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1989 - Jose Oquendo

Jose led MLB with 163 games played (as the Cardinals had a rainout that counted). He hit .291 with a .372 OBP. He had 79 walks to only 59 Ks.
Despite 1 home run, he slugged 28 doubles and 7 triples (while being slow as malaises). It was enough to slug a respectable .372 and a .747 OPS.
His OPS+ was 113.
His combination of terrific hitting and outstanding defense led him to be 2nd on the team with a 5.4 WAR. Behind only Ozzie's absurd 7.3 WAR.

Good for Jose. I forgot that he was absolutely terrific replacing Tommy Herr as the starting 2nd baseman for a few years.

Thoughts? Any other "surprise" seasons from Cardinals in your lifetimes that might top Jose's 5.4 WAR in 1989?

Did you ever see the secret weapon play? I'm not saying he was a burner but he was not slow. Unfortunately, he ended up playing a lot of second base because the Cards thought Luis Alicea was the answer and traded Herr away.

janb526 wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025 22:29 pm Did you ever see the secret weapon play? I'm not saying he was a burner but he was not slow. Unfortunately, he ended up playing a lot of second base because the Cards thought Luis Alicea was the answer and traded Herr away.

I saw him a lot. Oquendo was one of the slowest players in baseball history

Wainwright pitching 206 innings, 17 W, and 3 CGs at age 39, 2 years after nearly everyone on this site demanded his retirement or release.

Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

I was going to suggest that. Herr was clutch.

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

one of the most underrated Cards ever

1. Jose Oquendo was never considered slow. He was by no means a blazer, but he was at the very worst average in foot speed.

2. Gregg Jeffries 1993 season was a great season that doesn't get mentioned much. 11th in the MVP voting, batted .342 as a switch hitter, played a new position, and was average defensively at 1B, stole 46 bags, only K'd 32 times in 612 PAs, 142 OPS+

BrummerStealsHome wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:35 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

I was going to suggest that. Herr was clutch.

Look at that slash w/RiSP, Tommy was clutch!

Lonnie Smith’s 1982 season has to be up there.

.381 OBP, league-leading 120 runs, 68 stolen bases, .815 OPS
2nd in MVP voting.

“Skates” had a great year!

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

But that season is not "underrated" by anyone with more than one working brain cell.

AnExParrot wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 11:16 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

But that season is not "underrated" by anyone with more than one working brain cell.

I think if you go by the OP's question, it certainly ranks as one of Cardinals most underrated seasons.

Ask people to name players from the 85' teams and I'd bet they name:

Ozzie, Willie, Jack Clark, Coleman, Tudor, Andujar and maybe even Van Slyke and Pendleton before they finally mention Tommy and his 6.4 bWAR.

His 1985 season is absolutely one of the best Most Underrated in Cardinals history.

AnExParrot wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 11:16 am

rockondlouie wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:31 am Well you mentioned him:

Tommy Herr/1985

8 HR's
110 RBI's
.302 .379 .416 .795

5th in MVP voting that season

.333 .407 .452 .859 w/RiSP

But that season is not "underrated" by anyone with more than one working brain cell.

Well . . . . naturally it depends upon who is doing the rating. The topic of Herr in 1985 has come up before and I am confident there are many who underrate that season. That they have a functioning brain cell deficit is a source of agreement.

Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑10 Jun 2025 10:53 am 1. Jose Oquendo was never considered slow. He was by no means a blazer, but he was at the very worst average in foot speed.

2. Gregg Jeffries 1993 season was a great season that doesn't get mentioned much. 11th in the MVP voting, batted .342 as a switch hitter, played a new position, and was average defensively at 1B, stole 46 bags, only K'd 32 times in 612 PAs, 142 OPS+

Jeffries was a beast. Easily my favorite when he was with the Cardinals

Whitey Kurowski-1947

6.1 fWAR
.310/.420/.544/.964/150 OPS+

In 146 games he scored 108 runs with 27 doubles, 27 HR, 104 RBI. 87 walks with only 56 strikeouts.

How about Kyle Lohse 2012 season? 16-3 2.86 era- he dominated all year.