Remembering Ray Sadecki

Ray Sadecki, a 20 game winner for the 1964 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals passed away at the age of 73.

He also was the game one starter and winning pitcher for the Cards in the World Series opener in 1964 vs the New York Yankees.

Sadecki also pitched well for the New York Mets in the 1973 World Series. He notched a save in game four.

He pitched many innings and was against the “pitch count” mentality that prevails in today’s game.

Alas, the SF Giants and many of their fans regretted the trade that brought Sadecki to San Francisco, with Orlando Cepeda going to St. Louis.

Despite some tremendous teams SF failed to win a title in the 1960’s, as opposed to relatively mediocre teams winning three in the last five seasons.

Sadecki is part of history as an integral part of the glorious ’64 Cards, who staged a great regular season comeback. He truly helped the 1973 Mets do the same. There was no bogus wild card then. That is why those pennant and division races meant something and Ray Sadecki was a big part of them.