One Cardinal Fan’s Disappointment
Having followed the St. Louis Cardinals since 1949 this is the first time that I have had questions about the ethical decisions of the organization. Not that I have always agreed or felt that all of the clubs actions were correct or even fair. The trading away of Enos Slaughter in 1954,was a body blow to my 14 year old psyche and was viewed by me and many fans as a sacrilege. Because the Slaughter trade was so painful the trade of Red Schoendienst two years later, while equally disquieting was viewed as an act of stupidity rather than the breaking of a sacred bond. Once the bond had been torn asunder, unlike Humpty Dumpty, it could never quite be put together again. It is something, I’m sure, that each generation of fans learns in its own time.
The Mark McGwire era was and still is an unsettling time for many Cardinal fans – myself included. We loved Big Mac and felt that he was treated unfairly, sports writers that were castigating McGwire were voting Barry Bonds the League MVP. Yet many of us were uncomfortable with the steroid use and haven’t quite come to grips with how to deal with the McGwire legacy. We were aware that the club administration at least the on field management knew of the practice and that MLB from the Commissioner on down knew but they have pretty much been given a pass by most fans.
The Peralta signing is however a bird of another color. We Cardinal fans have long held the players to the standard set by Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst, gentlemen who played the game with love and dignity. There have been many others: Bob Gibson, Tim McCarver, Willie McGee, Lou Brock, Ted Simmons, men who you would like to invite into your home and introduce to your kids as people who were more than athletes. People who were stars but were good people first.
Perhaps Peralta is a good person, I certainly don’t know. But what will stick in the craw of many fans is that after his “penalty” of lost salary of about $2,000,000,he is given a new contract of more than double his previous salary. Some penalty! I suspect that if other players were ask if they would take PED’s if it would earn them a multi-year contract at double the salary – there would be some serious soul searching and some honest ones would answer yes.
The primary reason given by the club to justify the signing was; If we didn’t pay him some other club would, so we had no choice. We are not to blame for the existing situation, it’s somebody else’s fault. If the Cards last year had finished in fourth or fifth place in the division rather than winning 98 games and playing in the World Series, that argument might be more understandable.
A second justification given was; If the players are not happy with the situation then they (the Players) should stiffen the penalties. Be that as it may, the rules do not say that when the guilty player returns to active duty that they must be showered with exorbitant contracts. Also it should be remembered that the rules are an agreement between the players union and by the owners. Perhaps the owners should insist on stronger penalties and not reward them with great contracts.
Will most fans accept the trade? Probably, especially if Peralta hits .300 and doesn’t butcher too many plays. That is what the front office is banking on. Cardinal fans have always been loyal and will continue to support the team. Its imprinted in our DNA. Some like me will grouse, but three million of us will still show up next summer to cheer the Redbirds, a little sadder but not much wiser.
