ST. LOUIS — This isn’t the first time the Cardinals have made a managerial change after a postseason appearance. In fact, they made one after their first postseason in 1926 when, after guiding his team to the World Series title against the New York Yankees, the Cardinals traded player-manager Rogers Hornsby to the New York Giants for fellow second baseman Frankie Frisch, who later became a World Series-winning, player-manager himself for the Cardinals in 1934.
After the 1926 season, Hornsby had asked Cardinals owner Sam Breadon for a three-year contract at $50,000 per year, an astronomical ask in those days. Breadon countered with one year at $50,000 but Breadon insisted that Hornsby had to stay away from the race track. Hornsby didn’t smoke or drink but he did play the ponies.
The Rajah said he couldn’t do this, so Breadon, who didn’t really want to pay him $50,000 anyway, traded Hornsby.
