(DailyDig.com) – The St. Louis Cardinals manager, Whitey Herzog, helped the team win the World Series in 1982. The baseball Hall of Fame member died at 92 on April 15.
Herzog’s family announced his death as they spent his last days with him. His death was peaceful as they said their goodbyes, and they thanked his friends for their prayers for him, according to their statement.
Brian Bartow, the Cardinals’ spokesman, said that Herzog attended the home opener for the Cardinals on April 4 at Busch Stadium. On April 16, the team received the news of his death.
The Cardinals’ chairman, Bill DeWitt Jr., released a statement offering the organization’s sympathy to Herzog’s family from the Cardinals’ team. In the 1980s, he altered the direction of the team by creating a special play called ‘Whitey Ball.’ He loved the team, St. Louis, and the fans. He said that they would all miss him greatly.
Herzog was signed as a player in 1949 by the Yankees but never went to the major leagues. He turned his knowledge of baseball, learned at training camps with Casey Stengel, into a career as a team manager. He developed the Whitey Ball strategy at Kansas City Royals Stadium and then applied it to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
While he was with the Royals, he took the team to the championship three years in a row in the American League during the 1970s. When he moved to the Cardinals, they won the World Series in 1982. As a change to the normal pitching rotation, Herzog kept the games’ pitchers in until he called on Bruce Sutter to complete the game.
Herzog took the Cardinals to two pennants during the 1982, 1985, and 1987 seasons. During the 1985 season, he was “Manager of the Year” and, after his retirement, was elected to the Hall of Fame.
Ozzie Smith, the Cardinals’ shortstop, said at one time that Herzog’s success as a manager was in preparing the players for each game.
Survivors include Herzog’s wife, Mary Lou, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
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