MLB is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Hall of Fame right fielder Roberto Clemente's debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, on April 15, 1955, and the debuts the next year of Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Luis Aparicio, and Don Drysdale on April 15, 1956.
As I posted earlier today it's also the day that Detroit Tigers HOFer Al Kaline hit 3 home runs at Briggs Stadium against the Kansas City Athletics.
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Probably the biggest news in baseball today is the big league debut of Chicago Cubs rookie phenom Kris Bryant.
As I'm writing this Bryant's big league debut isn't going so well as the young slugging third sacker has struck out all three times at bat today.
There's something else...quite a big deal...going on in baseball tonight in St. Louis, as the Cardinals host the Reds.
I saw earlier that today is the 70th Anniversary of the big league debut of Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst.
The Cardinals will be wearing these special patches tonight on their classic uniform sleeves.
Albert Fred Schoendienst was born in Germantown, Illinois, on February 2, 1923.
In 1942 Red signed a amateur free agent contract with the Cardinals, and at the age of 22 made his big league debut on April 17, 1945.
Red played second base for the Cardinals 1946 World Series Champions, and played with the Redbirds until 1955.
After playing with the New York Giants in '55-'56, Red was traded to the Milwaukee Braves, and was a key member of the '57-'58 National League Champions and 1957 World Series Champion Braves.
Red returned to the Cardinals in 1961, and played his final game as a player on July 7, 1963.
In his 19 years as a Hall of Fame player, Red collected 2,449 base hits, 427 doubles, 84 home runs, and had 773 RBI in 2,216 games.
A terrific fielder, Red finished with a .983 lifetime fielding percentage.
Red was a 10 time National League All-Star, and won 5 World Series Trophies as a player, manager, and coach, spanning 5 decades, 1946/1957/1964/1967/1982.
Red's umiform #2 has, fittingly, been retired by the Cardinals, and Red is a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame as well as the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Red Schoendienst is revered in St. Louis, and rightfully so.
If you have a way to watch the game tonight, try and see the pre-game ceremonies the Cardinals have for Red.
It should be a fun night in baseball in the Gateway to the West.
On Twitter, use the hashtag #lovered2 to celebrate Red's life in baseball.
We love Red Schoendienst, a true and proud man and big league ballplayer.
Congratulations Red on 70 years in baseball.
PLAY BALL!
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