“The Running Redbirds of ’87 were the most entertaining team in baseball, with captivating defense and electrifying speed. When those two were in motion, you could not look away. What a privilege it was to see it up close.”-Joe Magrane, former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals “Our rivalry with the Cardinals was one that defined National League East baseball in the mid-1980s. The Cards were the top dogs, and to win the division, you had to go through them. At the end of the day there was mutual respect between the two teams, but on game day, there was also an unadulterated hatred.”-Roger McDowell, former pitcher for the New York Mets “After losing a heartbreaking World Series in 1985 and witnessing a win by the hated Mets in 1986, the 1987 Cardinals were back in full force. I grew up on Whitey Herzog’s teams, and the ’87 squad helped grow my love of the game. They fought through injuries and setbacks by playing a crisp, entertaining brand of baseball and captivating a rabid fan base in the process.”-Tom Ackerman, television announcer for the Cardinals and sports director at KMOX Radio
Though observers at the start of the 1987 season once again gave them no chance to win their division, the Cardinals chased victory. Herzog’s style of play, nicknamed “Whiteyball,” terrorized opponents with its daring baserunning led by Vince Coleman and Ozzie Smith. Veteran players and newcomers, including Jack Clark and Tony PeÑa, returned the Cardinals to contention.
One More for the White Rat features contemporary interviews with members of the 1987 Cardinals and compelling stories and colorful insights into that incredible summer. Veteran Cardinals author Doug Feldmann takes the reader inside the St. Louis locker room and onto the field for the daily struggles and triumphs that made the 1987 baseball season unlike any other.
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Ricky Horton
1. Met with Disaster-after a Meltdown in KC
2. Seeking Answers in Saint Petersburg
3. The First Showdown
4. Powering Through
5. All Hands on Deck
6. Down Goes Jack, and Out Goes Terry
7. A Giant Fight
8. Battle on the Mississippi
Epilogue
Notes
Bibliography
Index