by Michael Sandler WSS_COVERS_FINAL.indd 3 11/14/07 5:24:53 PM [Intentionally Left Blank] 2006 WORLD SERIES by Michael Sandler Consultant: Jim Sherman Head Baseball Coach University of Delaware 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 1 12/6/07 11:05:03 AM Credits Cover and Title Page, © Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images; 4, © REUTERS/Rebecca Cook; 5, © Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images; 6, © R.D. Moore/Courtesy University of Florida Gators Sports Information Department; 7, © Courtesy University of Florida Gators Sports Information Department; 8, © REUTERS/Jeff Mitchell; 9, © John Grieshop/MLB Photos via Getty Images; 10, © Diamond Images/Getty Images; 11, © Focus On Sport/Getty Images; 12, © John Grieshop/MLB Photos via Getty Images; 13, © Elsa/Getty Images; 14, © Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images; 15, © Andrew Gombert/epa/Corbis; 16, © Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; 17, © Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images; 18, © Chuck Solomon/Sports Illustrated; 19, © Brad Mangin/ MLB Photos via Getty Images; 20, © Tannen Maury/epa/Corbis; 21, © REUTERS/ Peter Newcomb; 22T, © Jim McIsaac/Getty Images; 22C, © Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images; 22B, © Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images. Publisher: Kenn Goin Senior Editor: Lisa Wiseman Creative Director: Spencer Brinker Photo Researcher: Omni-Photo Communications, Inc. Design: Stacey May Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Sandler, Michael. David Eckstein and the St. Louis Cardinals : 2006 World Series / by Michael Sandler. p. cm. — (World Series superstars) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-59716-636-2 (library binding) ISBN-10: 1-59716-636-7 (library binding) 1. Eckstein, David, 1975—Juvenile literature. 2. Baseball players—United States— Biography—Juvenile literature. 3. St. Louis Cardinals (Baseball team) —Juvenile literature. 4. World Series (Baseball) (2006) —Juvenile literature. I. Title. GV865.E34S36 2008 796.357092—dc22 [B] 2007032667 Copyright © 2008 Bearport Publishing Company, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. For more information, write to Bearport Publishing Company, Inc., 101 Fifth Avenue, Suite 6R, New York, New York 10003. Printed in the United States of America. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 2 12/6/07 3:09:24 PM +Contents+ No Chance . 4 Little Guy . 6 The Major Leagues . 8 The St. Louis Cardinals . 10 A Tough Season . 12 Playoff Surprise . 14 Here Comes Detroit . 16 Let the Games Begin . 18 Taming the Tigers . 20 Key Players . 22 Glossary . 23 Bibliography . 24 Read More . 24 Learn More Online . 24 Index . 24 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 3 11/12/07 4:59:06 PM No Chance “It’s impossible,” said baseball fans. “There’s no way the St. Louis Cardinals can win the 2006 World Series.” The team had only won 83 games all season. Their opponents, the Detroit Tigers, were on fire. They had won 95 regular-season games. Everyone expected the Tigers to roll right over St. Louis. Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein heard what people were saying. He knew his team was the underdog. It didn’t bother him, though. David had been one all his life. Fans support the Tigers 4 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 4 11/12/07 5:01:03 PM David Eckstein at bat during the 2006 World Series At just under 5’7” (1.70 m), David was the shortest player in the 2006 World Series. 5 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 5 11/1/07 3:45:55 PM Little Guy David grew up in Sanford, Florida. The youngest in a family of five kids, he was always small for his age. He loved baseball, but people said he was too little to play. Still, no one could keep him off the field. David made up for his size with hard work. He learned how to place hits and position himself in the field. By high school, he was a talented infielder. After high school, David played baseball for the University of Florida. 6 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 6 11/1/07 3:46:04 PM David made the University of David slides into base. Florida team as a walk-on. 7 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 7 11/1/07 3:46:19 PM Bibliography Snyder, John. Cardinals Journal. Cincinnati, OH: Emmis Books (2006). The New York Times St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sports Illustrated Read More Eckstein, David, with Greg Brown. Have Heart. Lake Mary, FL: Builder’s Stone Publishing (2006). O’Hearn, Mike. The Story of the St. Louis Cardinals. Mankato, MN: Creative Education (2007). Savage, Jeff. Albert Pujols. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner (2007). Learn More Online To learn more about David Eckstein, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the World Series, visit www.bearportpublishing.com/WorldSeriesSuperstars Index Anaheim Angels 8 Most Valuable Player Reyes, Anthony Boston Red Sox 8 (MVP) 21 18, 22 Brock, Lou 10 New York Mets Rolen, Scott 22 14–15, 16 Dean, Dizzy 10 San Diego Padres New York Yankees 14 Detroit Tigers 4, 11, 16 16–17, 18 Sanford, Florida 6, Oakland A’s 16–17 22 Edmonds, Jim 10 Ordoñez, Magglio shortstop 4, 22 Gibson, Bob 10 16 Smith, Ozzie injuries 12 playoffs 12–13, 14, 10–11 Molina, Yadier 14–15 16-17 University of Pujols, Albert 10, 13 Florida 6–7 24 1537_DaveEckstein_Final.indd 24 11/12/07 5:08:49 PM [Intentionally Left Blank] 2006 WORLD SERIES The St. Louis Cardinals had only won 83 games all season. No one thought they could win the 2006 World Series. Everyone expected their opponents, the Detroit Tigers, to roll right over them. Everyone, that is, but the Cardinals’ shortstop David Eckstein. Could he lead his team to victory? Derek Jeter Troy Glaus Jermaine Dye and the New York Yankees and the Anaheim Angels and the Chicago White Sox 2000 WORLD SERIES 2002 WORLD SERIES 2005 WORLD SERIES Randy Johnson Josh Beckett David Eckstein and the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins and the St. Louis Cardinals 2001 WORLD SERIES 2003 WORLD SERIES 2006 WORLD SERIES Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox 2004 WORLD SERIES WSS_COVERS_FINAL.indd 3 11/14/07 5:24:53 PM.