He's the same guy who Tom Seaver beat out for the 1967 MLB Rookie of the Year. He's the same guy who led the Cardinals in wins that year. He was a 29-year-old rookie who picked up the mantle when Gibson went down with a broken leg, leading the team with 16 wins, only becoming a regular starter in May. He's an eighty-six-year-old who delights us with an interview that covers his adventures from minor league ball to pitching in Fenway as he helped lead the Cardinals to a World Series Championship.

It started with a state championship in high school and concluded with a World Series ring in 1967, with a slew of minor league crowns in between. Despite various setbacks, Dick Hughes pitched for one successful team after another, including the 1967 World Series champion Cardinals, in a season that he would lead the team in wins and be named The Sporting News Rookie of the Year. This spotlight is punctuated with excerpts from our interview with Dick and his wife Anne in which they share the ups and downs of his journey through professional baseball, all the while being one the very few Redbirds to have his entire career with St. Louis.

Who is the best all-time second baseman for the Cardinals? Roger Hornsby, a two-time Triple Crown winner? Frankie Frisch, who set a record for most assists in a single season (643) that still stands today?

Tommy Herr? Red Schoendienst? Among others who should be in this conversation is Julian “The Phantom” Javier, who played more games at second than any other Redbird (1960-1971). He was a key figure in the World Series championships of ’64 and ’67 and the pennant crown of ’68.

While it was his glove that provided the most value for his team, his penchant for clutch at bats helped make him at two-time All-Star and this episode’s unsung hero.