Whitey Herzog elected to HOF

[SaintLouisBlues]

From the Post-Dispatch:

Herzog, a utility outfielder-first baseman who batted .257 with 25 homers in an eight-season playing career, had an inauspicious start to his managing career at Texas, going 47-91 in 1973 before he was fired in September of that year. After leaving the Rangers, Herzog got another chance to manage in Kansas City from 1975 through 1979. His teams there won three division titles (1976-78) although they lost to the New York Yankees every time they got to the playoffs. Herzog was dismissed after the 1979 season when the Royals finished second in the division, three games behind California.

In June 1980, Gussie Busch hired Herzog to take over as Cardinals manager from Ken Boyer and gave him virtually free rein over player personnel. Herzog's speedy clubs ran opposing teams ragged with what was called "Whiteyball." The Cardinals won National League pennants in 1982, 1985 and 1987 and the franchise's first World Series in 15 years in 1982.

From 1982 through 1989, covering Herzog's eight full seasons as Cardinals manager, the club never drew less than 2.471 million fans and eclipsed 3 million (twice) for the first time in franchise history.

Herzog's Hall of Fame candidacy probably was enhanced by the fact he drew high marks for his work as farm director for the New York Mets as the youthful Mets' team won the 1969 World Series and that he served as general manager (and then de facto general manager) of the Cardinals, and later headed up the California Angels' organization.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/65E4FC421903E0BC8625768500438DEB?OpenDocument

[El Supremo]

1. I never liked this guy.

It has something to do with this:


I was from Kansas City.

[Captain Hilts]

2. I always liked him even when he was fighting my Metropolitans. nt