Leadoff man Skip Schumaker has been Mr. Clutch for the St. Louis Cardinals in the first month of the 2008 season with two final at-bat winning hits – essentially ending the contest for his club with the big hit in what would turn out to be the final innings of the game.
The home hits were either walk-offs, meaning the game ended right there, or winning hits in the bottom of the eighth inning. As in the latter case, the road winning hits also required three more outs to be secured in the bottom of that final inning.
The most recent example of Schumaker’s prowess was demonstrated on Saturday, when the outfielder stroked a ninth-inning single to left field, scoring pinch-runner Cesar Izturis with the winner in a 4-3 Cardinals walk-off victory over the visiting Houston Astros. That snapped the Astros winning run at six games and positioned the Cardinals to take the series following Sunday’s win.
Overall, Schumaker has a total of three game-winning RBI in the 2008 season and nine multi-hit games this year to date, tying Albert Pujols for the most on the Cardinals. Skip has put up hits in 15 of his last 19 games while scoring 17 runs (.370, 27-for-73).
Those final at-bat winning hits aren’t a new activity for the 28-year-old. Schumaker has provided three of the Cardinals’ last seven of these dating back to July 22 of last season. In the latter game, Skip slammed a two-run home run in the 10th inning to break a tie in Atlanta. He was tied for second on the club last year with two final at-bat winning hits, behind outfielder Ryan Ludwick's three.
The Cardinals top two all-time individual seasons for most final at-bat winning hits each occurred in World Championship seasons. Albert Pujols is the leader with eight in 2006. The prior top hitter in this situation was current Cards broadcaster Mike Shannon, who accrued seven in 1967.
Following are the Cardinals yearly leaders all the way back to 1933. A huge tip of the cap to reader Tom Orf for sharing his fantastic research, the basis for this article.
St. Louis Cardinals Last At-Bat Wins
Most by player each season
| 2008 |
2 |
Schumaker |
1 |
Duncan |
| 2007 |
3 |
Ludwick |
2 |
Pujols, Taguchi, Schumaker |
| 2006 |
8 |
Pujols |
3 |
Rolen |
| 2005 |
4 |
Pujols, Eckstein |
2 |
Edmonds, Walker |
| 2004 |
5 |
Pujols, Edmonds |
3 |
Sanders |
| 2003 |
5 |
Pujols |
4 |
Rolen |
| 2002 |
5 |
Renteria |
2 |
Marrero, Drew, Robinson |
| 2001 |
2 |
Lankford, Paquette, Renteria, Pujols |
1 |
several |
| 2000 |
3 |
Edmonds |
2 |
Paquette, McGwire |
| 1999 |
3 |
Marrero |
2 |
Lankford, Davis, McGwire, Paquette |
| 1998 |
3 |
McGwire, Lankford |
2 |
Gant, Jordan |
| 1997 |
5 |
Gant |
4 |
Gaetti |
| 1996 |
6 |
Jordan |
4 |
Pagnozzi |
| 1995 |
5 |
Jordan |
3 |
Gilkey |
| 1994 |
3 |
Lankford, Gilkey |
1 |
several |
| 1993 |
4 |
Whiten, Zeile |
2 |
Alicea, Gilkey, Jeffries, Brewer, Perry |
| 1992 |
5 |
Jose, Pagnozzi |
3 |
Zeile, Gilkey, Lankford |
