Mike Matheny will be managing his first Major League Baseball game April 4 when his St. Louis Cardinals play in south Florida against the Miami Marlins. Matheny succeeded legendary manager Tony La Russa as the skipper of the defending World Series champions.
Here's how Matheny's success might be gauged based upon special Opening Day games of other managers in the team's history.
Rogers Hornsby
The first truly great Cardinals' player, Rogers Hornsby managed the team for just under two seasons in 1925 and 1926. His first Opening Day was a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates as the franchise won its first World Series later that year.
Frankie Frisch
Frankie Frisch took over in mid-season in 1933. When 1934 rolled around, Frisch had an entire season with which to utilize Dizzy Dean and company to win another World Series title. Frish's first Opening Day game was a 7-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates April 17, 1934.
Billy Southworth
Billy Southworth guided the Cardinals through the World War II years with three World Series appearances in a row from 1942 to 1944. Southworth's second Opening Day game was April 15, 1941, at the Cincinnati Reds. Southworth was victorious 7-3 en route to a second place finish in the National League in his first complete season at the helm.
Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst's first Opening Day tilt was perhaps one of the most memorable Opening Day games in Cardinals' history. St. Louis wound up tying the Chicago Cubs 10-10 after four hours and 19 minutes of playing time April 12, 1965. The Cubs scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning just to tie the game at nine runs each. Both clubs scored a run in the bottom of the 11th before the game was called due to darkness. The Cubs have five errors on the game to none for St. Louis. The Cardinals squandered a 5-0 lead after a half inning.
Whitey Herzog
Whitey Herzog's first Opening Day game was a rare loss for the Cardinals. St. Louis lost 5-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies and started the year 1-2. Then the Cardinals won nine games in a row and never looked back as they won the NL East in Herzog's first full year as skipper.
Win or lose on the first day, Matheny has a tradition of managers before him who have successful years without much managing experience in the Cardinals' organization.
William Browning was born in St. Louis and is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.
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