The great Cardinals teams of the 1940s live mostly in dusty history books now, and only faintly in the memories of those who were alive to see them. Yet one pitcher from that era – whose remarkable postseason run rarely gets the attention it deserves – stands out. Harry Brecheen, known as “Harry the Cat” for his agility, was a key figure in the Cardinals’ 1946 championship run.
At just 5’10” and 160 pounds, the diminutive lefty hardly cut an imposing figure. Nor was his repertoire overpowering. In fact, The Sporting News once wrote, “He doesn’t throw hard and his curveball doesn’t break much” – not exactly a glowing scouting report.