The Best Pitchers In St. Louis Cardinals History

The St. Louis Cardinals have had plenty of achievements since the club was established back in 1892. While the franchise had had its down years, it is still considered as one of the most successful and valuable in the history of the sport. A major reason for that is the list of great pitchers that donned the Cardinals uniform. Some examples of those players are the following:

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Bob Gibson

Bob Gibson is not just the greatest pitcher in franchise history, he is also widely considered one of the all-time best. The former Harlem Globetrotter played all 17 years of his baseball career with the Cardinals, amassing eight All-Star selections, two Cy Young Awards, the 1968 National League MVP, and two World Series titles. He is known for striking fear into opponent batters’ hearts with his mean streak and even meaner pitches.

Chris Carpenter

Chris Carpenter may be as good as any other Cardinal pitcher not named Bob Gibson. In fact, Carpenter was better than most of them when it comes to clutch pitching during the playoffs. He helped lead the team to two World Series championships in 2006 and 2012. If it were not for the long list of injuries that plagued Carpenter, he could have achieved more accolades.

Dizzy Dean

During the 1930s, the Cardinals were a team to watch because of lively characters that were collectively dubbed the “Gashouse Gang.” The undisputed ace of the group was Jerome Herman “Dizzy” Dean. He holds a number of league and franchise pitching records, but the best was with St. Louis was when they won the World Series in 1934.

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Hello! I’m John Eilermann, a huge fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. If you want to read more articles about the team, be sure to subscribe to this blog.

World Cup Fever: A Look At Some Amazing Records In Football

Football is the most popular sport in the world. Every four years, the entire world is united in cheering for their favorite countries in the World Cup. This is such a year. In celebration of the World Cup, we’ve chosen a few of the most jaw-dropping records ever in football. 

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Most career goals 

Hungarian Josef Bican holds the record for most career goals with 1,468 in 918 matches. While some of the matches are unofficial, this is still a staggering number, which means Bican averaged over 1.5 goals a game. 

Most goals in a World Cup 

The 1958 World Cup saw Just Fontaine score an astounding 13 goals. The record has never even come close to being broken. Sadly, this was the only World Cup appearance for the Frenchman. 

Most goals in a year 

The record for most goals in a calendar year belongs to Lionel Messi. In 2012, Messi scored a whopping 91 goals. 

Most goals in a European season 

In line with his record of most goals in a year, Messi also broke the record for most goals in a European season, from 2011 to 2012. 

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Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a World War II scholar. I’m also a huge fan of the beautiful game, football. Learn more about me and the stuff I love by following me on Facebook.

World-Renowned Soldiers Who Earned The Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is the oldest award given to United States military personnel. The first was given in 1917. It is an award that symbolizes exemplary sacrifice in the line of duty, and as such is awarded to people who were either wounded or killed in combat.

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Let’s take a look at some of the most famous recipients of the Purple Heart.

Charles Bronson: Charles Bronson was not only a bona fide Hollywood tough man for the ages, but he was also a recipient of the Purple Heart. Bronson, who had gone on to star in hits such as “The Magnificent Seven” and the “Death Wish” franchise, started out as part of the Army Air Corps before he became a tail gunner for a B-29 in World War II.

Kurt Vonnegut: Esteemed author Kurt Vonnegut was a prisoner of war in World War II. It was this experience that inspired him to come up with the story of “Slaughterhouse Five.” The book would go on to be his most popular piece of work. He was awarded the Purple Heart from being a frostbite victim.

Rod Serling: Sci-fi fans know the name of Rod Serling only too well. The creator of “The Twilight Zone,” Serling used memories from his experience in the Philippines fighting against the Japanese to come up with stories for his famous series. His group had one of the highest casualty rates in the war, thus earning him the Purple Heart.

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World Cup Dreams: Getting Children Involved

When you look at kids playing sports, you’ll see that many of them are part of soccer teams. Yes. Terms like soccer dads and soccer moms were coined from the great number of children playing the game. And why shouldn’t they play? It’s practically only the greatest sports in the world.

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All the football stars in the upcoming World Cup used to be children who dreamed of becoming great at football. Players like Messi, Ozil, and Ronaldo all played soccer since they were small, and followed through with their dreams.

Now while only a small percentage of kids playing will get the call to suit up for the grandest stage in all of sports, the rest will still have a number of huge benefits to reap for when they grow up. Not only is soccer one of the best ways for kids to stay in shape and make their bodies stronger, but it is also a game that teaches so many important values such as hard work and discipline. Soccer teaches children to stay the course and persevere no matter what. It also imparts to them the importance of fair play and winning and losing graciously. But probably most important of all, children experience being a part of a team.

