Books and articles about Joaquin Andujar

Referring to himself as "one tough Dominican," the colorful Andujar reached his peak in the mid-1980s as a Cardinal workhorse who worked well on three days' rest. Coming from the Astros, who hadn't been able to handle his unique personality and had misused him in the bullpen, Andujar's 15-10, 2.47 record in 1982 helped St. Louis to a World Championship. He won the LCS clincher 6-2 as the Braves were swept in three games, and had a 1.35 ERA in the World Series, winning Games Three and Seven.

SHOPPING » Look for Joaquin Andujar books at BN.com » Look for Joaquin Andujar books at Amazon.com Your purchases keep BaseballLibrary.com online. Thank you!

RELATED LINKS Submissions » Gene Roof by Darryl Raglin Around the Web » Joaquin Andujar from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

After dropping off to 6-16 in 1983, Andujar led the NL in wins, shutouts, and IP in 1984, going 20-14 with a 3.34 ERA and four shutouts in 261.1 IP. His 21-12 record in 1985 led the Cardinals as they captured the NL pennant, although he pitched poorly in the last two months after four great months and was 1-5 with a 5.76 ERA after August. He continued to struggle in the postseason, getting hit hard in two LCS starts and losing Game Two to the Dodgers. In the World Series, the Royals knocked him out in the fifth inning of Game Three as he lost 6-1, and he had a disastrous relief appearance in Game Seven. Called in in the fifth inning when the Cardinals were already losing by a wide margin, he gave up a hit and a walk and was then ejected, along with manager Whitey Herzog, for complaining vociferously about the umpiring.

Andujar was traded to Oakland that winter and his career wound down amidst injuries and accusations by him that his downfall was caused by a conspiracy against him (he never offered any specifics). One of his injuries with the A's came while taking batting practice despite being in the AL, where the DH rule prevented him from hitting. Although he batted just .127 lifetime, he considered himself quite a hitter, and switch-hit by an unusual system: if he didn't trust the control of the pitcher he was facing, he would go against the usual lefty-righty percentages and bat so that his pitching arm was the more protected back arm. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 25, 1975: The Reds swap P Joaquin Andujar to Houston for pitcher Carlos Alfonso and Luis Sanchez. » August 14, 1979: The Astros Joaquin Andujar hurls a 4-hitter, and hits a 2-run inside-the-park homer, to defeat the Expos 2–1. » May 4, 1981: In the battle of the Cruz brothers, Astro Jose Cruz launches a 3-run missile in the 1st inning of Chicago's Mike Krukow, while brother Hector Cruz answers with a solo shot off Joaquin Andujar in the 6th inning. The Astros edge the Cubs 5–4. » October 15, 1982: Willie McGee has two home runs to drive in four runs, and makes a great catch to save another run. Joaquin Andujar wins 6–2 despite having to leave the game after being hit by a line drive. » May 15, 1984: It's a day for hitting pitchers. Good hitting Tim Lollar leads the way by collecting all four RBIs, but his Padres lose 6–4. The Cards win 9–1 over the Braves as Joaquin Andujar, a poor hitter, hits a grand slam. Just before his blast, Andujar looked into the Cards' dugout, then gestured to the RF stands. » May 19, 1984: The Cards score six in the 1st inning in an easy 9–1 win over the Reds. Joaquin Andujar wins his 7th complete game and leads the National League in wins, CG, and IP. In his ML debut, Reds Eric Davis pinch hits wearing no number. Like Joe Horlen in 1961, the Reds only available road uniform has no number. » June 10, 1984: The Cubs add a 9th inning insurance run on a triple steal to beat the Cardinals' Joaquin Andujar 2–0. Leon Durham steals home, while Jody Davis takes 3B and Larry Bowa goes to 2B. » September 28, 1984: Bruce Sutter ties the major-league record with his 45th save of the season in the Cardinals 4–1, 10-inning win over the Cubs. Starter Joaquin Andujar (20-14) allows two hits over nine innings to win his 20th game. » July 8, 1985: Joaquin Andujar scatters 12 singles to register his 15th win as the Cards down the Giants, 6–1. » August 23, 1985: Joaquin Andujar becomes baseball's first 20-game winner this season, beating Atlanta 6–2 for the Cardinals. Andujar is the first National League pitcher to post consecutive 20-win seasons since Joe Niekro in 1979-80. » October 2, 1985: In a duel of 20-game winners, Doc Gooden (24-4) beats Joaquin Andujar (21-11) to pull the Mets to a game in back of the Cardinals. » October 27, 1985: The Royals rout the Cardinals 11–0 in game seven to become only the 6th team to rally from a 3-1 deficit and win the World Series. Series MVP Bret Saberhagen pitches the shutout while Cardinals ace John Tudor allows five runs in 21/3 innings and fellow 20-game winner Joaquin Andujar is ejected for arguing balls and strikes during Kansas City's 6-run 5th inning. The Cardinals finish the World Series with a .185 team batting average, lowest ever for a 7-game Series. » October 29, 1985: Cardinals pitcher Joaquin Andujar is suspended for the first 10 games of the 1986 season as a result of his game seven tantrum during which he twice bumped home plate umpire Don Denkinger. » December 10, 1985: In the first major swap of the winter meetings, the A's trade C Mike Heath and P Tim Conroy to the Cardinals for Joaquin Andujar, 21-game winner with a volatile temperament. » February 28, 1986: In baseball's sternest disciplinary move since the Black Sox were banished for life, Commissioner Ueberroth gives seven players who were admitted drug users a choice of a year's suspension without pay or heavy fines and career-long drug testing, along with 100 hours of drug-related community service. Joaquin Andujar, Jeffrey Leonard, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Dave Parker, Dale Berra, and Lonnie Smith will be fined 10 percent of their annual salaries, while 14 other players will receive lesser penalties for their involvement with illegal drugs.