Springfield (MO) Cardinals

From BR Bullpen

SpringfieldMOCardinals.jpg

Team History[edit]

The Springfield Cardinals, of the Double-A Texas League and briefly in Double-A Central, are the latest in a long line of professional baseball clubs of that name, the latest in a line playing in the Missouri city, and the most traveled franchise in the circuit. The St. Louis Cardinals farmhands play their home games at Hammons Field in Springfield, MO.

Today's Springfield Cardinals were owned by their parent club for nearly two decades. They began play in 2005, after the big Cards bought and moved the El Paso Diablos to Springfield. On May 5, 2023, the team and Diamond Baseball Holdings announced DBH's 18th purchase contract on a farm club. Entertainment giant Endeavor created DBH in 2021 specifically to acquire Professional Baseball League teams in the wake of - and under new rules created by - MLB's Minor League Reorganization. Endeavor later sold DBH to Silver Lake Partners. Those rules reportedly include caps of 24 teams total and nine in any given level. Thus, when this and another pending sale close, DBH will have six remaining slots overall and/or four in Double-A.

The current Springfield Cardinals are not to be confused with the Springfield (OH) Cardinals who competed in the Middle Atlantic League in 1941 and 1942, or the Springfield (IL) Cardinals who played in the Midwest League in 1982 and 1993.

Missouri's Springfield hosted many Minor League Baseball teams dating back to 1902. The first to be called Cardinals was the 1931 entry in the Class C Western Association. That was also the first Springfield club affiliated with the Cardinals, as Branch Rickey developed his invention that is now known as a farm system. Springfield's 1933 club, still called the Cardinals, played in the Class A Western League. The Western Association returned to Springfield in 1934, but the team - although still affiliated with the Cards - didn't resume their nickname until 1935.

The Texas League's most-traveled franchise previously called home: Galveston, TX; Waco, TX; Galveston again; Shreveport, LA; Victoria, TX; Ardmore, OK; Albuquerque, NM; and El Paso, TX.

Former Cardinals and Pirates player Bill Virdon, who also managed the Bucs and three other teams, had retired to Springfield by the time the team came to town. He held season tickets until his 2021 death. Virdon was born in Michigan, but his family moved to Missouri when he was 12.

Today's S-Cards play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Cardenales de Springfield - a straightforward Spanish translation of their name.

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1931 87-57 1st Eddie Dyer none League Champs
1932 79-51 1st Eddie Dyer League Champs
1933 73-50 3rd Joe Schultz Sr.
1935 87-48 1st George Payne Lost League Finals
1936 64-78 4th Joseph Brown
1937 76-67 4th Clay Hopper League Champs
1938 79-56 2nd Clay Hopper Lost in 1st round
1939 78-60 3rd George Silvey League Champs
1940 56-76 7th George Silvey / Ollie Vanek
1941 92-43 2nd Ollie Vanek Lost in 1st round
1942 62-70 4th Runt Marr
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Hitting coach Pitching coach Coach
2005 70-70 5th Chris Maloney Dallas Williams Blaise Ilsley
2006 66-72 8th Chris Maloney Joe Cunningham Blaise Ilsley
2007 73-63 2nd Ron Warner Lost League Finals Derrick May Blaise Ilsley
2008 76-64 2nd Ron Warner Derrick May Bryan Eversgerd
2009 71-69 5th Ron Warner Lost in 1st round Derrick May Bryan Eversgerd
2010 76-64 2nd Ron Warner Lost in 1st round Derrick May Dennis Martinez
2011 62-78 7th Ron Warner Phillip Wellman Bryan Eversgerd
2012 77-61 3rd Mike Shildt League Champs Phillip Wellman Bryan Eversgerd
2013 64-74 6th Mike Shildt Phillip Wellman Randy Niemann
2014 68-72 5th (t) Mike Shildt Erik Pappas Randy Niemann Patrick Elkins
2015 64-76 5th Dann Bilardello Erik Pappas Jason Simontacchi David Compton
2016 75-65 3rd Dann Bilardello Lost in 1st round Ramon Ortiz Jason Simontacchi
2017 77-63 2nd (t) Johnny Rodriguez Jobel Jimenez Jason Simontacchi Aaron Klinec
2018 60-79 7th Johnny Rodriguez Jobel Jimenez Darwin Marrero
2019 60-80 7th Joe Kruzel Brandon Allen Darwin Marrero
2020 Season cancelled
2021 45-75 10th Jose Leger Tyger Pederson Darwin Marrero
2022 68-70 7th Jose Leger Tyger Pederson Darwin Marrero
2023 72-66 3rd Jose Leger Lost in 1st round Brock Hammit Eric Peterson Will Hawks
2024 Jose Leger Casey Chenoweth Eric Peterson Paul Benoit

External Links[edit]

Official site