1926 St. Louis Cardinals
Uniform & Team History
After beating out the Reds and Pirates to capture the National League pennant, the 1926 Cardinals beat the New York Yankees in a thrilling World Series, with Grover Cleveland Alexander fanning Tony Lazzeri in the seventh inning with the bases loaded.
Oldtime Game History
When Northeastern University pitcher Greg Montalbano was selected to play in the Oldtime Baseball Game in 1997, he had to withdraw because he was undergoing treatment for cancer. But he did throw out the first pitch in 1997, and on that night was announced as the starting pitcher for the 1998 Oldtime Baseball Game. He did indeed return in 1998 as the starting pitcher for the visiting team, working two shutout innings. This was also the year that throwback uniforms were introduced to the Oldtime Baseball Game, and Greg was the first player to wear the uniform of the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals.
Greg went on to be selected by the Boston Red Sox in the fifth round of the 1999 amateur draft, and in 2001 was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year. A recurrence of cancer ended Greg’s baseball dreams, but he continued to be an inspiration to his family, friends and teammates. Such was the love and respect Greg earned over the years that when he died, on August 21, 2009, Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Rays, who played with Greg at Northeastern University, dedicated his next game to him. And in dramatic fashion: Pena, who played in the Oldtime Baseball Game in 1996 and ’97, went 3-for-4 against the Texas Rangers, with two home runs.
“He was my right hand in college,” Pena said after the game. “He had been battling cancer for 10 years. He was always smiling. The only thing that comforts me is I know he’s in a better place, but we’re going to miss him greatly. I dedicated this game to his memory and his family.”
Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis, who played with Greg in the minor leagues, also dedicated the next game in which he played to his former teammate. He went 3-for-5 and also hit two home runs.
“When I pointed to the sky to him when I went to the dugout, that was for him,” Youkilis told reporters. “That’s one of those things. There are some crazy things that have happened in my life where you always feel there’s somebody out there pushing balls out and doing great things for you.”
Beginning in 2010, the Greg Montalbano Alumni Award was presented to a former participant in the Oldtime Baseball Game who best exemplifies Greg’ s spirit, competitiveness and good nature. The first recipient was Todd Korchin, who played with Greg at Northeastern University and who played in the Oldtime Baseball Game from 1997 to 2001, including MVP honors and a home run in 2000. Korchin came out of retirement to play on the 2010 game, wearing Todd’ s uniform.
Also worn by:
University of North Florida righthander Josh Papelbon, younger brother of Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, wore this uniform when he worked a scoreless inning in the '05 Game. From 2001 through 2004, it was worn by Rhode Island College third baseman Brian Trupiano, son of former Red Sox broadcaster Jerry Trupiano, in honor of his grandfather, a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. Jaime Quiros ('00) of Boston College went on to play for the Lincoln Salt Dogs of the Independent Northern League. Also: Danny Nugent, American International College ('06); Mike DiCato, University of Massachusetts ('07-08); John Farrell, William & Mary ('09).