Dec 08, 1966: HR King sent packing
Submitted by BTGrimes on Thu, 12/08/2011 - 7:00am |
| Maris now an ex-Yankee NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Less than five years after breaking Babe Ruth's single season home run record, Roger Maris was traded from the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals for light-hitting infielder Charley Smith on this date in 1966. Yankee president Lee MacPhail had just endured a last place finish by his club - the first time the team had done that in 42 years - and he was determined to shake things up. MacPhail traded starting third-baseman Clete Boyer to the Atlanta Braves ten days earlier. Maris didn't tear up the National League for the Cardinals in '67 (.261, 9 HR's, 55 RBI), but the team won the World Series with him as its regular right fielder. Maris was a part-time right fielder in '68 when the Cardinals again got to the World Series, losing to the Detroit Tigers 4 games to 3. Maris retired after the '68 season. The Yankees didn't get to the post-season for ten more years, making the playoffs in 1976, winning the World Series in 1977. CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: This piece of baseball history is brought to you by TODAY in BASEBALL. Spread the word. Link www.todayinbaseball.com to your website. |
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