Happy Birthday, Red Schoendienst

Happy 91st birthday to Hall of Fame player and former St. Louis Cardinals manager Red Schoendienst!
April 14, 2012; St. Louis, MO. USA; St. Louis Cardinals hall of famer Red Schoendienst waves to fans during the 2011 World Series Ring Ceremony before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Just days after the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans mourned the passing of Stan Musial, the longtime Cardinal celebrated his 91st birthday.

Red was born in Germantown, Illinois. For the most part, he played his career as a second baseman, hitting .289 over a 19 year career that saw him wearing the uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals (1945-1956, 1961-1963), New York Giants (1956-1957), Milwaukee Braves (1957-1960). He was voted in to the Hall of Fame in 1989 by the Veterans Committee.

As a Cardinal, Red was a member of the 1946 World Series championship team. He would later play for the Milwaukee Braves when they won the World Series in 1957. Returning to the Cardinals as a manager in 1965, Red would manage the Cardinals to another World Series championship in 1967. They would win the National League Pennant in 1668, only to lose to the Detroit Tigers in the Fall Classic.

Through the course of his career, he would be selected for 10 All-Star games. His 1,834 games played defensively as a second baseman currently rank 17th all-time.

Schoendienst may have been one of the very few players to have played alongside some of the greatest players of all time in Stan Musial, Willie Mayes, Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, and Eddue Matthews. Not counting the All-Star game, of course. There’s not really all too many players, if any, that are able to say that.

Red is one of the most unique individuals in that he has been wearing the Cardinals uniform for a long time as a special assistant. You will find him on the field at spring training and before games at Busch Stadium.

You can red Red’s induction speech at the Hall of Fame website.