Ever wonder why St. Louis is such a mega baseball hub? According to a local baseball aficionado, it stems from what could be called a terrific trifecta: superior players within a groundbreaking baseball farm system launched in 1919; Hall of Fame-level sports journalists; and legendary broadcasters, especially play-by-play announcers -- all congregating in St. Louis. Arch City sports historian Ed Wheatley wants more people to understand the extent of these unique baseball pillars, which caused countless fans to fall in love with the game. So, in May, he released his new book: From St. Louis To Cooperstown: Legends Born and Made in the Gateway City, to tell stories of some of St. Louis's noteworthy but lesser known ballplayers.
"In today's world, baseball may not be top fiddle, given the popularity of football and basketball. But it's very important not to forget our real roots and history," he proclaims.
As a leader of the St. Louis Browns Historical Society, Ed works to preserve the chronology and legacy of this transplanted American League team. He also co-authored St. Louis Browns: The Story of a Beloved Team and Incredible Cardinals, and he worked on a St. Louis Browns documentary that aired on PBS.
"What many people don't realize is of the 83 classes of baseball inductees since 1936, 54% of them have a St. Louis base. And of the individual inductees, 21% have St. Louis connections," he says.
Ed shares that the St. Louis Cardinals, under leadership of Branch Rickey in 1919, pioneered the modern baseball farm system and revolutionized player development by generating talent at a lower cost than acquiring players from other teams. Branch, as the Cardinals' general manager, then purchased interests in minor league teams, laying that crucial foundation over the years.
"Baseball fans know heroics of St. Louis baseball legends Hornsby, Dean, Musial, Schoendienst, Gibson and Brock, or at least they know their names. Their images are painted on Busch Stadium’s left field wall honoring their retired uniform numbers and their inductions into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. But the mural highlights only 13 of the 55 players inducted into the Hall of Fame who played for the National League’s St. Louis Cardinals," Ed poses.
"Who are these other players and what are their stories? What about the nine men from the American League’s St. Louis Browns whose plaques also hang in Cooperstown?"
For nearly a century, baseball was a segregated game. Ed says prior to Jackie Robinson breaking the barrier in 1947, the Gateway City heralded leading teams St. Louis Giants and Stars. Thirty seven members of the Black Baseball Leagues were inducted into the Hall of Fame; five have ties to the Giants and Stars. "What made each of them stand out over the thousands playing in the league?" Ed answers in his book.
Walk through baseball moments that players had on their roads to Cooperstown, Ed invites readers: "Find out which former Cardinal held baseball’s career home run record for more than a quarter century before being topped by Babe Ruth."
Ed especially references athletic prowess of St. Louis-based Beaumont High School, which was founded in 1926, because the school's graduates produced several Major League Baseball players during the late 1930s through the early 1950s; namely Earl Weaver, Roy Sievers, Jim Goodwin, Bob Wiesler and Bobby Hofman.
Which baseball player was named after a president and was later played by a future president in his life story? Ed answers that, too.
Who had a higher career on base percentage than Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, although he retired 100 years ago? How many games did baseball’s winningest pitcher win in St. Louis? Which St. Louisan reached 300 wins before him? These are a few information trinkets found in this anthology of ballplayers who journeyed from St. Louis.
Ed's new 176-page book is available via local libraries and museums, and can be purchased for $32 at Schnucks locations or local bookstores, such as Main Street Books in St. Charles, Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves or Book House in Maplewood. It's also sold online through Amazon.
One last trivia bit, akin to Ed's book: Although Yogi Berra was a famous St. Louis native, he never played for the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent the majority of his MLB career with the New York Yankees! As the story goes: Yogi and childhood friend Joe Garagiola both tried out for the Cardinals in 1941. Joe was given a contract and $500 signing bonus, while Yogi was only offered $250. Yogi refused the contract unless he was given the same offer as his friend. Yogi took his own advice: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it."