A Tribute to Jimmy Baseball

It's Opening Day!  Everyone's starting on a clean slate.  Last year's gone.  Even the Royals, Pirates, and Indians are starting tied for 1st. Life is great.  For those of you who are not aware, the Cardinals invited Jim Edmonds to Jupiter this Spring, and it seemed he had a legitimate shot at making the team.  Jimmy put up very good numbers in 86 games last year with a line of .276/11/23.  Very solid for a player his age.  But after hitting a home run, Jimmy hurt himself running the bases (he is a little up there in age), and the injuries have put him down for good.  Instead, Edmonds is returning to the Lou to throw out the first pitch today against the SD Padres.  Which has lead me to pondering, how great was Jimmy Baseball in St. Louis?  Think of all the great moments in Card's history he provided.  Some people accused him of being a little soft (JD Drew?), but has anyone provided as many memories to Cardinal Nation over the past 20 years?  This, is an ode to Jimmy:

Jimmy Baseball in Cardinal Red

Edmonds came over to the Birds in 2000 in what, in my opinion, is the greatest tradesof the Jocketty era.  Kent Bottenfield and Adam Kennedy for Gold Glover, possible Hall of Famer, Jim Edmonds. Ouch LA.  And Jimmy did not disappoint.  In his first year, Edmonds did not disappoint, batting a very impressive .295 with 42 hr and 108 rbi (also, he played in 152 games).  Over his career in St. Louis, Jim would continue to impress and be a critical part of the lineup.

In 2004, Jim would be a centerpiece in the famous "Murderer's Row" lineup that won the Card's 105 games that season.  Jimmy was a huge part of this again, batting .301/42/111 in 153 games, and providing some of the greatest moments in my young playoff memories.

While his numbers decline quite a bit in his final years in Baseball Heaven, Jim put up tremendous offensive numbers.  Over 8 seasons, he batted an average of .282 with 30 hr and 90 rbi.  Not to mention, the amazing flair and range Jimmy had in the outfield.  His defense was outmatched, and was shown through his 6 consecutive (2000-2006) Gold Glove awards under the Cardinal uniform.  His defense almost overshadowed his offense prowess, and made him one of the most memorable Card's.  Hid defense also provided one of my favorite Card's moments.

Favorite Jimmy Moments

Being a young Card's fan at age 22, I've thankfully seen 2 World Series runs by the Cards.  The 2004 team was perhaps the most fun team to watch in recent memory, and minus the Red Sox amazing role, could've beaten anyone in baseball.  But in terms of Jimmy, the NLCS against the Astros provided my two favorite Edmonds moments of all time:

2004 NLCS Game 6: The home run.  I think everyone remembers it.  Perhaps the only better is Pujols off Lidge one year later, but the Cards would lose there.  If you don't recall, the Card's blew a 9th inning lead and went to extras after a Jeff Bagwell single.  But in the bottom of the 12th inning, Jimmy took a walk off bomb from Dan Marceli to end the game, as seen in the picture above, pushing the series to Game 7.  Phenomenal.

2004 NLCS Game 7: It was only appropriate Jimmy would steal the show for me again after his Game 6 heroics.  Already down 1-0 from a leadoff Biggio homerun, in the second inning, the game looked to be getting out of hand.  With two men on, the future Cardinal Lance Berkman drilled a line drive to center field.  Down 3-0 with Roger Clemens on the mound would've possibly killed the Cards in Game 7.  But Edmonds, with more range than any, made the most memorable catch of my life by snagging the ball while diving backwards toward left-center after a dead sprint.  Unbelievable is the only way to describe it.

While we look towards the future and the Card's season, its important to remember the past.  Jimmy was and is one of the greatest Cards of the past 25 years.  He brought us Gold Gloves, All Star Games, heroics, and a World Series.  He also brought us starting 3rd baseman today David Freese.  When he throws out the first pitch today, remember the great things he did for St. Louis, and give him a standing O from your seat, couch, or desk.  He deserves it.

Thanks for reading. Go Cards!