Introducing birthday Thursdays

In honor of my stepdad’s birthday today, I’m rolling out a new, occasionally-recurring feature.

Birthday Thursdays will offer up some Redbirds and former Redbirds with their big days either recently celebrated or coming up soon. It’s like the Today show, only with generally younger and more able-bodied people.

Without further ado, Happy Birthday…

• Bill White – Jan. 28, 1934 – Five-time All-Star Bill White served as 1B/OF for the Cardinals from 1959 to 1965 while collecting five Gold Gloves for his infield play and putting up consistently strong offensive numbers. He won a World Series in 1964 while taking third place in MVP voting. White picked up one more Gold Glove in his three years in Philly, returning in 1969 to retire sporting the Birds on the Bat. Happy 75th, good sir!
• Brad Thompson – Jan. 31, 1982 – The young swinger with a shot at cracking the rotation out of Spring Training turns 27 on Friday. The baby-faced Vegas native made the roster at 23 and has spent parts of the last four seasons as a Big Bird, but he’s been a frequent rider on the St. Louis-Memphis Express. As he’s gotten older, Brad’s control has fallen off – not the right trend for a guy who’ll see a lot of competition from the kids in 2009.
• Ted Power – Jan. 31, 1955 – The journeyman righty, who hung it up in 1993 after 13 years, spent the 1989 campaign with the Cards. Notable for being on the list of Barry Bonds’ home run victims and because he’s my friend Edie’s uncle. By all accounts a really great guy, I wish you a Happy 54th, Uncle Ted!!
• Jackie Robinson – Jan. 31, 1919 – The late Hall of Fame breaker of the color barrier is an honorary mention since he never played for the Cardinals, but his number 42’s up in every park in the nation for good reason. Mr. Robinson deserves a tip of the cap every day possible to duly recognize his place in history. Jackie would be 90 years old.
• Hector Luna – Feb. 1, 1980 – The 2004 Redbird Rule V pick has clung to sparse MLB playing time since departing to Cleveland for Ronnie Belliard in 2006. After being plucked off waivers by Toronto in August 2007, he’s recorded just 43 ABs above AAA. A versatile fielder, a good spring with the bat could still land him a utility role, but Hector ain’t getting any younger. Happy 29th birthday, big guy.
• John Tudor – Feb. 2, 1954 – The crafty lefty and recent featured attraction on the Cards Caravan turns 55 on Groundhog’s Day. John’s 12-year career is highlighted by a ridiculous 1985 campaign in which he accumulated 14 complete games, 10 of them shutouts, over 275 innings. He ended 1985 with a few more career bests – 21 wins, 169 strikeouts, a 0.938 WHIP and a 1.93 ERA.
• Red Schoendienst – Feb. 2, 1923 – The Ole’ Redhead from Germantown, Ill., gets a little older this week, marking 86 years with us. A Hall of Fame playing career has been followed by a lifetime of dedication to the St. Louis Cardinals. Guys with statues outside Busch Stadium have to have your respect, but right alongside Stan the Man, Brock and Gibby, Red is a face of the franchise and an equally amazing living legend. Ten times an All-Star second baseman in his 19-year career, Schoendienst was twice a World Series winner, in 1946 with the Cards and 1957 with the Milwaukee Braves. As a manager, Red led the club from 1965 to 1976 and earned National League pennants in 1967 and 1968, toppling the Boston Red Sox in the 1967 World Series. He’ll don a uniform this spring as a special assistant to Tony LaRussa, making it his 64th straight season as a player, manager or coach.

I’m assuming Red and Tudor are with me in hoping for clouds and an early spring when the groundhog gets to his business on their birthdays next week. From there, less than two weeks until pitchers and catchers report.

Have a great weekend…

-30-