Red Schoendienst (1989)


Date of Birth: 2/2/1923
Date of Death: 6/6/2018
Birthplace: Germantown, Illinois

Red Schoendienst started playing baseball at a young age. He first wanted to join a professional team in 1942, when he tried out for the St. Louis Cardinals. He didn't get selected in the tryout but he was signed by the team later that year.

St. Louis Cardinals

After spending three seasons in the Cardinals' minor league system, Schoendienst joined the team in 1945 as a left fielder. In his first season in the major leagues, he batted .278 with 157 hits, 22 doubles, and 26 stolen bases in 137 games. The following season he was moved to second base, the position he held for most of his career. He finished the 1946 season with 170 hits, 28 doubles, 34 RBIs, and a .281 batting average

Schoendienst's batting average dropped to .253 in 1947. The next season, he played in just 119 games and he batted .272. He improved in 1949, when he batted .297 in 151 games. He finished that season with 190 hits, 25 doubles, and 54 RBIs. He also played well defensively, leading all NL second basemen in assists with 424 and in putouts with 399.

In 1950, Schoendienst led the NL in doubles. He played in a career high 153 games and he had 177 hits, a career high 43 doubles, 63 RBIs, and a batting average of .276.

Schoendienst batted .289 in 1951, and .303 the next year. He finished the 1952 season with 188 hits, 40 doubles, and 67 RBIs in 152 games. He played well defensively, again leading all NL second basemen in putouts with 399.

Schoendienst's best season was 1953, when he batted .342. That season he had 193 hits, 35 doubles, 15 home runs, and 79 RBIs in 146 games. He also excelled defensively, leading all NL second basemen in assists with 430, double plays turned with 109, and putouts with 365. In 1954, he again led NL second basemen in double plays turned with 137 and in putouts with 477.

New York Giants

During the 1956 season, Schoendienst was traded to the New York Giants. He finished the season with 147 hits, 21 doubles, and a .302 batting average in 40 games with the Cardinals and 92 games with the Giants.

After 57 games with the Giants in 1957, Schoendienst was again traded, this time to the Milwaukee Braves. He then played in 93 games with the Braves, finishing the season with a .309 batting average and career highs in hits with 200 and in home runs with 15. He led the NL in hits in 1957.

Milwaukee Braves

In 1958, Schoendienst played in 106 games and he batted .262 with 112 hits. The next year, he was treated for tuberculosis and he played in just 5 games. He played in 68 games in 1960, and he batted .257.

Return to the Cardinals

In 1961, Schoendienst returned to the Cardinals to finish out his career. He batted .300 in 72 games in 1961, and .301 in 98 games in 1962. He played in just 6 games in 1963, his final year in the majors.

Career Statistics

Schoendienst played in over 100 games in each of 14 seasons (1945-1958). His statistics during those seasons include:

  • 9 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 200 in 1957
  • 6 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 43 in 1950
  • 7 seasons with a batting average of .300 or better, with a high of .342 in 1953

Career batting statistics for Schoendienst include:

  • 2,216 games played
  • 2,449 hits
  • 427 doubles
  • 773 RBIs
  • 346 strikeouts to 606 walks
  • .289 batting average
  • .337 on-base percentage
  • .724 OPS

Career fielding statistics for Schoendienst at second base include:

  • 1,834 games played
  • 170 errors
  • 5,243 assists
  • 1,368 double plays
  • 4,616 putouts
  • .983 fielding percentage

Postseason statistics for Schoendienst include:

  • 3 postseasons
  • 19 games played
  • 78 at-bats
  • 21 hits
  • 5 doubles
  • 1 triple
  • 1 stolen base
  • 3 RBIs
  • 4 strikeouts to 2 walks
  • .269 batting average

Post Playing Career

Two years after retiring as a player, Schoendienst became a long-time manager for the St. Louis Cardinals. He managed them from 1965 through 1976, returned for the 1980 season, and then again for the 1990 season. His record as a manager for 14 seasons was 1,041 wins to 955 losses. He led the Cardinals to two NL pennant wins and 1 World Series title. He was named the Associated Press Manager of the Year in 1967 and 1968.

In between managing stints, Schoendienst worked as a coach for the Oakland Athletics and the Cardinals and as a special assistant to the Cardinals' general manager.

Schoendienst died on June 6, 2018.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Red Schoendienst
ESPN - Red Schoendienst
Baseball Reference - Red Schoendienst

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