Fifth in a series of 10 Cleveland Browns wins in 10 days.

No Jim Brown, no Gary Collins, no problem as the Cleveland Browns defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 27-24, on this date, Dec. 19, of 1965.

Long-suffering Cleveland Browns fans deserve a holiday treat. So we’re offering 10 victories in 10 days leading up to Christmas.

Here’s the game story, as it appeared in the next day’s Plain Dealer.

Browns Win With Collins, Brown Out

Busch Stadium, St. Louis

By Charles Heaton
Plain Dealer Reporter

The Browns’ wild regular-season finale in St. Louis may be just the
tuneup the team needed for the National Football League title match.

They rallied in the last quarter yesterday to topple the St. Louis
Cardinals, 27-24, at Busch Stadium. And they did it with both Jim Brown
and Gary Collins on the bench

Jim had been tossed out of the game
late in the second quarter along with Joe Robb, the Cards defensive end,
after a kicking, fist-swinging altercation.

Collins, the clutch
catcher and league’s leading punter, moved to the sideline earlier with
bruised ribs. Stunned by the loss of two standouts, the Eastern
champions saw the Cards score 17 points to take a seven-point lead.

Then the Browns slashed back with Tom Hutchinson taking a 24-yard pass from Frank Ryan in the end zone for the winning points.

Now the Blanton Collier club, which wound up with an 11-3 mark, must
start preparations for the Jan. 2 visit to Green Bay or Baltimore and
its bid for a second straight NFL crown. Yesterday’s finish, in which
the Browns beat the Cards after two straight losses to the Missouri
club, started out like a romp.

THE BROWNS jumped out to a 17-0 lead and seemed on the way to another score when the roof started to come down.

Collins had opened the scoring with a nice catch of a 13-yard pass from Ryan. That came in the first period.

Early in the second quarter, Jim Brown bulled three yards for a score
so the fullback’s banishment a few minutes later killed his chances of
moving ahead of Chicago’s Gale Sayers in the touchdown race. An
interception by Jim Houston, Cleveland’s all-pro linebacker, had given
the Browns those two scoring opportunities.

THEN LARRY BENZ picked
off a pass by Buddy Humphrey in the same period to set the Browns in
motion again. This time they settled for Lou Groza’s 44-yard field goal.
The mighty Toe also had one for 45 yards in the final.

Cleveland seemed on its way to clinching the victory on this bright
chilly day as many of the 29,348 fans booed the Cards in general and
Humphrey in particular. It was second down on the St. Louis 20 with
seven yards to go when Ryan fired in the direction of Brewer.

The slot end, who caught five passes for 51 yards, was well covered.
Larry Wilson, who finished the day with three thefts, grabbed the ball
and set out down the sideline.

Ryan tried to block the gutty
safetyman out of bounds about the Cleveland 20, but failed and Wilson
scooted in for the score. So the Cards trailed by only 10 at the half.

ST. LOUIS struck back in the third quarter with Terry Nofsinger, a Pittsburgh castoff, at quarterback.

Terry scored the first touchdown on a sneak and then accurate Jim Bakken evened the count at 17-all on a 23-yard field goal.

The Cleveland offense, with Charley Scales at fullback, and Hutchinson
replacing Collins, couldn’t move in the third period and Bobby Franklin
punted poorly.

So the Cards had field position and kept the pressure on as the finale started.

WILSON made
his third interception and returned 19 yards to the Cleveland 16. Five
plays later, Nofsinger passed to Bill Triplett, former Miami of Ohio
star, for five yards and the touchdown.

Bakken’s extra point
gave the Cards a 24-17 bulge and it seemed that the Browns would take a
second straight defeat into the title game.

Matters still
remained dark when Groza missed a 39-yard field goal. Minutes later,
however, the Toe redeemed himself with one of 45 right through the
uprights.

That made it 24-20 in favor of the Cards. A touchdown would mean victory.

