Falling Cards

As baseball begins handing out its spoils, Whitey Herzog has been named Manager of the Year by the Associated Press, and Joaquin Andujar has been awarded a ten-day suspension by the commissioner. Neither was still in his St. Louis uniform when the Cardinals finished their season sourly, losing control of both the Kansas City Royals and themselves, 11-0, in a World Series whose major miscalculation was scheduling the seventh game sixth.

Both men were ejected, and Pitcher Andujar had to be restrained by teammates during the six-run fifth inning of a foul-mouthed finale. Squalling over inconsequential balls and strikes, they really were pressing a grudge against American League Umpire Don Denkinger, who had made a fatal "safe" call at first base the night before. "I totally agree maybe he wasn't safe," allowed Denkinger decisively after viewing the replay. Branding American League umps "prejudiced" against National League teams, Herzog seemed to despair then and there. "We got as much chance of winning (tomorrow) as a monkey."

Royal Bret Saberhagen was the monkey maker. Cardinal Starter John Tudor, the humorless winner of Games 1 and 4, reacted to being knocked out in the third inning by slugging an electric fan with his pitching hand and, against all odds, finishing the season in stitches. Besides surrendering the first ten days of next year and a fine of $500, Andujar can also expect a bill from the Royals for a battered toilet. It turned out the Cardinals had feet of porcelain.