St. Petersburg Cardinals

From BR Bullpen

StPetersburgCardinals.jpg

Team History[edit]

The St. Petersburg Cardinals were a long-time affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in the Florida State League, playng from 1966 to 1996. The team was also known as the St. Petersburg Cards at times.

In its first season, the team hosted the longest game played in baseball history up to that point, losing to the Miami Marlins, 4-3, in 29 innings. The game began on June 14, 1966 and lasted until the early hours of June 15th, the umpires having failed to apply a 12:50 am curfew. This game remains the longest uninterrupted game in organized baseball history, and only the longest game in baseball history, played in 1981 and which lasted 33 innings, has ever gone longer.

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Pitching Coach
1966 91-45 1st Sparky Anderson Lost League Finals
1967 96-43 1st Ron Plaza League Champs
1968 80-63 3rd Ron Plaza Lost in 1st round
1969 54-76 11th Jack Krol
1970 78-52 3rd Joe Cunningham Lost League Finals
1971 72-69 5th Joe Cunningham
1972 66-66 5th (t) Roy Majtyka
1973 84-62 2nd Roy Majtyka League Champs
1974 59-71 6th (t) Roy Majtyka
1975 88-47 1st Jack Krol League Champs
1976 70-71 5th Hal Lanier
1977 83-56 2nd Hub Kittle Lost League Finals
1978 84-56 1st Hal Lanier Lost in 1st round
1979 64-71 7th Sonny Ruberto
1980 70-66 4th Tommy Thompson Lost in 1st round
1981 69-63 4th Nick Leyva
1982 69-64 4th Nick Leyva (26-30) / Jim Riggleman (43-34)
1983 70-64 5th Jim Riggleman
1984 71-73 7th Jim Riggleman
1985 78-62 3rd Dave Bialas Lost in 1st round
1986 88-48 1st Dave Bialas (50-24) / Marty Mason (2-0) / Mike Jorgensen (36-24) League Champs Marty Mason
1987 85-57 2nd Dave Bialas Lost in 1st round Marty Mason
1988 68-68 10th Dave Bialas
1989 75-64 5th (t) Dave Bialas Lost in 1st round Marty Mason
1990 60-74 10th Joe Pettini Jay North
1991 47-84 13th Dave Bialas Jay North
1992 57-76 11th Dave Bialas John Stuper
1993 75-58 4th Terry Kennedy Rich Folkers
1994 74-65 5th Mike Ramsey Rich Folkers
1995 64-67 8th Chris Maloney Rich Folkers
1996 75-63 4th Chris Maloney Rich Folkers

Further Reading[edit]

  • Sam Zygner: "Racing the Dawn: The 29-Inning Minor League Marathon", The Baseball Record Journal, SABR, Volume 41, Number 2 (Fall 2012), pp. 37-44.

Related Sites[edit]