RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
Curt Simmons was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for 20 seasons. He began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947 and played for them until 1960. He then played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago Cubs, and the California Angels before retiring in 1967.
Simmons was known for his consistency and durability on the mound.
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These percentile rankings are a score to indicate how Curt Simmons ranks among all historic players for several skill categories. For example, a percentile of "85% Power" would indicate a player among the top 15% of players in raw batting power, and a percentile of "Speed 3%" would indicate a player that is among the slowest players in the history of the game. These percentiles are entirely based on career statistical accomplishments for players with over 500 games played or 500 innings pitched, so may not accurately reflect an intangible ability.
On Sunday, October 4, 1964, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted the New York Mets at...
New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals - Clincher - Radio Broadcast / On Sunday, October 4, 1964, the St. Louis Cardinals hosted the New York Mets at Busch Stadium I. The Cardinals' starting pitcher was Curt Simmons, a seasoned left-handed veteran who had been a key part of the team's rotation throughout the year. On the mound for the Mets was Galen Cisco, a right-hander who had struggled at times during the season. The Cardinals were in the midst of a tight pennant race, while the Mets, only in their third season, were still finding their footing in the league. The game held significant implications for the Cardinals, who were vying for a spot in the World Series. Meanwhile, the Mets were looking to play spoiler and finish their season on a high note.
The game started off as a pitcher's duel, with both teams failing to score in the first inning. However, the Cardinals broke the deadlock in the second inning, and the game quickly became a back-and-forth affair. The Mets' Charley Smith hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, and the team added two more runs in the fifth. The Cardinals responded each time, with key hits from their lineup, including doubles from Tim McCarver, Dick Groat, and Ken Boyer. The Cardinals' offense really took off in the sixth inning, with a two-run home run from Bill White, and they added three more runs in the eighth to pull away from the Mets.
In the end, the Cardinals triumphed with an 11-5 victory over the Mets, a crucial win in their pursuit of the pennant. The Cardinals' win, along with the Philadelphia Phillies' loss on the same day, clinched the National League pennant for St. Louis, marking their first return to the World Series since 1946. The win also highlighted the depth of the Cardinals' lineup, with multiple players contributing key hits. The 1964 season was a memorable one, with the Cardinals eventually defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series, while the Mets, despite their loss in this game, continued to build their team, culminating in a World Series win just five years later in 1969.