| 1991 |
5 |
Lankford |
3 |
O.Smith, Gilkey |
| 1990 |
3 |
Pendleton |
2 |
McGee, Coleman |
| 1989 |
3 |
Guerrero |
2 |
Pagnozzi, Walling, Thompson |
| 1988 |
3 |
Oquendo |
2 |
Pena, Brunansky |
| 1987 |
5 |
Clark |
4 |
Herr |
| 1986 |
3 |
Pendleton, Morris |
2 |
Oquendo, Herr |
| 1985 |
4 |
Pendleton |
3 |
O.Smith |
| 1984 |
3 |
Green |
2 |
Porter, McGee |
| 1983 |
4 |
Herr |
3 |
Hendrick, McGee, Oberkfell, Green |
| 1982 |
3 |
O.Smith, McGee |
2 |
Iorg, Hendrick |
| 1981 |
3 |
Herr |
2 |
Hernandez |
| 1980 |
5 |
Hendrick |
2 |
Scott, Hernandez |
| 1979 |
3 |
Reitz |
2 |
Mumphrey, Simmons, Templeton, Hernandez |
| 1978 |
4 |
Reitz |
1 |
several |
| 1977 |
4 |
Reitz |
2 |
Templeton, Mumphrey |
| 1976 |
4 |
Simmons |
3 |
Kessinger |
| 1975 |
4 |
R.Smith |
3 |
Melendez, Simmons |
| 1974 |
5 |
McBride |
4 |
Torre, Simmons |
| 1973 |
6 |
Cruz |
3 |
Melendez, Carbo |
| 1972 |
3 |
Simmons |
2 |
Brock, Torre, Sizemore |
| 1971 |
4 |
Simmons |
3 |
Torre |
| 1970 |
4 |
Cardenal |
3 |
Brock |
| 1969 |
5 |
Brock |
3 |
Flood, Javier |
| 1968 |
2 |
Brock, Shannon, McCarver, Gagliano, Javier |
1 |
several |
| 1967 |
7 |
Shannon |
4 |
Maris |
| 1966 |
4 |
Flood |
3 |
Brock |
| 1965 |
4 |
White |
3 |
Brock, Boyer |
| 1964 |
3 |
Brock |
2 |
Skinner, Groat, Brock, Boyer, McCarver, Javier, Shannon,
White |
| 1963 |
3 |
Musial |
2 |
Groat, Flood, James, McCarver, Altman |
| 1962 |
4 |
James |
2 |
Javier, Flood, Musial, Boyer, White,
Whitfield |
| 1961 |
2 |
Boyer, Musial, Schoendienst, Sawatski |
1 |
several |
| 1960 |
4 |
Boyer |
3 |
Musial, Cunningham, Nieman |
| 1959 |
4 |
Cimoli |
3 |
Boyer |
| 1958 |
4 |
Boyer |
3 |
Cunningham |
| 1957 |
6 |
Cunningham |
3 |
Musial, Ennis |
| 1956 |
2 |
Musial, Repulski |
1 |
several |
| 1955 |
5 |
Virdon |
5 |
Moon, Sarni, Repulski |
| 1954 |
3 |
Repulski, Sarni |
2 |
Schoendienst, Jablonski, Moon, Musial |
| 1953 |
2 |
Schoendienst |
1 |
several |
| 1952 |
6 |
Slaughter |
4 |
Musial, Rice |
| 1951 |
3 |
Musial |
1 |
several |
| 1950 |
3 |
Rice, Schoendienst, Lindell |
1 |
several |
| 1949 |
4 |
Garagiola |
3 |
Musial |
| 1948 |
4 |
Musial |
3 |
Moore |
| 1947 |
5 |
Musial |
3 |
Kurowski |
| 1946 |
4 |
Musial |
3 |
Dusak, Schoendienst |
| 1945 |
3 |
Kurowski, Adams |
2 |
Hopp, Bergamo |
| 1944 |
4 |
W.Cooper |
3 |
Hopp, O'Dea, Bergamo |
| 1943 |
6 |
Klein |
4 |
Sanders, Walker |
| 1942 |
4 |
Slaughter, Musial |
3 |
Brown, Kurowski |
| 1941 |
5 |
Brown |
4 |
Padgett |
| 1940 |
3 |
Moore |
2 |
Martin, Marion, Orengo, Koy |
| 1939 |
5 |
Medwick |
2 |
Moore, M.Cooper, Slaughter |
| 1938 |
4 |
Mize |
3 |
Medwick, Moore |
| 1937 |
5 |
Mize, Medwick |
3 |
Brown |
| 1936 |
4 |
Martin |
3 |
Durocher |
| 1935 |
6 |
Collins |
4 |
Medwick, Davis |
| 1934 |
3 |
Rothrock |
2 |
DeLancey, Medwick, Fullis |
| 1933 |
4 |
Martin |
3 |
O'Farrell |
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brwalton@earthlink.net.
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