Photography courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, pdsphil
One of the pleasures of co-authoring Whitey’s Boys: A Celebration of the ’82 Cards’ World Championship was interviewing Joaquin Andujar.
Rob Rains and I had worked together at USA TODAY Baseball Weekly, and he honored me with the chance to write the book alongside him in 2001. Former manager Whitey Herzog wrote the forward, and every player on the 1982 team was interviewed.
I recall a lengthy phone conversation with Andujar, who died Monday after battling diabetes for several years in his native Dominican Republic. I’ll never forget our talk.
“I remember all the good times I had in St. Louis," Andujar said. "I remember all those guys: George Hendrick, Ozzie Smith, Lonnie Smith, Tommie Herr, Willie McGee. I love those guys. We were close. The best friends I have in baseball [were] there. We won a championship, won the pennant. It was good times.”
He also adored Cardinals’ fans. “Anybody who knows me, knows I love St. Louis," he said. "The fans there are so special."
As for Herzog, Andujar said, “He is just great. He was my daddy. He is a special man.”
Andujar proved how tough he was in the 1982 World Series, after Milwaukee Brewers catcher Ted Simmons drilled his knee with a line drive during Game Three. Andujar was carried from the field, but the Cards’ prevailed and Andujar got the win.
Still hurting, Andujar started Game Seven and led the Cardinals to a World Series-clinching victory. Former pitcher Dave LaPoint said teammates would ask, “Joaquin, how you feeling?” He would always answer, “Me one tough Dominican.”
Andujar pitched an amazing 265 innings during that 1982 season. The following three seasons, he pitched 225, 261, and 269 innings, respectively. He was 20–14 in 1984, and he won 21 games in 1985. But by the postseason of 1985, the toll on his arm was showing.
Unfortunately, some only remember Andujar for his on-field explosion and argument with umpire Don Denkinger during Game Seven of the 1985 World Series. (Denkinger's infamous blown call at first base had helped spark a Royals rally in Game Six.) Andujar and Herzog were both ejected. Andujar was traded to the Oakland A’s in the off-season.
But he will always be remembered for his years as a Cardinal—and for some of his famous quotes and quips. Here are just a few that I shared in Whitey’s Boys:
• “I throw the ball 92 miles an hour, but they hit it back just as hard.”
• “There are 300,000 sportswriters, and they’re all against me. Every one of them.”
• “God is back in the National League. In fact, he’s staying at my house. I’m having a barbecue for him.”
And one that maybe sums up his career and untimely passing.
• “You can’t worry if it’s cold; you can’t worry if it’s hot; you only worry if you get sick. Because then if you don’t get well, you die.”
