Here is a look at the managers the Cardinals have had since 1901 and a look at their numbers as a manager.
Patsy Donovan
1901-03 • 3 SEASONS– Games 421 Wins 175 Losses 236 Win pct. .426
Donovan, at the time considered the most successful Irish-born player in the majors, had one winning season as Cardinals player-manager, his first one, when his team finished 76-64. He was dismissed after a 43-94 mark in 1903.
Games 421
Wins 175
Losses 236
Win pct. .426
CHARLES “KID” NICHOLS
1904-05 • 2 SEASONS
Nichols was a Hall of Famer as a pitcher, becoming the youngest pitcher to reach 300 victories at age 30 and posting 11 seasons of 20 or more wins out of his 361 wins overall. He won 20 in his only full season as the Cardinals’ player-manager when his team was 75-79 but was let go during the next year.
Games 169 Wins 80 Losses 88 Win pct. .476
JIMMY BURKE
1905 • 1 SEASON
The third baseman became player-manager a couple of months into the season. He was 34-56 before being replaced by co-owner Stanley Robison and would resurface as a manager in St. Louis with the Browns from 1918-20.
- Games 90 Wins 34 Losses 56 Win pct. .378
M. STANLEY ROBISON
1905 • 1 SEASON
After returning third baseman Jimmy Burke to player status only, Robison took over for the final 50 games of the season. He wasn’t any more successful than his predecessor, posting a 19-31 mark.
- Games 50
- Wins 19
- Losses 31
- Win pct. .380
JOHN MCCLOSKEY
1906-08 • 3 SEASONS
Nicknamed “Honest John,” McCloskey’s teams were, honestly, very bad. His best in three seasons was the 1906 club which limped home at 52-98. The Cardinals suffered their only two 100-loss seasons in his next two seasons, “peaking” at 105 defeats in 1908.
- Games 463
- Wins 153
- Losses 304
- Win pct. .335
ROGER BRESNAHAN
1909-12 • 4 SEASONS
An innovator, the Hall of Fame catcher was the first to use shin guards and later the protective face mask. After his first two seasons as Cardinals manager he was given a five-year extension by owner Stanley Robison because attendance had risen. But Robison died and Bresnahan was fired after the 1912 season.
- Games 618
- Wins 255
- Losses 352
- Win pct. .420
Miller Huggins 1913-1917 – record 346-415
Jack Hendricks 1918 record 51-78
Branch Rickey 1919-1925 – record 458-485
Rogers Hornsby 1925-1926 – record 153-116
Bob O’Farrell 1927 –
Bill McKechine1928
Billy Southworth 1929
Gabby Street 1929
Bill McKechine 1929
Gabby Street 1930-1933
Frankie Frisch 1933-1938
Mike Gonzales 1938
Ray Blades 1939-1940
Mike Gonzales 1940
Billy Southworth 1940-1945
Eddie Dyer 1946-1950
Marty Marion 1951
Eddie Stanky 1952-1955
Harry Walker1955
Fred Hutchinson 1956-1958
Stan Hack 1958
Solly Hemus 1959-1961
Johnny Keane 1961-1964
Red Schoendist 1965-1976
Vern Rapp 1977-1978
Jack Krol 1978
Ken Boyer 1978-1980
Jack Krol 1980
Whitey Herzog 1980
Red Schoendist 1980
Whitey Herzog 1981-1990
Red Schoendist 1990
Joe Torre 1990-1995
Mike Jorgensen 1995
Tony LaRussa 1996-2011
Mike Matheny 2012-2018
- Mike Shildt 2019-2021
- Oliver Marmol 2020-present
JIMMY BURKE
1905 • 1 SEASON
The third baseman became player-manager a couple of months into the season. He was 34-56 before being replaced by co-owner Stanley Robison and would resurface as a manager in St. Louis with the Browns from 1918-20.
- Games
- 90
- Wins
- 34
- Losses
- 56
- Win pct.
- .378
- Best finish
- 6th
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .091
M. STANLEY ROBISON
1905 • 1 SEASON
After returning third baseman Jimmy Burke to player status only, Robison took over for the final 50 games of the season. He wasn’t any more successful than his predecessor, posting a 19-31 mark.
- Games
- 50
- Wins
- 19
- Losses
- 31
- Win pct.
- .380
- Best finish
- 6th
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- .286
JOHN MCCLOSKEY
1906-08 • 3 SEASONS
Nicknamed “Honest John,” McCloskey’s teams were, honestly, very bad. His best in three seasons was the 1906 club which limped home at 52-98. The Cardinals suffered their only two 100-loss seasons in his next two seasons, “peaking” at 105 defeats in 1908.
