Inductees

In mid-June 1983, a prospect outfielder on the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A Louisville club arrived to the ballpark, only to be told he didn’t have a job there.

Andy Van Slyke enjoys telling the story.

“I remember (Louisville manager) Jim Fregosi called me into his office and sat me down, and he was shaking his head,” Van Slyke said, laughing. “He said, ‘I can’t believe it. For some reason, they want a .370 hitter in the big leagues.’”

What a way to get the call. Not that it was glamourous. Van Slyke and his young bride rented a U-Haul, attached it to the back of his 1983 Grand Prix and headed to St. Louis.

And so began a 13-season career in the big leagues full of success, and it’s why the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame proudly inducted Van Slyke with the Class of 2021.

In essence, he was the left-handed hitting, crow-hopping talent who helped clubs close in on National League pennants.

A first-round draft pick (sixth overall) of the Cardinals in 1979, Van Slyke played for St. Louis from 1983 to 1986, helping the 1985 club reach the World Series.

Then, traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates during spring training of 1987, the right fielder went on to win five consecutive Gold Gloves (1988-1992), two Silver Slugger awards, was a three-time All-Star and ranked in the top 10 of several offensive categories in various seasons.

He then played a key role in the Pirates advancing to three consecutive NL Championship Series from 1990 to 1992, with their 1991 and 1992 teams reaching Game 7s.

But it all started back in 1983.

When he arrived to Busch Stadium after being called up, Van Slyke sat quietly in front of his locker and got a tap on his shoulder by a big-league regular.

“He said, ‘You see that guy?’” Van Slyke recalled, noting the guy in question was pitcher Jim Kaat. “He said, ‘That guy’s been pitching in the big leagues longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t forget it.”

Van Slyke certainly didn’t, as he played the game hard. But there were reasons why.

For one, having grown up in cold-weather, upstate New York, he wasn’t afforded an overwhelming number of at-bats or game experiences of others from the sunshine states. One year, his high school team played 16 games, and the American Legion club played about 20.

“There was more basketball played,” Van Slyke said. “And there were no batting cages.”

Additionally, injuries had impeded his 1979 and 1981 minor league summers. But by June 1983, however, Van Slyke was having a monster season in Louisville, having spent the winter playing in the Puerto Rican League.

Eventually, he became an everyday outfielder. His first big-league hit was a triple in a win against the Chicago Cubs, and his first two home runs were against the New York Mets – the second one a two-run shot off Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.

In 1985 and the next year, Van Slyke delivered 110 and 113 hits, respectively, and cracked 13 home runs each season.

“I absolutely knew I was an everyday player in the second half of 1986,” Van Slyke said, noting that Willie McGee’s injury led to him playing center field.

Van Slyke seemed destined to be a fixture in St. Louis – he had 13 and 12 outfield assists in 1985 and 1986 —  but the Cardinals traded him to the Pirates for catcher Tony Pena in spring training 1987.

From there, Van Slyke helped lead a resurgence as the Pirates won the NL East three consecutive years, 1990-1992. In 1992, his 199 hits and 45 doubles led the National League, hitting .324, second-best in the circuit.

And he credits his defense to then-Pirates coach Bill Virdon (MSHOF Legend 2012, Larger-than-Life Statue 2017).

“He really helped me and committed to working with me every day,” Van Slyke said.

Van Slyke later played the 1995 season with Baltimore and Philadelphia before retiring. Overall, he finished his career with a .274 average with 164 home runs, 293 doubles and 792 RBI. Twice he was finished fourth in NL MVP voting (1988, 1992).

Looking back, he thanks many for his success, particularly his wife, Lauri. They are parents to Scott, Jared, A.J. and Nathan and have six grandkids.

“(Lauri) is the most self-sacrificing person I’ve ever been around,” Van Slyke said. “I was born with gifts but, to have a gift handed to you, my wife made it even better.”