The trade deadline is where championships are often won—but not always by the names on the front of the jersey. In this week’s edition of Random Cardinal of the Week, Jim Plaza dives into the short but legendary St. Louis stint of second baseman Ronnie Belliard.
Acquired at the 2006 deadline for Hector Luna, Belliard didn’t arrive with the fanfare of a Scott Rolen or a Matt Holliday. In fact, his regular-season numbers in St. Louis were modest at best. But when the lights got bright in October, “Belly” turned into an absolute force.
In this episode, we discuss:
Belliard’s journey from an 8th-round pick to a 2004 All-Star. The “under the radar” trade that stabilized a sliding 2004-2005 powerhouse in transition.
The Play: The diving stop in Game 1 of the NLDS that Jim Edmonds says “lifted the team.”
How an 83-win team—and a 3-month rental—defied the odds to become World Series Champions.
Whether you remember him for the flowing dreads or the clutch glove, Ronnie Belliard is a vital piece of the 2006 trophy run.
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