Runnin’ Redbirds Book Summary
The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals played an entertaining style of baseball built on speed and defense. The roster was constructed and piloted by Whitey Herzog, a baseball visionary who tailored his team for the AstroTurf and spacious dimensions of Busch Stadium. Herzog traded for closer Bruce Sutter, speedsters Lonnie Smith and Willie McGee, and defensive wizard Ozzie Smith, adding to a talented roster that included the likes of Bob Forsch, Keith Hernandez, and George Hendrick. The result was an exhilarating season filled with winning streaks, numerous obstacles, and one unforgettable steal of home. The Cardinals won the National League pennant despite hitting the fewest home runs in the major leagues, then overcame baseball’s most powerful team–the Milwaukee Brewers–in the World Series.
This exhaustive account of the World Champion 1982 St. Louis Cardinals chronicles the Cardinals from Herzog’s rebuild to the final out of the Fall Classic. Hundreds of sources, including original interviews, were compiled to revisit a championship season and tell the backstories of an eclectic group of players who reached baseball’s pinnacle.
Publisher: McFarland (2023) Paperback: 241 pages ISBN-10: 1476693641 ISBN-13: 978-1476693644
“The book is as electric and irresistible as that team was. If you loved that team, you will adore―and devour―this book.”―Will Leitch
Interview with Tom Ackerman on KMOX St. Louis (EV interview starts at 29:00)
