1894 showed more of the same with the Cardinals amassing a 56-76 record but that was nothing compared to the 1895 season which saw the team flounder to a miserable 39-92 as Ted Breitenstein finished with a 19-30, 4.37 record and Red Ehret went 6-19, 6.02. Bill Hart would post a 12-29, 5.12 and Red Donahue a 7-24, 5.80 as the Cardinals followed up that abominable season with yet another one going 40-90… and they weren't close to getting better. In fact, they would long for the season's of
just 90 losses, as the 1897 St. Louis Cardinals (Browns) put up a simply horrid and record breaking 29-102 record as Red Donahue (10-35, 6.13) and Bill Hart (9-27, 6.26) would set new records for futility on the mound. With this in mind, it is hard to imagine that this team could do any worse. Well… 1898 would see St. Louis put up a 39-111 record as 3 pitchers (Jack Taylor 15-29; Willie Sudhoff 11-27, Jim Hugley 7-24) would lose well over 20 games each. It wasn't until 1899 that they finally saw any level of success with the Cardinals (known for this season only as the Perfectos) finishing 5th in the league at 84-67. What could turn this team around from 111 losses and 4 straight season with over 90 losses to 84 wins in one season?...  a pitcher… who's name would become synonymous for great pitching for the rest of history.