Pitcher
Bob Gibson and outfielder
Curt Flood won
Gold Gloves this year. 1969 also marked the final season for the Busch Stadium grass before the installation of
AstroTurf, which would be their home surface for the next 26 seasons. After the season, long-time broadcaster
Harry Caray's contract was not renewed. At a
news conference shortly afterward, Caray pointedly and conspicuously drank from a can of
Schlitz beer, at the time the main competitor to the brands of
Anheuser-Busch (A–B), who owned the Cardinals. He said he did not know why he had been let go, but doubted the team's claim that the decision was made because he was hurting beer sales. Instead, he suspected that people believed rampant rumors that he had been having an affair with Susan Busch, daughter-in-law of team president and A–B CEO
Gussie Busch. Caray would be a broadcaster for the
Oakland Athletics in
1970, before spending 27 seasons in Chicago with the
White Sox (
1971–
1981) and the
Cubs from
1982 until his death prior to the
1998 season.
Season standings Record vs. opponents Opening Day starters •
Lou Brock •
Curt Flood •
Bob Gibson •
Julián Javier •
Dal Maxvill •
Tim McCarver •
Vada Pinson •
Mike Shannon •
Joe Torre Notable transactions • April 3, 1969: Bo Belinsky was purchased from the Cardinals by the California Angels. • June 5, 1969:
Bill Madlock was drafted by the Cardinals in the 11th round of the
1969 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign. • June 14, 1969: Dennis Ribant was traded by the Cardinals to the
Cincinnati Reds for
Aurelio Monteagudo.
Roster == Player stats ==