1990 St. Louis Cardinals season

The 1990 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 109th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 99th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 70–92 during the season and finished in sixth place of the National League East division, 25 games behind the NL East champion Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the first time the Cardinals had finished in last place since 1918. This was the most recent season the Cardinals finished in last place until 2023.

Offseason

November 28, 1989: Bryn Smith was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.^[1]
November 30, 1989: Danny Cox was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.^[2]
December 6, 1989: Jim Lindeman and Matt Kinzer were traded by the Cardinals to the Detroit Tigers for Bill Henderson (minors), Marcos Betances (minors), and Pat Austin (minors).^[3]
February 27, 1990: Alex Cole and Steve Peters were traded by the Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for Omar Olivares.^[4]

Regular season

Shortstop Ozzie Smith won a Gold Glove this year.

Opening Day starters

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

April 23, 1990: John Costello was traded by the Cardinals to the Montreal Expos for Rex Hudler.^[6]
May 4, 1990: Tom Brunansky was traded by the Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox for Lee Smith.^[7]
May 5, 1990: Terry Francona was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.^[8]
July 2, 1990: Ernie Camacho was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.^[9]
August 29, 1990: Willie McGee was traded by the Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for Félix José, Stan Royer, and Daryl Green (minors).^[10] However, McGee would win the NL batting title (he had enough plate appearances to qualify for it despite this trade).

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

^[11]

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

Willie McGee, outfielder: Batting title (.335)
Ozzie Smith, shortstop, National League Gold Glove

All-Stars

Ozzie Smith, starter, shortstop

Farm system

^[12]

References

^ Bryn Smith page at Baseball Reference
^ Danny Cox page at Baseball Reference
^ Jim Lindeman page at Baseball Reference
^ Alex Cole page at Baseball Reference
^ "1990 St. Louis Cardinals Roster by Baseball Almanac".
^ Rex Hudler page at Baseball Reference
^ Lee Smith page at Baseball Reference
^ Terry Francona page at Baseball Reference
^ Ernie Camacho page at Baseball Reference
^ Willie McGee page at Baseball Reference
^ "1990 St. Louis Cardinals Statistics".
^ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

External links

1990 St. Louis Cardinals at Baseball Reference
1990 St. Louis Cardinals team page at www.baseball-almanac.com