- Games
- 463
- Wins
- 153
- Losses
- 304
- Win pct.
- .335
- Best finish
- 7th
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- .231
ROGER BRESNAHAN
1909-12 • 4 SEASONS
An innovator, the Hall of Fame catcher was the first to use shin guards and later the protective face mask. After his first two seasons as Cardinals manager he was given a five-year extension by owner Stanley Robison because attendance had risen. But Robison died and Bresnahan was fired after the 1912 season.
- Games
- 618
- Wins
- 255
- Losses
- 352
- Win pct.
- .420
- Best finish
- 5th
- Ejections
- 15
- Pct v Cubs
- .307
MILLER HUGGINS
1913-17 • 5 SEASONS
Huggins, another Hall of Famer, would go on to later fame as manager of the great New York Yankees teams in the 1920s. With the Cardinals, “Mighty Mite” Huggins, a 5-foot-6 second baseman, had two winning seasons out of five as a player-manager but never achieved more than 82 victories.
- Games
- 774
- Wins
- 346
- Losses
- 415
- Win pct.
- .455
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 10
- Pct v Cubs
- .436
JACK HENDRICKS
1918 • 1 SEASON
Four of the seven managers who have law degrees managed the Cardinals: Hendricks was one, along with Miller Huggins, Branch Rickey and Tony La Russa. Hendricks quit after one season of war-time ball when the club was 51-78 and he later resurfaced as manager in Cincinnati.
- Games
- 133
- Wins
- 51
- Losses
- 78
- Win pct.
- .395
- Best finish
- 8th
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- .167
BRANCH RICKEY
1919-25 • 7 SEASONS
The “Mahatma,” another Hall of Famer, Rickey became more famous as a general manager and the originator of baseball’s farm system as we know it when he was with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Cardinals had winning seasons in 1921-23 but Rickey was fired in 1925.
- Games
- 947
- Wins
- 458
- Losses
- 485
- Win pct.
- .486
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .463
ROGERS HORNSBY
1925-26 • 2 SEASONS
After leading the Cardinals to their first world title in 1926, Hornsby asked for a contract paying him $50,000 for each of the next three seasons. Sam Breadon countered with one year for $50,000 and when Hornsby refused that offer, he was traded to the New York Giants for Frank Frisch, among others.
- Games
- 271
- Wins
- 153
- Losses
- 116
- Win pct.
- .569
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 2
- Pct v Cubs
- .553
BOB O’FARRELL
1927 • 1 SEASON
The catcher and National League Most Valuable Player for the 1926 World Series champions, O’Farrell won three games more in 1927 than Hornsby won the year before but a dissatisfied Sam Breadon, thinking O’Farrell left his pitchers in too long, paid him a $5,000 bonus to step down as manager.
- Games
- 153
- Wins
- 92
- Losses
- 61
- Win pct.
- .601
- Best finish
- 2nd
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- .571
BILL MCKECHNIE
1928-29 • 2 SEASONS
McKechnie won the Cardinals’ second pennant but was sent back to manage Class AAA Rochester after McKechnie’s Cardinals were swept in four games by the Yankees in the 1928 World Series. McKechnie was brought back as Cardinals manager later in 1929 but resigned to go to the Boston Braves.
- Games
- 217
- Wins
- 129
- Losses
- 88
- Win pct.
- .594
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .444
BILLY SOUTHWORTH
1929, 1940-45 • 7 SEASONS
After winning 97 games in Southworth’s first full season, 1941, the Cardinals reeled off win totals of 106, 105 and 105 in the next three seasons and won the 1942 and 1944 World Series. After the Cardinals finished second to the Cubs in 1945, Southworth jumped to the Boston Braves for $50,000 in 1946.
- Games
- 981
- Wins
- 620
- Losses
- 346
- Win pct.
- .642
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 2
- Pct v Cubs
- .623
GABBY STREET
1929-33 • 5 SEASONS
“Old Sarge” Street led the Cardinals to a league title in 1930 and a World Series championship in 1931. But, after the Cardinals dipped to 72-82 in 1932 and were fifth in July, 1933, Street was fired and replaced by player-manager Frank Frisch.
- Games
- 556
- Wins
- 312
- Losses
- 242
- Win pct.
- .563
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 8
- Pct v Cubs
- .538
FRANK FRISCH
1933-38 • 6 SEASONS
A player-manager as a second baseman, Frisch oversaw the famed “Gashouse Gang,” which won the 1934 pennant, World Series and won 96 games but finished second to Chicago in 1935. But the Cardinals’ win total dropped in each of the next three seasons and the “Fordham Flash” was replaced in 1938.
