1908 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1908 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 27th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 17th season in the National League. The Cardinals had a 49-105 win-loss record during the season and finished 8th (last) in the National League. The season's attendance of 185,377, an average of less than 2,500 a game, which remains the lowest peace-time attendance level since 1901.
Regular season
Season summary
The Cardinals ranked last in three categories in the National League: runs scored (only 371), runs allowed (626), and errors committed (348).[1] The team was shut out a record 33 times. Three lineup regulars batted below .200. Only three drove in more than 20 runs, and the team lost more than 100 games for the second and last time in franchise history. The Cards set a club record with 105 losses and a league record for most defeats in a month when they went 7-27 in September (Brooklyn went 6-27 that same month[2]).
One team member, Bugs Raymond, ranked among the league leaders in fewest hits per nine innings, resulting in a 2.03 ERA. However, the Cardinals were shut out 11 times on days Raymond took the hill, leading to his league-high 25 losses. His 15 wins accounted for almost a third of the team's wins. Of note, he gave up fewer hits per game than Christy Mathewson, and threw five shutouts.[3]
In April 1908, the Cardinals played the St. Louis Browns in an exhibition game to raise money for former Cardinals owner Chris von der Ahe. The clubs raised $4,300.[4]
Season standings
Roster
| 1908 St. Louis Cardinals |
| Roster |
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
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Manager
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Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| Pos |
Player |
G |
AB |
H |
Avg. |
HR |
RBI |
| C |
Ludwig, BillBill Ludwig |
66 |
187 |
34 |
.182 |
0 |
4 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player |
G |
IP |
W |
L |
ERA |
SO |
| Raymond, BugsBugs Raymond |
48 |
324.1 |
15 |
25 |
2.03 |
145 |
| Baldwin, O. F.O. F. Baldwin |
4 |
14.2 |
1 |
3 |
6.14 |
5 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player |
G |
IP |
W |
L |
ERA |
SO |
| Beebe, FredFred Beebe |
29 |
174.1 |
5 |
13 |
2.63 |
72 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
References
- ^ Crazy ’08: How a cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads and Magnates created the Greatest Year in Baseball History, p. 160, by Cait Murphy, Smithsonian Books, a Division of Harper Collins, 2007, ISBN 978-0-06-088937-1
- ^ 1908 Brooklyn Superbas at Baseball Reference
- ^ Crazy ’08, p. 166
- ^ Crazy ’08, p. 164
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