THAT’S WHEN Vince
Costello made the biggest interception of all. The veteran middle
linebacker picked off a Nofsinger pass intended for Triplett and
returned 10 yards to the St. Louis 24.

On the first play, Ryan
fired a strike to Hutchinson, who beat Pat Fischer, a pro bowl defensive
back last season, to get open in the end zone.

There were more than four minutes left and time for a final St. Louis threat.

The Browns again were able to move into field position but the fiery
Fischer sliced through to block Groza’s try from the 38. And Pat,
picking up the ball about midfield, raced all the way to the Cleveland
23 before being slammed down.

THE BROWNS’
defense, which sagged in the third period, suddenly became a
championship unit again. Galen Fiss reached out with one arm to stop
Willis Crenshaw for a one-yard gain when the big back seemed about to
break away.

Then Nofsinger’s pass to Triplett made only three and Jackie Smith couldn’t hang on to another in the end zone.

St. Louis could have had a tie with the usually unerring Bakken ready,
but coach Wally Lemm went for the victory. Nofsinger couldn’t find Bobby
Joe Conrad with his pass, however.

It was an important victory
because the club shook off the loss of Brown and Collins and rallied to
win. Now on to Green Bay or Baltimore.

DALLAS — Miami Marlins executives looked like a boy band trying to elude fans as they traversed the Hilton Anatole on Tuesday afternoon with media members in close pursuit.

That was the scene at the winter meetings as Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, team president David Samson, president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest and general manager Michael Hill returned to the team’s suite after meeting with the agent for Albert Pujols.

The Marlins have intensified their quest to pry the slugger from the champion St. Louis Cardinals, increasing their offer to 10 years and more than $200 million, a source confirmed.

“I know we’re getting a lot of attention,” Beinfest said.

The Cardinals aren’t conceding. They reportedly sweetened their nine-year, $198 million offer from last offseason to 10 years and at least $220 million.

There are conflicting media reports on whether the Los Angeles Angels also bid for Pujols, a 31-year-old with 445 career home runs.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak believes the ball is in Pujols’ court.

“I suspect (a response) is going to come quickly,” Mozeliak said. “That would have to come from that camp. …

“In this situation, we’re participants. I don’t think we’re dictating anything.”

The Marlins see Pujols as a once-in-a-generation player. His free agency, coupled with the organization opening a new stadium and having money to spend, created circumstances the Marlins could not ignore.

Blue Jays get Santos

DALLAS — The Chicago White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays, sending him back to the organization where he spent three seasons trying to make the majors as a shortstop.

Toronto gave up pitching prospect Nestor Molina, 22, to acquire the 28-year-old Santos.

Santos had 30 saves in 36 chances this year, going 4-5 with a 3.55 earned-run average.

Santos struck out 92 in 65-1/3 innings.

Notes

• Minnesota traded pitcher Kevin Slowey, 27, to the Colorado Rockies for a player to be named.

Slowey was 39-29 with the Twins, but went 0-8 with a 6.67 ERA this year. He was out from May to August because of an abdominal strain.

• Lawyers for home-run king Barry Bonds, 47, asked a federal judge for probation when Bonds is sentenced for obstruction of justice later this month.

Bonds was convicted in April of obstructing a grand jury’s sports-doping investigation with an evasive answer.

• Baseball has issued dress guidelines for media members at games, banning items such as muscle shirts, ripped jeans, flip-flops, visible undergarments, excessively short skirts or anything with a team logo.

(Reuters) – List of National League Most Valuable Player award winners after Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers was named as the 2011 winner on Tuesday.

