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Best players by number in St. Louis Cardinals history: 69-60

By Patrick Karraker

Oct 9, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Thomas Pham (60) runs the bases after hitting a homer during the eighth inning of game one of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pinch hitter Thomas Pham (60) runs the bases after hitting a homer during the eighth inning of game one of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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66. Rick Ankiel

While his tenure wearing the number ended on a dark note, Ankiel was unquestionably the best No. 66 in Cardinals history. After coming up late in the 1999 season and leaving a great first impression, Ankiel was fantastic during his first full season in 2000, posting a 3.50 ERA with 1.30 WHIP while finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Unfortunately, he imploded during the postseason that year, developing a case of the “yips” while walking 11 batters, throwing nine wild pitches, and posting an ERA of 15.75 over three appearances (including two starts) spanning four innings.

Ankiel’s struggles continued into the 2001 season, as he posted a 7.13 ERA while walking 25 batters in 24 innings before being sent to the minors in May. He then disappeared for a long period, finally re-emerging as a reliever while wearing No. 49 in September 2004. As Cardinals fans know well, he’d later convert to the outfield, spend a couple years in the minors, and then re-emerge as a big-leaguer for the third time, wearing No. 24, in August of 2007.

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