Mr. Rickey's Redbirds: Baseball, Beer, Scandals & Celebrations in St. Louis

by Mike Mitchell

In the history of the St. Louis Cardinals, one figure towers above all, despite never pitching an inning or taking an at-bat for the team. For decades, the club was defined by his presence – or his absence. From 1876 to 1925, three different National League teams in St. Louis never finished higher than second place. Then everything changed. The St. Louis Cardinals became the league’s most dominant team. Over a twenty-one-season period, 1926 to 1946, the Cardinals won nine pennants and six World Series titles. Branch Rickey is the biggest reason why. Rickey’s life, career, and impact are an often-told story, but the emphasis is largely on his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the story of Jackie Robinson. But even without Robinson, Rickey would still deserve a place in the Hall of Fame. That honor would be deserved because of his pioneering work with the Cardinals. No one casts a longer shadow on St. Louis baseball than Rickey. Mr. Rickey’s Redbirds, though, is not just his story. It’s the story of all the incredible players he scouted, signed, or traded and the talented executives he hired, fired, or deeply influenced over the years. It’s the story of baseball told through a city and a franchise that proudly claims more World Series titles than any other National League team.

Genres: Baseball

510 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2020

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Reviews

[Richard West · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great baseball book! As a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals I may be a little prejudiced in my feelings about this book, but I don't think so. What we get here is a history of baseball in not only St. Louis - but primarily there - but the effects of what happened in the Gateway City on other teams as well. The author takes us through the early years, right up to the present - any book that mentions the coronavirus plague is definitely up-to-date - and how Branch Rickey's influence is still felt today.

There are very few books where you can say about every page - "I Didn't Know That" - and even the most knowledgeable fan would even say that.

Highly recommended for the person interested in baseball history, or the Cardinal fan. This is one of those books that should be on every baseball fan's bookshelf.