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Pete Vuckovich was fearless in great escape for Cardinals
Facing the defending World Series champion Pirates, Cardinals starter Pete Vuckovich performed a high-wire act in the 1980 season opener.
Vuckovich pitched a three-hit shutout in the Cardinals' 1-0 victory on April 10, 1980, at St. Louis.
It was the first of only two times the Cardinals won a season opener by a score of 1-0. The second occurred March 31, 2014, against the Reds at Cincinnati.
In the 2014 game, the Cardinals escaped an eighth-inning jam in which the Reds had runners on first and third with none out. Boxscore
In the 1980 game, Vuckovich performed a Houdini act by striking out the side with runners on second and third in the ninth.
Strikeout pitch
Using a variety of off-speed pitches called by catcher Ted Simmons, Vuckovich retired 14 Pirates in a row between the first and sixth innings.
The Cardinals got a run against Bert Blyleven in the second when Bobby Bonds, in his Cardinals debut after being acquired from the Indians, walked and scored on a George Hendrick double.
Vuckovich held the Pirates to two hits through eight innings, but in the ninth it began to unravel.
Pinch-hitter Lee Lacy led off with a single, Omar Moreno walked and a wild pitch enabled the runners to advance to second and third with none out.
"We couldn't ask to be in a better situation," Pirates manager Chuck Tanner told United Press International.
Tim Foli, who the year before was the toughest National League batter to strike out, stepped to the plate.
Vuckovich struck him out.
Next, Dave Parker, who was nicknamed "The Cobra" for his ability to uncoil quickly and lash line drives.
Willie Stargell, destined for the Hall of Fame, followed. First base was open and John Milner was on deck, but Vuckovich opted to pitch to Stargell.
"You can't do anything but respect these guys," Vuckovich said. "There's no room for getting scared or nervous because they can sense that, too. If they get that feeling, they can get you."
Vuckovich struck out Stargell, setting off a celebration among the 42,867 spectators at Busch Stadium. Boxscore
Praise from Stan
"I was lucky," Vuckovich said. "It could just as easily have gone the other way."
Vuckovich delivered 111 pitches, striking out nine and walking two.
"Today was an emotional drain," Vuckovich said to the Associated Press.
The performance earned Vuckovich the admiration of everyone who witnessed it.
"Amazing," Stan Musial, the Cardinals' all-time greatest player, said to The Sporting News. "He throws the best right-handed breaking pitches I ever saw."
Claude Osteen, Cardinals pitching coach, said, "The thing about him is he's got great motion on the off-speed pitches. You just don't know what to look for. I don't think there's anybody that has that many pitches under control."
Summed up Stargell: "The guy wants to be a good pitcher and he is."
Vuckovich finished 12-9 with three shutouts and a 3.40 ERA for the 1980 Cardinals.
After the season, Vuckovich, Simmons and reliever Rollie Fingers were traded to the Brewers. Vuckovich led the American League in winning percentage in each of his first two years with the Brewers and won the 1982 Cy Young Award.
Previously: Bert Blyleven: Mighty matchups versus Cardinals
Posted in Games, Opponents, Pitchers | 2 Comments
on April 7, 2014 at 3:23 pm | Reply Tim
I was in attendance for that game! How time flies…
on April 7, 2014 at 4:25 pm | Reply retrosimba
Thanks for your comment. I know what you mean. I remember listening to this game on radio and squirming through that 9th inning.