3. Terry Pendleton
Terry Pendleton is another often forgotten star of the 80s Cardinals who was a member of the ’85 and ’87 National League Pennant teams. The switch-hitting Pendleton made his major league debut in July of 1984 and over the next seven years played nearly all his games at third for the Cardinals.
Pendleton was a defensive standout while in St. Louis, winning two Gold Gloves (’87 and ’89), leading the league in putouts (1986), assists (’86, ’87, and ’89), double plays turned (’86), range factor (’86, ’87, ’88, and ’89), total zone runs (’85), and fielding percentage (’89).
With his bat, he became a solid presence in the Cardinal lineup. He had a seven-year slash line of .259/.308/.356 while stealing 99 bases. Pendleton’s best year at the plate was in 1987 when he hit a slash line of .286/.360/.412 with 12 homers and 96 RBI.
Terry Pendleton left St. Louis after the 1990 season for Atlanta, where he would win an NL MVP award, a batting title, and another Gold Glove. Nevertheless, Pendleton was one of the best third basemen I’ve seen wearing a St. Louis Cardinals uniform.