The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-06-29
SPORTS of TIMES
He didn't
give up
BY LOU FABR0
Times Sports Editor

One of the wisest moves that st. Louis Manager
Johnny Keane made this season was to place AL Red"
SchoendienSt back on the active player roster.
At the end of the 1861 season, the Cardinals had
given the veteran second baseman his unconditional
release. When 1862 spring training began, however, he
was back in a Cardinal uniform, but only as a coach.
At the age of 80, it was thought that his career as a
player-especially as an infielder-WaS finished.
But the OF Redhead had other ideas and soon had
others thinking his way.
DuRING SPRING DRILLS, HE NO ONLY con-
ditioned young Cardinal i~nfielders, but worked into
shape himself. He showed, although he naturally is
slower afield, that he also was frlSky enough to handle
second base. He also proved he could still deliver at
the plate-he wound up the Grapefruit season with a
shiny 1888 batting average.
His performance so far this season has been all
the more gratifying. After two and a half months of
play, he established himself as one of the most de-
pendable pinch-hitters in the majors. His luSty bat
ting average, which scared as high as .407, is the
proof.
dienst is one of the most popular players to come on
on the baseball scene. And like Musial, his roommate
on the road, he is a credit to his Catholic faith.
THE F~REcKLEDFAcE STAR, WHOSE CARE
FREE boyhood days have been likened to a real-life
Huckleberry Finn story, began his pro baseball career
in 1912. Upon discharge from the military service
in 1945, he began his major league career-now in its
18th year-With the st. Louis Cardinals.
A sWitch-hitter, who stance is nearly identical on
either side of the plate, Schoendienst has a lifetime
batting average of 900. He has batted over 300 five
times and nearly won the batting crown in 1858 when
he forged a .342 average.
In his heyday, Red was a brilliant fielder. In 1850,
he set a National League record for a second baseman
by handling 800 consecutive chances in 81 games with
out an error. Although slower, he still sparkles in the
field.
N OF HIS BEST KNOWN ACHIEVEMENTS in
1850 was when he blasted out a homer in the 14th in
ming to win the annual All-Star Game for the MI.
In a move that caused loud grumbling among
Ii F. lpJ1.nIl.1 I..~Jv / 100 aUI Cn1noa
dienst to the New York Giants in 1856. The next year,
he was traded to Milwaukee and played an important
role as the Braves won the National League crown in
1857 and 1858.
Despite the fact he was slowed by some unknown
ailment, Red starred in the 1853 World Series and
batted 800. Shortly after the Series, he entered the
hospital where it was discovered that he had tuber-
culOSis.
1T WAS AT THIS TIME THAT ALMOST closed
The book on Reds baseball career. He, however, an
nounced his determination to return to the game. He
spent five months in Mt. ST. Rose Hospital in st. Louis
where he was regarded as a model patient by doctors,
nurses and nuns who tended to him.
He sat out the 1859 baseball season and returned
to the Braves the following year. He played IN 68
games and batted only .257 that season. The Braves
then gave him his walking papers which brought him
back TO st. Louis.
AS we pointed out earlier, Red is a mighty popu-
lar player. Whenever he appeared in a game during
the 1862 spring drills, he was greeted by enthusiastic
applause This kind of greeting has continued during
the current season.
The applause not only is a show of recognition of
his playing ability but is a tribute to a player who
would not quit in the face of tremendous odds.