Cardinals' 5 all-time best relief pitchers in franchise history

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The Cardinals have had many top-tier relief pitchers over the years. We will reveal the five all-time best relievers in franchise history.

Relief pitching for the Cardinals has been one position that has caused their fanbase much anxiety.

While it's been a source of pain, the club has had some excellent relievers over the years. While taking a look a the top five relievers in the Cardinals franchise history, it's essential to recognize those pitchers would deserve an honorable mention as the top relievers in the organization.

Trevor Rosenthal was a reliever for the Cardinals from 2012-2017. He earned All-Star honors in 2015. Rosenthal's two best seasons for the Cardinals were 2014-2015. Rosenthal had 45 saves for the Cardinals in 2014 and 48 in 2015. He threw 435 strikeouts over 325 innings, for a total of 121 saves throughout his five-season career with the Cardinals. Rosenthal last played for the Padres in 2020 and is still listed as a free agent.

Lindy McDaniel made his major league debut with the Cardinals in September 1955. He pitched for the Cardinals from 1955-1962. He played for other organizations through his retirement in 1975. McDaniel's best season with the Cards was in 1960 when he made the All-Star team and earned Fireman of Year honors. That season he had a .750 win-loss percentage, throwing a league-leading 27 saves. He had a career-best 105 strikeouts that season.

While with the Cardinals, McDaniel had a record of 66-54 over eight seasons with an ERA of 3.88, 15 complete games, two shutouts, and had 66 saves over 884.2 innings. He struck out 523 batters while wearing the birds on the bat.

McDaniel was never on a World Series-winning team during his 21-season career. He has pitched the most regular season games without a post-season appearance with 987 games. Francisco Cordero is the next closest at 187 games.

McDaniel passed away in November 2020 due to complications from Covid-19.

Ted Wilks played eight seasons for the Cardinals beginning in 1944. He compiled a 59-30 record with a 3.26 ERA. He started 43 games for the Cardinals while finishing 118 over 742.2. innings pitched. He had 21 complete games as a Cardinal. He had 29 saves. He threw 328 strikeouts with the Cardinals.

Cardinals catcher Joe Garagiola nicknamed Wilks "The Cork" because he was the "stopper" out of the Cards bullpen. He played on the Cardinals World Series championship teams in 1944 and 46. Wilks went on to play two seasons each with Pittsburgh and Cleveland before retiring in 1953.

Wilks died August 1989 in Houston.

Joe Hoerner played for the Cardinals from 1966-69. In his four seasons with the Cards, he was 19-10 with a 2.10 ERA. He finished a career-high 137 games for the Cardinals, netting 59 saves over 244.1 innings. He had 190 strikeouts while a Cardinal, with 412 over his career.

He helped the Cardinals win the 1967 World Series. He was traded to the Phillies in 1970. He retired with the Reds in 1977. He died in October 1996.

Eckersley had an impressive two-year stint with the Cardinals from 1996-97. He was 1-11 overall with a 3.58 ERA. He finished 100 in the 120 games he appeared in for the Cardinals. He had 66 saves in his two seasons, striking out 94 over 113 innings.

Eckersley was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in 2004.

This is a part of a running series on Redbird Rants ranking the top 5 Cardinals at each position. You can find the other position groups we have ranked so far below.

Top 5 Center Fielders

Top 5 Right Fielders

Top 5 Starting Pitchers

Now, let's look at the top-5 relief pitchers in franchise history.

5. Al Hrabosky

Known as The Mad Hungarian, Al Hrabosky had an amped-up personality when he took the mound. Hrabosky would turn his back to the batter, walk towards second base, and rub the ball between his palms several times. He would take a deep breath, and pound the ball into his glove. Hrabosky would then storm back to the mound and stare down the batter.

Cardinal fans loved it. The opposing batters did not.

The Cardinals drafted Hrabosky in the first round of the 1969 MLB Draft. In his eight seasons with the Cardinals, The Mad Hungarian was 40-20 with a 2.39 ERA. He finished 182 games for the Cardinals, with 59 saves. In 1975, Hrabosky won the NL Fireman of the Year with 22 saves, earning a career-high 13–3 record with an ERA of 1.67.

Hrabosky was traded to the Royals before the 1978 season. He was granted free agency and signed with the Braves in 1980. He last played in 1982

After his playing career ended, Hrabosky has been a color commentator for the Cardinals television broadcast. Recently, he has been an analyst on the pre and post-game broadcasts on Bally Sports Midwest. He does occasionally pitch in on the Cardinals Radio Network.

Hrabosky is beloved by Cardinals fans. He should be considered for the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

4. Lee Smith

Lee Smith was traded to the Cardinals in May 1990 from the Boston Red Sox for Tom Brunansky.

While with the Cardinals, he earned a 15-20 record with a 2.90 ERA. He finished 209 games with the Cards, earning 160 saves over 266.2 innings. Smith's 160 saves are the second most all-time for the franchise. Smith struck out 246 batters while wearing the birds on the bat.