- Games
- 822
- Wins
- 458
- Losses
- 354
- Win pct.
- .564
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 17
- Pct v Cubs
- .465
MIKE GONZÁLEZ
1938, 1940 • 2 SEASONS
Third-base coach Mike González twice served as interim manager, going 8-8 at the end of 1938 and 1-5 in 1940. The Cuban’s greatest legacy was coining the oft-used phrase, “Good field, no hit,” when describing a prospect he was scouting.
- Games
- 23
- Wins
- 9
- Losses
- 13
- Win pct.
- .409
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- .333
RAY BLADES
1939-40 • 2 SEASONS
The McLeansboro, Ill., native had a .301 lifetime average and led the Cardinals to 92 wins in his only full season, 1939, when he banned alcohol in the clubhouse. But when the Cardinals went 14-24 at the start of1940, Blades was fired, replaced ultimately by Billy Southworth.
- Games
- 194
- Wins
- 106
- Losses
- 85
- Win pct.
- .555
- Best finish
- 2nd
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .548
EDDIE DYER
1946-50 • 5 SEASONS
The Cardinals won the World Series in Dyer’s first year, 1946, but then finished second three years in a row as the Brooklyn Dodgers, the first club to sign African-American players, took over the Cardinals’ perch as the preeminent team in the National League. Dyer resigned after a fifth-place finish in 1950.
- Games
- 777
- Wins
- 446
- Losses
- 325
- Win pct.
- .578
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 6
- Pct v Cubs
- .573
MARTY MARION
1951 • 1 SEASON
He managed just one season for the Cardinals before moving to the Browns to manage the next season. Marion would also manage the Chicago White Sox but was never as successful in that endeavor as he was a slick fielding player on the Cardinals’ championship teams in the 1940s.
- Games
- 155
- Wins
- 81
- Losses
- 73
- Win pct.
- .526
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .591
EDDIE STANKY
1952-55 • 4 SEASONS
When the Cardinals finished 88-66 in 1952, Stanky was named National League Manager of the Year. But that was the best of his four seasons and he was fired in 1955 with the club at 17-19. “The Brat” would return as a front office executive with the club a few years later.
- Games
- 501
- Wins
- 260
- Losses
- 238
- Win pct.
- .522
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 15
- Pct v Cubs
- .438
HARRY WALKER
1955 • 1 SEASON
Walker was called up from the Cardinals’ AAA affiliate in Rochester in 1955 to replace Eddie Stanky as manager. The Redbirds ended up losing even more ground in the standings and finished the season 30½ games behind Brooklyn. Walker would have later stints managing the Pirates and the Astros.
- Games
- 118
- Wins
- 51
- Losses
- 67
- Win pct.
- .432
- Best finish
- 7th
- Ejections
- 4
- Pct v Cubs
- .400
FRED HUTCHINSON
1956-58 • 3 SEASONS
“The Big Bear” likewise was named Manager of the Year in 1957 when the Cardinals finished second at 87-67. But, when general manager Frank Lane departed the next year and the Cardinals trudged to a fifth-place finish, Hutchinson was fired in September.
- Games
- 454
- Wins
- 232
- Losses
- 220
- Win pct.
- .513
- Best finish
- 2nd
- Ejections
- 11
- Pct v Cubs
- .576
STAN HACK
1958 • 1 SEASON
An outstanding third baseman, Hack was also something of a matinee idol. In 1935, Detroit Tigers employee Bill Veeck staged a “Smile with Stan” promotion, with Hack’s face on the other side of mirrors given to fans. But when fans reflected sunlight into opposing hitters’ eyes, umpires threatened to forfeit the game.
- Games
- 10
- Wins
- 3
- Losses
- 7
- Win pct.
- .300
- Best finish
- 5th
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- —
SOLLY HEMUS
1959-61 • 3 SEASONS
Hemus’ Cardinals team finished third in 1960, posting an 86-68 mark. But, in 1961, after the Cardinals started 3-16 and then were drifting at 33-41 in mid-season, Hemus was replaced by coach Johnny Keane.
- Games
- 384
- Wins
- 190
- Losses
- 192
- Win pct.
- .497
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 11
- Pct v Cubs
- .607
JOHNNY KEANE
1961-64 • 4 SEASONS
In 1964, amid rumors that owner Gussie Busch wanted to hire Leo Durocher as manager, Keane led the Cardinals’ miracle comeback, which culminated in a World Series championship. At this point, Busch was ready to retain Keane but the latter jumped to the Yankees the day after the World Series ended.
