan="10" style="background-color: #c41e3a; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1968 St. Louis Cardinals

colspan="10" style="background-color: #0a2252; color: #FFFFFF; text-align: center;" | Roster

valign="top" | Pitchers

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Catchers

Infielders

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Outfielders

Other batters

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Manager

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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| Pos ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| AB ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| H ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| Avg. ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| HR ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| RBI
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| C	{{sortname\|Tim\|McCarver}}	128	434	110	.253	5	48
align="center" \| 1B	{{sortname\|Orlando\|Cepeda}}	157	600	149	.248	16	73
align="center" \| 2B	{{sortname\|Julián\|Javier}}	139	519	135	.260	4	52
align="center" \| SS	{{sortname\|Dal\|Maxvill}}	119	459	116	.253	1	24
align="center" \| 3B	{{sortname\|Mike\|Shannon}}	156	576	153	.266	15	79
align="center" \| LF	{{sortname\|Lou\|Brock}}	159	660	184	.279	6	51
align="center" \| CF	{{sortname\|Curt\|Flood}}	150	618	186	.301	5	60
align="center" \| RF	{{sortname\|Roger\|Maris}}	100	310	79	.255	5	45

==Other batters==

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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| AB ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| H ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| Avg. ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| HR ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| RBI
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Bobby\|Tolan}}	92	278	64	.230	5	17
align="center \| {{sortname\|Johnny\|Edwards\|Johnny Edwards (baseball)}}	84	230	55	.239	3	29
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dick\|Schofield\|Ducky Schofield}}	69	127	28	.220	1	8
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Phil\|Gagliano}}	53	105	24	.229	0	13
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Davis\|Ron Davis (outfielder)}}	33	79	14	.177	0	5
align="center \| {{sortname\|Dick\|Simpson}}	26	56	13	.232	3	8
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ed\|Spiezio}}	29	51	8	.157	0	2
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dave\|Ricketts}}	20	22	3	.136	0	1
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Joe\|Hague}}	7	17	4	.235	1	1
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Floyd\|Wicker}}	5	4	2	.500	0	0
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ted\|Simmons}}	2	3	1	.333	0	0

=Pitching=

==Starting pitchers==

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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| IP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Bob\|Gibson}}	34	304.2	22	9	1.12	268
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Nelson\|Briles}}	33	243.1	19	11	2.81	141
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Carlton}}	34	231.1	13	11	2.99	162
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ray\|Washburn}}	31	215.1	14	8	2.26	124
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Larry\|Jaster}}	31	153.2	9	13	3.51	70

==Other pitchers==

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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| IP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dick\|Hughes\|Dick Hughes (baseball)}}	25	63.2	2	2	3.53	49
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Mel\|Nelson}}	18	52.2	2	1	2.91	16
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Mike\|Torrez}}	5	19.0	2	1	2.84	6
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Pete\|Mikkelsen}}	5	16.0	0	0	1.13	8

==Relief pitchers==

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

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SV ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Joe\|Hoerner}}	47	8	2	17	1.47	42
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Willis}}	48	2	3	4	3.39	39
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Wayne\|Granger}}	34	4	2	4	2.25	27
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Hal\|Gilson}}	13	0	2	2	4.57	19
align="center"

1968 World Series

Although essentially the same team as the previous year, they faced a tougher American League opponent in the Detroit Tigers, who had also won their pennant easily, behind the 31-win season of Denny McLain. Even though both Gibson and McLain were league MVPs that season, another Tigers starter, Mickey Lolich, stole the show, becoming the last pitcher to date to win three complete games in a single Series. Gibson excelled again in this World Series, winning Games 1 and 4. He had 17 strikeouts in Game 1 and totaled 35 strikeouts in the Series, both still World Series records. The Cardinals advanced to a 3–1 series lead, but the Tigers completed an improbable comeback by winning the final three games of the series to claim the championship, 4 games to 3. It was St. Louis' last Series appearance until 1982, and their last Series before MLB adopted its divisional format.

AL Detroit Tigers (4) vs. NL St. Louis Cardinals (3)

border=1 cellspacing=0 width=850 style="margin-left:3em;"
style="text-align:center; background-color:#e6e6e6;" !width=65\|Game !width=150\|Score !width=85\|Date !width=125\|Location !width=85\|Attendance !width=75\|Time of Game
style="text-align:center;" \|1	Cardinals – 4, Tigers – 0	October 2	Busch Memorial Stadium	54,692	2:29
style="text-align:center;" \|2	Tigers – 8, Cardinals – 1	October 3	Busch Memorial Stadium	54,692	2:41
style="text-align:center;" \|3	Cardinals – 7, Tigers – 3	October 5	Tiger Stadium	53,634	3:17
style="text-align:center;" \|4	Cardinals – 10, Tigers – 1	October 6	Tiger Stadium	53,634	2:34
style="text-align:center;" \|5	Tigers – 5, Cardinals – 3	October 7	Tiger Stadium	53,634	2:43
style="text-align:center;" \|6	Tigers – 13, Cardinals – 1	October 9	Busch Memorial Stadium	54,692	2:26
style="text-align:center;" \|7	Tigers – 4, Cardinals – 1	October 10	Busch Memorial Stadium	54,692	2:07

Awards and honors

Red Schoendienst, Associated Press NL Manager of the Year

= Major League Baseball records =

Bob Gibson, major league record, lowest ERA in one season for a pitcher with more than 300 innings pitched (1.12)

= League leaders =

Lou Brock, National League stolen base leader, 62[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/hisb2nl.shtml Stolen Bases Single Season National League Leaders by Baseball Almanac]

Farm system

{{MLB Farm System|level14=AAA|team14=Tulsa Oilers|league14=Pacific Coast League|manager14=Warren Spahn

|level15=AA |team15=Arkansas Travelers|league15=Texas League|manager15=Vern Rapp

|level16=A |team16=Modesto Reds|league16=California League|manager16=Joe Cunningham

|level17=A |team17=St. Petersburg Cardinals|league17=Florida State League|manager17=Ron Plaza

|level18=A |team18=Cedar Rapids Cardinals|league18=Midwest League|manager18=Jack Krol

|level19=A-Short Season|team19=Lewiston Broncos|league19=Northwest League|manager19=Roy Majtyka

|level20=Rookie|team20=GCL Cardinals|league20=Gulf Coast League|manager20=George Kissell and Ray Hathaway

}}

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: TulsaJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

References

External links

[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1968.shtml 1968 St. Louis Cardinals at Baseball Reference]
[http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1968&t=SLN 1968 St. Louis Cardinals team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]

Category:St. Louis Cardinals seasons

Saint Louis Cardinals season

Category:National League champion seasons

St Louis