Decisions, Decisions: Johnny Keane's Dilemma

For over 30 years, beginning in 1921, the St. Louis Cardinals were the most successful franchise in the National League. Starting shortly after Branch Rickey took over as the team’s general manager, the Cardinals had a winning record in 30 of the next 33 seasons. In 13 of those years they had a winning percentage over .600, and they won 9 pennants and 6 World Series titles. If not for the existence of the Yankees, they’d have been viewed as the best franchise in the major leagues.

Rickey moved on to Brooklyn after the 1942 season, replaced to Bill Walsingham, who did a good job of running the club almost as successfully as Rickey had. Though he was never formally named the general manager, that’s the role he filled, and the team won three more pennants and two World Series with him filling. They never had a losing season during his tenure.

But then things changed.

Team owner Fred Saigh was convicted of tax evasion (which is a separate story) forcing him to sell the team. The new owner, August Busch, Jr., bought the club in 1953 and launched a revolving door in the front office. Dick Meyer lasted parts of just three seasons, then Frank Lane got parts of three, and finally Bing Devine was hired. By the time he arrived in 1957, the club had posted as many losing seasons in the prior three years as they had in the 33 before them. They’d gone through four managers, and would add another one before Devine finally settled on Johnny Keane in 1961.