It’s one of the best exercises in the world. Running around chasing after each other and the ball makes for healthier heart and lungs. Children’s leg muscles are also fortified, much more than kids who don’t play sports.

It teaches kids the meaning of teamwork. If this is the first team sport a child will join, odds are the only team they’ll ever know is their family. Soccer teaches kids the value of working with their peers. This benefit will serve them later in life as well.

It’s fun. There’s nothing boring about soccer. Children will constantly be on the move. And with their boundless energy, this is a great direction for them.

It’s cross-cultural. More than other games, soccer forges new and strong friendships. This extends far beyond local games. FIFA has more than 200 national member associations and high-profile events allow children to interact with, and see other children of different nationalities and cultures. This helps children become more broad-minded and accepting as adults.

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It is especially important that this is done during the developmental stage of the child (around 5 to 13 years old). This period, psychologists say, is what forges the adult personality.

Hi! I’m John Eilermann. I want to share what I know about football, especially with the World Cup just around the corner. Learn more about me and the stuff I love here.

Take The Time To Talk To a War Veteran

Let’s take a break from talking about the events of World War II for a minute, and focus on the people who were there and fought for the freedom of the world. These veterans who have defended the flag and the country they serve deserve everyone’s respect, and they deserve to have their stories told.

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Many of them come back different people than the ones who were deployed. Many of them were changed by the war and the times. Many of them find that upon return, everything is different. 

Take time to talk to war veterans, and not just from World War II, but from all the other wars. You’ll see how much all of them have in common. You’ll see that they need certain things that they might not have, such as decent healthcare and therapy. These two things are the bare necessities that soldiers deserve for putting their lives on the line. 

Talking to war veterans, you’ll understand how hard it is for them to be living in the now, with minimal pay. Affected by constant inflation, you’ll realize that they need financial help and that many of them are too proud to ask for it. 

You’ll also come to understand after talking to a veteran that they also deserve their own piece of land and a place to call home, after all, they put their lives on the line and fought tooth and nail for that and all the pieces of land in the country. 

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Hey guys, John Eilermann here. I’m fascinated about the many aspects of World War II and I want to share them with you. More of the stuff I love can be found here.

One Snappy Salute To War Veterans Everywhere

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It feels like on so many levels, we, as a society, have failed our war veterans. Sure, there are days when we remember them, like Memorial Day and Independence Day, but for the rest of the year, we go about our daily lives not giving a second thought to what they’ve done and what we’re able to do because of them.

Today’s generation just seems ambivalent to so many things, including war veterans. Countless of those who’ve served in tours over the decades are now living in hardship with scars, both physically and mentally, sustained from the horrifying experiences of the war. Combine that with the fact that many of these veterans have served in more than a single tour, and you’ll know that they deserve way more respect than what society gives them.

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So many of these men and women who’ve fought for our country could’ve just stayed at home with their families and take up regular jobs. But no. They chose to spend their days in places with imminent danger, patrolling areas with hostile forces around, just so every American, not just their own families, can live in peace.

There are ways to show our appreciation for what war veterans have done, and they won’t even take a lot of time and effort. Spare some time to talk to them, and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about history.

Hi! I'm John Eilermann. I love reading about World War II since I was young. Follow me on Twitter to learn more about me and the things I’m passionate about.

Why You Should Read 'The Chronicles Of Narnia'

Along with Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," C.S. Lewis’ "Chronicles of Narnia" has profoundly influenced how people regard fantasy and children’s literature in the modern age.  It is the author’s best-known work, and its rippling effect on literature and aspects of Christian faith cannot be underestimated.

First published between 1950 and 1956, the books have been adapted many times (complete or in part) for radio, television, the stage, and film.  Starting off with "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," this series explores a magical world filled with wondrous mythical beasts who can speak.  We follow a group of children who find themselves transported to the land of Narnia, called upon by Aslan the lion to help save the magical realm.  

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Lewis manages to incorporate in "Narnia" themes of religion and myth that were previously absent from children’s literature (certainly not prominent in Tolkien’s work).  There are distinct traditional Christian allusions here, as well as ideas from Greek, Roman, and Irish mythology.  

Interestingly, C.S. Lewis was a former atheist, and writing this series of books was his way of embracing Christianity.  What’s good for both young and old readers is that there is no heavy-handed and self-righteous approach in the books’ depiction of morality.  We get immersed in a world where the children are empowered and make decisions not because of blind faith nor impositions.  

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The impact of "Narnia" on the genre can be easily seen in more recent fantasy books and films, including Rowling’s "Harry Potter" series.  

The name’s John Eilermann, comparative literature student from St. Louis, Missouri. The program I’m in follows a multidisciplinary approach that allows students to have minor courses in disciplines such as philosophy, politics and culture, history, arts, and science. More on my hobbies and interests here.