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OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 10:15 am
by Goldfan
“#OTD 1981 - The Cardinals acquire Willie McGee from the Yankees for southpaw Bob Sykes (who will not appear in a MLB game)
Willie, one of the Cardinals fans most beloved players, will go on to have a stellar career - winning the 1985 NL MVP, capture two batting crowns, and earn three Gold Gloves.”
Remember conversations in these parts that Harry Bader was a better player than Willie…..
MVP, 2 batting titles, 3 Gold Gloves AND knew how to go back on a fly ball…..
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 10:49 am
by 82birds
talk about a lopsided trade !
took the Yanks to the cleaners
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 12:52 pm
by greyhawk
didn't the cards later send them ss bobby meacham to try and even this out --- cards got cash considerations i believe for meacham
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 13:36 pm
by BrummerStealsHome
82birds wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 10:49 am
talk about a lopsided trade !
took the Yanks to the cleaners
Bob Sykes had a lot of promise but had a chroncially sore arm as I remember. Great trade in retrospect but it was kind of a yawner at the time. It goes to show that trading away flotsam for a minor league prospect can sometimes pay a huge dividend.
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 14:17 pm
by dugoutrex
Goldfan wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 10:15 am
“#OTD 1981 - The Cardinals acquire Willie McGee from the Yankees for southpaw Bob Sykes (who will not appear in a MLB game)
Willie, one of the Cardinals fans most beloved players, will go on to have a stellar career - winning the 1985 NL MVP, capture two batting crowns, and earn three Gold Gloves.”
Remember conversations in these parts that Harry Bader was a better player than Willie…..
MVP, 2 batting titles, 3 Gold Gloves AND knew how to go back on a fly ball…..
Harry was either hyped or hated - very little in between - can Victor ever reach Bader levels of performance?
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 14:27 pm
by Goldfan
dugoutrex wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 14:17 pm
Goldfan wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 10:15 am
“#OTD 1981 - The Cardinals acquire Willie McGee from the Yankees for southpaw Bob Sykes (who will not appear in a MLB game)
Willie, one of the Cardinals fans most beloved players, will go on to have a stellar career - winning the 1985 NL MVP, capture two batting crowns, and earn three Gold Gloves.”
Remember conversations in these parts that Harry Bader was a better player than Willie…..
MVP, 2 batting titles, 3 Gold Gloves AND knew how to go back on a fly ball…..
Harry was either hyped or hated - very little in between - can Victor ever reach Bader levels of performance?
I know VSII will never twirl a bat like ole Harry….
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 15:11 pm
by brock118
greyhawk wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 12:52 pm
didn't the cards later send them ss bobby meacham to try and even this out --- cards got cash considerations i believe for meacham
I'm not quite sure on all the particulars of the story but from what I remember is that Steinbrenner was livid after the trade and was demanding more compensation. Apparently there was some sort of vote coming up for the owners and Steinbrenner was going to block the vote that Gussie wanted unless we gave up more for McGee. Finally Gussie gave in and sent Meacham who I think was one of our top draft picks to appease Steinbrenner. I seem to also remember the Yankees were claiming that McGee was just supposed to be loaned out to us as well, not directly traded. Anyone else remember any of this?
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 19:28 pm
by Gob
Good trade!
Re: OTD Cards Acquire Willie McGee
Posted: 21 Oct 2025 19:41 pm
by okcardfan
brock118 wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 15:11 pm
greyhawk wrote: ↑21 Oct 2025 12:52 pm
didn't the cards later send them ss bobby meacham to try and even this out --- cards got cash considerations i believe for meacham
I'm not quite sure on all the particulars of the story but from what I remember is that Steinbrenner was livid after the trade and was demanding more compensation. Apparently there was some sort of vote coming up for the owners and Steinbrenner was going to block the vote that Gussie wanted unless we gave up more for McGee. Finally Gussie gave in and sent Meacham who I think was one of our top draft picks to appease Steinbrenner. I seem to also remember the Yankees were claiming that McGee was just supposed to be loaned out to us as well, not directly traded. Anyone else remember any of this?
I do recall something about "loan," but no real particulars. I guess chatgpt or some other AI could dig up something . . .