- Games
- 567
- Wins
- 317
- Losses
- 249
- Win pct.
- .560
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 6
- Pct v Cubs
- .641
RED SCHOENDIENST
1965-76, 80, 90 • 14 SEASONS
Schoendienst directed back-to-back National League championships in 1967-68 and his team won the World Series in 1967. In the 1970s, the Cardinals contended several times, finishing second three times from 1971-74 but fell short and, after a record 12-season run, Schoendienst was replaced.
- Games
- 1,999
- Wins
- 1,041
- Losses
- 955
- Win pct.
- .522
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 7
- Pct v Cubs
- .534
VERN RAPP
1977-78 • 2 SEASONS
Rapp, more of a disciplinarian, led the Cardinals to a third-place finish in 1977 but he gradually lost the clubhouse — he had a notable disagreement with relief ace Al Hrabosky and the matter of facial hair — and, after a 5-11 start in 1978, Rapp gave way to popular former Cardinals third baseman Ken Boyer.
- Games
- 179
- Wins
- 89
- Losses
- 90
- Win pct.
- .497
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 2
- Pct v Cubs
- .611
JACK KROL
1978, 1980 • 2 SEASONS
Third-base coach Krol took over in 1978 for two games from Rapp, who was disliked by the players. In 1980, general manager John Claiborne could not get to Montreal in time to fire Ken Boyer before a doubleheader, so he fired Boyer between games. Krol lost the nightcap and Whitey Herzog took over the next night.
- Games
- 3
- Wins
- 1
- Losses
- 2
- Win pct.
- .333
- Best finish
- 4th
- Ejections
- 0
- Pct v Cubs
- —
KEN BOYER
1978-80 • 3 SEASONS
Boyer finished third in his only full season, 1979, but the Cardinals started badly in 1980 and he was gone in early June. Boyer was replaced for one game by Jack Krol and then by Whitey Herzog and Red Schoendienst.
- Games
- 357
- Wins
- 166
- Losses
- 190
- Win pct.
- .466
- Best finish
- 3rd
- Ejections
- 3
- Pct v Cubs
- .366
WHITEY HERZOG
1980-90 • 11 SEASONS
One of the most entertaining periods of Cardinals history was the “Whiteyball era,” which produced very few home runs, very many stolen bases and league championships in 1982, 1985 and 1987. Herzog resigned in 1990, when he felt his message wasn’t getting through to a team which had a number of potential free agents.
- Games
- 1,553
- Wins
- 822
- Losses
- 728
- Win pct.
- .530
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 21
- Pct v Cubs
- .530
JOE TORRE
1990-95 • 6 SEASONS
After Red Schoendienst managed a month in 1990, former Cardinals star Torre returned to St. Louis. He couldn’t stop the Cardinals from finishing last in 1990 but the club finished second and then third three times in a row. In 1995, Torre was fired, only to go on to fame and fortune as Yankees manager.
- Games
- 706
- Wins
- 351
- Losses
- 354
- Win pct.
- .498
- Best finish
- 2nd
- Ejections
- 15
- Pct v Cubs
- .423
MIKE JORGENSEN
1995 • 1 SEASON
Jorgensen managed the last 96 games of 1995. An unusual highlight was that Jorgensen and the Cardinals were awarded a forfeit win, 2-1, on Aug. 10 in Los Angeles when Dodgers fans, dissatisfied with the umpiring, fired souvenir baseballs onto the field for the third time in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- Games
- 96
- Wins
- 42
- Losses
- 54
- Win pct.
- .438
- Best finish
- 4th
- Ejections
- 1
- Pct v Cubs
- .300
TONY LA RUSSA
1996-2011 • 16 SEASONS
The numbers speak for themselves. Nine playoff appearances, three league championships, two World Series titles. La Russa retired after the 2011 championship with the longest tenure, 16 seasons, and most victories, 1,408, of any Cardinals manager.
- Games
- 2,591
- Wins
- 1,408
- Losses
- 1,182
- Win pct.
- .544
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 40
- Pct v Cubs
- .529
MIKE MATHENY
2012-NOW • 4 SEASONS
Despite a lack of previous professional managerial experience, Matheny guided the Cardinals to appearances in the NLCS Championship and the World Series in each of his first three seasons.
- Games
- 648
- Wins
- 375
- Losses
- 273
- Win pct.
- .579
- Best finish
- 1st
- Ejections
- 11
- Pct v Cubs
- .581