St. Louis Cardinals celebrate the 1964 World Series Champions

The St. Louis Cardinals honored the 1964 World Series champions and Derek Jeter during a ceremony before taking on the New York Yankees on Memorial Day.

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The Cardinals used the New York Yankees’ first trip to Busch Stadium this season as the perfect way to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1964 squad winning the Fall Classic. After all, it was the Yankees that the Cardinals defeated during the 1964 postseason. It’s unfortunate, though, that the Cardinals lost the game in extra innings after giving up three runs in the top of the twelfth inning.

Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson joined Fox Sports Midwest broadcaster Dan McLaughlin and analyst Tim McCarver, his teammate, as a guest in the broadcast booth during the game on Monday. MLB.com only has video of Gibson’s comments in the fifth inning.

Gibson did offer his comments on catcher Yadier Molina to McLaughlin during the broadcast: “He’s the best catcher I’ve seen. Period. Bar none.”

Gibson’s sentiment is echoed by many Cardinals fans when it comes to Molina.

Following a dinner last night at Shannon’s restaurant, fourteen members of the 1964 team, including one coach, were honored in a ceremony before the game. The fourteen included Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Lou Brock, Dick Groat, McCarver, Mike Shannon, Jerry Buchek, Phil Gagliano, Ron Taylor, Gordie Richardson, Bob Humphreys, Charlie James, Carl Warwick and Julian Javier.

It was McCarver who made the comment that everyone realized that it could be the last time that they might see each other. This is the second such reunion this year as the 1964 team was also honored at the St. Louis BBWAA chapter dinner in January. However, Bob Uecker was at that reunion but did not make the trip for this one.

Also before the game, the team honored retiring shortstop Derek Jeter with gifts before the game in a ceremony that featured Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. Not to rain on Jeter’s parade, I am all for teams giving him gifts during his farewell tour but in all honesty, the team should have chosen the last game in the series to honor Jeter. Monday’s pregame should have been all about honoring the 1964 World Series champions.