Gordo: Fiery Andujar earned place in Cards lore Live
Former Cardinals hurler Joaquin Andujar is gone, but he will never be forgotten. He is one of the great characters in team history, true, but he is also one of its greatest competitors.
He died Tuesday at the age of 62. Fellow Dominican and former big-league pitcher Mario Soto told ESPN Desportes that Andujar had been suffering from diabetes for years and died Tuesday in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris.
Here is Derrick Goold's report on Andujar's passing, as posted elsewhere on this site.
Here was our Hall of Fame baseball writer, Rick Hummel, sharing stories of his days covering Andjuar.
Of course, his time in Houston was memorable as well.
Legendary manager Whitey Herzog dubbed him as "one tough Dominican" for a reason. He led the Cardinals to their 1982 World Series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and could easily have earned the MVP honors ahead of battery mate Darrell Porter.
All Cardinals pitchers fit somewhere on the competitiveness continuum. We'd put Kip Wells is over at the least competitive extreme of that range and Andujar is all the way over on the most competitive side.
If every hurler who came down the pike cared like he cared, the Cardinals would have won even more hardware. When he got rolling, his starts became street, er, mound theater.
That fiery side got the best of him in the 1985 World Series, when he entered Game 7 with the game -- and the highly emotional series -- getting out of hand. That did not go especially well. His epic detonation was conduct unbecoming a Cardinal.
But Cardinal Nation will remember him more for his winning than the one tandem.
Here is how the Twitterverse is remembering Andujar today:
He died Tuesday at the age of 62. Fellow Dominican and former big-league pitcher Mario Soto told ESPN Desportes that Andujar had been suffering from diabetes for years and died Tuesday in his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris.
Here is Derrick Goold's report on Andujar's passing, as posted elsewhere on this site.
Here was our Hall of Fame baseball writer, Rick Hummel, sharing stories of his days covering Andjuar.
Of course, his time in Houston was memorable as well.
Legendary manager Whitey Herzog dubbed him as "one tough Dominican" for a reason. He led the Cardinals to their 1982 World Series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and could easily have earned the MVP honors ahead of battery mate Darrell Porter.
Hoy ha fallecido Joaquin Andújar descansa en paz
via YouTube
All Cardinals pitchers fit somewhere on the competitiveness continuum. We'd put Kip Wells is over at the least competitive extreme of that range and Andujar is all the way over on the most competitive side.
If every hurler who came down the pike cared like he cared, the Cardinals would have won even more hardware. When he got rolling, his starts became street, er, mound theater.
That fiery side got the best of him in the 1985 World Series, when he entered Game 7 with the game -- and the highly emotional series -- getting out of hand. That did not go especially well. His epic detonation was conduct unbecoming a Cardinal.
But Cardinal Nation will remember him more for his winning than the one tandem.
Here is how the Twitterverse is remembering Andujar today:
Our condolences to the Andujar Family, in the lost of Joaquin Andujar, one of the icons of Dominican baseball and a great competitor. RIP
11:43 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
He was "One Tough Dominican" & a member of our Cardinals family. We loved him & we will miss him. RIP Joaquin Andujar
11:41 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
In the 80's few minor leaguers had agents and we had to buy our equipment, #JoaquínAndujar gave all hispanic players in ST shoes + sleeves.
12:06 PM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
RIP Joaquin Andujar. He was a gem for the Cardinals and ahead of his time; ESPN would have loved him!
10:45 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Sad news on Joaquin Andujar. Lot of fun, in a Luis Tiant way. He and Tudor both won 21 in '85. Only 62. Youneverknow
11:32 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
RIP Joaquin Andujar. Never understood why he was not the MVP of the 1982 World Series (1.35 ERA, won Games 3 and 7).
11:04 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Sad to hear of the passing of "one tough Dominican". I remember before game of 7 in 1982 when he said, "Nobody beat Joaquin Andujar today."
10:02 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
"There is one word in America that says it all, and that word is 'you never know'." No doubt Joaquin Andujar will be missed.
9:42 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Joaquin Andujar passed away..what a competitor...was never the same after that 85 World Series... RIP #cardinals
10:52 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
'85 Cards 30th Anniv. this year. Sad to know 3 are gone: Porter, Forsch, now Andujar http://t.co/eM5mACRS59 http://t.co/BW4Mj4pQ5l

10:28 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
RIP Joaquin Andujar. Had a fabulous quote when attempting to land a spot as a free agent with the @ExposNation "Don't pay me til I win 20"
11:37 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
It Has Been Very Sad Last Couple Of Hours I Say Goodbye To Who In Life Was Like My Second Dad RIP Joaquin Andujar#RIP http://t.co/6TVT4IzYXg

9:35 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
RIP Joaquin Andujar. You & your team were horrifically jobbed in 1985. #youneverknow
11:27 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
My favorite Joaquin Andujar story was when he charged the plate in 1988 to fight Tony Pena after throwing at him. #RIP1ToughDominican
11:30 AM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite
Loved Joaquin Andujar as pitcher b/c his mechanics were so clean and as hitter b/c he always got his money's worth. http://t.co/q8ipvLlXg9

12:00 PM - 08 Sep 2015
- Reply
- Retweet
- Favorite