He was an All-Star while with the Cardinals in 1991, 92 and 93. He also earned votes for the Cy Young Award and MVP in 1991. He won the NL Rolaids Relief Award in 1991 and 92. He led the National League in saves in 1991 with 47 and in 1992 with 43.

The Cardinals traded him to the Yankees in August 1993 for Rich Batchelor.

Smith retired in 1997. He never won a World Series title.

He was selected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

3. Todd Worrell

Todd Worrell was the Cardinals' first-round draft choice in 1982.

Worrell played for the Cardinals from 1985-1992. He played in 17 games for the Cardinals in 1985 and played a key role in the team's World Series run. He was on the mound the night of the infamous Don Denkinger game.

It was Game 6 of the World Series. Worrell had come into relief Ken Dayley. It was 1-0, and the team was three outs away from a World Series title. Royals hitter Jorge Orta hit a ground ball to the mound that Jack Clark fielded. Clark threw to Worrell, who had covered first.

The throw narrowly beat Orta to the base, but Denkinger called him safe. Worrell gave up the game-winning hit to the Royals, who won 2-1. The Royal went on to win the World Series in Game 7.

Worrell bounced back in 1986. He went 9-10 on the season. He finished 60 games, earning 36 saves that summer. He led the league in saves. He struck out 73 batters over 103.2 innings. And, he earned the NL Rookie of the Year award.

While with the Cardinals, he was 33-33 with an ERA of 2.56. He earned 129 saves over 425. 2 innings. Worrell's save total is third all-time in franchise history. He struck out 365 batters.

After the 1992 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Dodgers, ending his career in 1997.

Worrell has gone on to be involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He was president of the organization for three years. He was a pitching coach at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis. He was the pitching coach for the former River City Rascals of the Independent Frontier League.

Worrell has not received recognition from the National Hall of Fame or the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

2. Jason Isringhausen

Despite several injuries that slowed him down, Jason Isringhausen was the Cardinals' all-time saves leader with 217. He threw 300 saves for his career.

While with the Cardinals from 2002-08, he was 17-20 with a 2.98 ERA. He threw 373 strikeouts over 408 innings.

While with the Cards, Izzy was part of the 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 NL Central Division champions. The Cardinals appeared in World Series in 2004 and 2006. They did win the World Series in 2006. Izzy had a hip injury that sidelined him and allowed Adam Wainwright to become a household name as he was the closer in the NLCS and World Series in 2006.

Isringhausen notched a league-best 47 saves in 2004. This tied Lee Smith's record, which stood until 2015, when Rosenthal broke the record with 48 saves. Izzy was an All-Star in 2005 and earned 39 saves.

Izzy stayed through the 2008 season when he left the Cardinals in August due to a lingering tendonitis issue.

He finished out his career playing on one-year contracts with the Rays, Reds, Mets, and Angels.

Isringhausen was named to the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2019. He is a minor league pitching instructor in the Cardinals system.

1. Bruce Sutter

Over the years, Bruce Sutter was among the most popular people at Busch Stadium, affectionally known as "Bruuuuuuce!" The 1982 season solidified his legendary status with the franchise.

He was 9-8 that season with a 2.90 ERA, earning 36 saves over 102.1 innings. He struck out 61 batters. Sutter earned the save in the pennant-clinching NLCS victory. The Cardinals went on to win the 1982 World Series. Sutter is credited with two saves in that Series, including the series-clinching save in Game 7. He sealed the Cardinals' victory with a strikeout of Gorman Thomas.

Sutter recorded a 9–10 record in 1983 with a 4.23 ERA. Sutter's save total dropped to 21. Sutter executed an unassisted pickoff play that summer. Bill Madlock of the Pirates took a long lead off first base when he became distracted by Cardinals first baseman Keither Hernandez. Sutter dashed off the mound to tag Madlock out.

Sutter won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and The Sporting News Reliever of the Year Award again in 1981, 1982, and 1984.

While with the Cardinals, he earned a 26-30 record with a 2.72 ERA. He threw in 396.2 innings, striking out 259 batters. He was an All-Star in 1981 and 1984. He led the National League in saves in 1981, 82, and 84,

Sutter was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. The Cardinals retired his number 42 that summer. Sutter was part of the first class inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.

Sutter passed away due to complications from cancer in October 2022. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said of Sutter upon his passing, "Bruce Sutter was the first pitcher to reach the Hall of Fame without starting a game, and he was one of the key figures who foreshadowed how the use of relievers would evolve. Bruce will be remembered as one of the best pitchers in the histories of two of our most historic franchises."

Sutter started his career with the Cubs and ended it with the Braves.

Sutter was a legendary Cardinal and an outstanding person. He was a favorite to see in his red jacket during special events at Busch Stadium, including the Home Opener. He is, without question, the franchise's number-one relief pitcher.

Next. Top 5 Starting Pitchers in Cardinals History. dark

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