3. Terry Pendleton (1984-1990)

While he may not have had the pop in his bat that Boyer and Rolen had, Pendleton was a consistent contact hitter, producing an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS+) over .100 two times with Saint Louis, with the MLB league average being .100. He also possessed a quality that all baseball teams desire in a player: speed. From 1984-1987, Pendleton routinely stole bases in the high teens, his highest total being 24 in 1986, a headache for the league’s pitchers. 

Terry Pendleton’s fielding ability can’t be forgotten, having won a pair of Gold Gloves for the Redbirds in the ‘87 and ‘89 seasons. Pendleton’s presence on the winning Cardinals teams in the ’80s boosts his resume as well. He was a near everyday player on the ‘85 and ‘87 squads that just came up short in those two World Series, losing to the Twins and the Royals.

In the 1987 playoffs, Pendleton struck the most famous hit of his career, a two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th off of New York Mets closer Roger McDowell, tying the game at four apiece, and saving the Cardinals’ season.  Pendleton later described his thought process while he was at the plate in that crucial moment at Shea Stadium that night.

“Until I got two strikes, [I thought] I’ve got to hit the ball out of the ballpark. He threw me two good strikes, then I moved up front in the box and got the next one early, and I was able to catch up with it.”