Ray Sadecki, Who Helped Cardinals Win World Series

Sadecki, a left-hander who finished his career with the Mets, was 19 when he reached the majors, joining the Cardinals in 1960 and establishing himself as a starter. He helped the team become a reliable winner. Six seasons later, he left in a trade that also helped the Cardinals win.

In his second season with St. Louis, he pitched 222 innings, with a 14-10 record and an earned run average of 3.72, the 10th best in the National League. Three years later, he and the Cardinals had breakout seasons.

Pitching 220 innings, Sadecki won 20 games in 1964. His victory total was the third best in the league, but he was probably only the Cardinals’ third-best starter, behind Bob Gibson, who won 19 games, and Curt Simmons, who won 18.

A late-season surge, coupled with a remarkable collapse by the Philadelphia Phillies, helped the Cardinals win the pennant. They defeated the Yankees in the World Series in seven games.