Baseball Writers Association of America, St. Louis Chapter’s 56th Annual Dinner
The Baseball Writers Association of America-St. Louis Chapter hosted its 56th Annual Dinner, Sunday, January 19, 2014 at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel. This dinner offered not only the customary award presentations but also honored the 50th Anniversary of the Cardinals’ 1964 World Series title, the election of Tony LaRussa to the Hall of Fame, the outstanding career of Cardinals pitching ace Chris Carpenter, and the 2013 National League Champion Redbirds.
Three players shared the baseball writers most significant award, the J.G. Taylor Spink Baseball Man of the Year: Matt Carpenter, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright. Each played at a high level and demonstrated the leadership necessary to sustain the Cardinals’ success. Matt Carpenter switched positions in 2013, playing second base and receiving All-Star consideration. He compiled a .318 batting average with 11 home runs, 78 RBI’s, 199 hits, and 55 doubles, breaking, Stan “The Man” Musial’s single-season club record. Although Yadier Molina saw a drop in home runs to 12, he still hit a career high .319 with 80 RBI and earned his sixth gold glove. Adam Wainwright returned from “Tommy John” surgery to produce a 19-9 record with an ERA of 2.94, an All-Star berth and runner-up in the NL Cy Young Award voting.
Jason Motte won the Darryl Kile Award, voted annually by the team and given to the player who best exemplifies the leadership qualities that marked the late St. Louis pitcher. Tony La Russa, recently elected Hall of Fame manager, received the Dr. Robert F. Hyland/Rick Hummel Award for Meritorious Service to Sports. The writers also recognized pitcher Shelby Miller with the Jack Herman/Joe Ostermeier Award-Rookie of the Year; Zach Petrick (Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year) and Kolten Wong (Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year).
Notwithstanding the above player achievements and the 2013 Cardinals, who fell two wins short of a World Series trophy, the evening belonged to the 1964 world champions, who were celebrating the 50th anniversary of their victory. Ron Jacober, KMOX Sports, hosted a panel discussion that included Tim McCarver (catcher), Bob Gibson (staff ace), Mike Shannon (outfield), Bob Uecker (reserve catcher), and Dick Groat (shortstop). The good-natured kidding and banter, especially among Uecker, Shannon, Gibson, and McCarver, made for some hilarious moments.
Chris Carpenter also received the Dr. Robert F. Hyland/Rick Hummel Meritorious Service to Sports Award for his career contributions with the Cardinals. In introducing the reticent Chris Carpenter, Rick Hummel stated that in the last four World Series, the Cardinals won two when Carpenter pitched and lost the other two when he was not involved. Carpenter amassed twice as many Cardinal wins as losses and had 10 playoff victories. Although Gibson is generally regarded as the best Cardinal pitcher ever, Carpenter will “go down as one of the greatest that we ever had”, according to general manager John Mozeliak.
Tony La Russa, the other main honoree, managed 16 year for the Cardinals. During that period, the team reached the playoffs nine times, won 12 playoff series, captured two World Series and claimed three pennants. La Russa won more more games than any Cardinals’ manager in the franchise’s 132-year history. His success here plus his records with the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics rank him the third-winningest manager of all time and secured him a first ballot entry into Cooperstown.
“Never, ever was the Hall of Fame part of the dream. It’s a stunner. When you love baseball and appreciate the history and the club you’ve just been voted into, with total respect, humility and honor, I say thank you”. He also noted that one of the wises moves General Manager John Mozeliak has made was hiring Mike Matheny as the Cardinals field manager.
The St. Louis Cardinals say thanks for all the memories and the winning tradition established during the La Russa era. It has created a philosophy that the current team seems intent on “sustaining”.
The St. Louis Baseball Writers Dinner originated with Bob Broeg, a Hall of Fame baseball writer and the former sports editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With the assistance of his newspaper rival, the Globe-Democrat’s Bob Burnes, and the inspiration of the national organization of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Broeg established the dinner in 1958. It has transpired every year since, save one. The list of honorees appears both regal and robust, ranging from Rogers Hornsby, Dizzy Dean, Ozzie Smith and Stan Musial to Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, Bob Costas, Whitey Herzog and every championship team the Cardinals have fielded.
The writers dinner represents one of three remaining in the country; the others occur in New York and Boston. Tickets to the event cost $150.00 per person, or $175 with a pass to the Winter Warm-Up. A portion of the funds go to the Bob Broeg Endowed Athletic Scholarship, University of Missouri; Robert L. Burnes Endowed Scholarship, St. Louis University; Jack Buck Journalism Scholarship, University of Missouri; the Journalism Foundation, Cardinals Care, and the Rick Hummel Internship, University of Missouri.
