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Remembering Recent Non-Roster Invitees Who Have Made the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day Roster

By Patrick Karraker

Scott Rovak- USA TODAY Sports
Scott Rovak- USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct. 9, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitching coach Ron Villone with the Mesa Solar Sox against the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct. 9, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs pitching coach Ron Villone with the Mesa Solar Sox against the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Ron Villone, RP, 2008

Villone, a journeyman lefty reliever who is tired for the second-most teams played for in MLB history (behind fellow former Cardinal reliever Octavio Dotel), made the Cardinals’ roster as a non-roster invitee in 2008. Villone, who allowed just one run in nine spring appearances (10.2 innings), served as a durable matchup specialist throughout the 2008 season. He wasn’t necessarily effective—he put up a 4.68 ERA and 1.64 WHIP—but he consistently responded to the call of duty, pitching in 74 games for Tony La Russa’s club. Villone spent just one season in a Cardinal uniform, and he was in the majors for just one more year after leaving St. Louis, pitching in 63 games for the Washington Nationals during 2009.

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