2011 – Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

2010 – Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

2009 – Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2008 – Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2007 – Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies

2006 – Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

2005 – Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

2004 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

2003 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

2002 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

2001 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

2000 – Jeff Kent, San Francisco Giants

1999 – Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

1998 – Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs

1997 – Larry Walker, Colorado Rockies

1996 – Ken Caminiti, San Diego Padres

1995 – Barry Larkin, Cincinnati Reds

1994 – Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros

1993 – Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

1992 – Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates

1991 – Terry Pendleton, Atlanta Braves

1990 – Barry Bonds, Pittsburgh Pirates

1989 – Kevin Mitchell, San Francisco Giants

1988 – Kirk Gibson, Los Angeles Dodgers

1987 – Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs

1986 – Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies

1985 – Willie McGee, St. Louis Cardinals

1984 – Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs

1983 – Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves

1982 – Dale Murphy, Atlanta Braves

1981 – Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies

1980 – Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies

1979 – Keith Hernandez St. Louis Cardinals; Willie Stargell, Pittsburgh Pirates

1978 – Dave Parker, Pittsburgh Pirates

1977 – George Foster, Cincinnati Reds

1976 – Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds

1975 – Joe Morgan, Cincinnati Reds

1974 – Steve Garvey, Los Angeles Dodgers

1973 – Pete Rose, Cincinnati Reds

1972 – Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds

1971 – Joe Torre, St. Louis Cardinals

1970 – Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds

1969 – Willie McCovey, San Francisco Giants

1968 – Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals

1967 – Orlando Cepeda, St. Louis Cardinals

1966 – Roberto Clemente, Pittsburgh Pirates

1965 – Willie Mays, San Francisco Giants

1964 – Ken Boyer, St. Louis Cardinals

1963 – Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers

1962 – Maury Wills, Los Angeles Dodgers

1961 – Frank Robinson, Cincinnati Reds

1960 – Dick Groat, Pittsburgh Pirates

1959 – Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs

1958 – Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs

1957 – Hank Aaron, Milwaukee Braves

1956 – Don Newcombe, Brooklyn Dodgers

1955 – Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers

1954 – Willie Mays, New York Giants

1953 – Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers

1952 – Hank Sauer, Chicago Cubs

1951 – Roy Campanella, Brooklyn Dodgers

1950 – Jim Konstanty, Philadelphia Phillies

1949 – Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn Dodgers

1948 – Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals

1947 – Bob Elliott, Boston Braves

1946 – Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals

1945 – Phil Cavarretta, Chicago Cubs

1944 – Marty Marion, St. Louis Cardinals

1943 – Stan Musial, St. Louis Cardinals

1942 – Mort Cooper, St. Louis Cardinals

1941 – Dolph Camilli, Brooklyn Dodgers

1940 – Frank McCormick, Cincinnati Reds

1939 – Bucky Walters, Cincinnati Reds

1938 – Ernie Lombardi, Cincinnati Reds

1937 – Joe Medwick, St. Louis Cardinals

1936 – Carl Hubbell, New York Giants

1935 – Gabby Hartnett, Chicago Cubs

1934 – Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals

1933 – Carl Hubbell, New York Giants

1932 – Chuck Klein, Philadelphia Phillies

1931 – Frankie Frisch, St. Louis Cardinals

(Compiled by Frank Pingue; Editing by Julian Linden)

ST. LOUIS — New Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is keeping most of Tony La Russa’s coaching staff.

Mark McGwire and Dave Duncan are staying on for 2012, but first base coach Dave McKay and bench coach Joe Pettini were both dropped from their positions on Wednesday. Both will remain in the organization and assist in baseball operations.

“Just like our players, the Cardinals organization places a high level of expectation on its coaches,” Matheny said. “I have great admiration for the work these men have done throughout their careers and we will continue to invest in the preparation, coaching and leadership necessary to build upon that success.”

McGwire will enter his third season with the club. The 66-year-old Duncan was La Russa’s pitching coach with the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics and the Cardinals. They were announced Wednesday as coaches for 2012 under Mike Matheny, who succeeded La Russa as manager following the team’s World Series title.

Bullpen coach Derek Lilliquist returns, and assistant hitting coach Mike Aldrete was elevated to bench coach. Chris Maloney, the manager at Triple-A Memphis the past five seasons, replaces McKay.

The 66-year-old Duncan will enter his 17th season with the Cardinals and 33rd overall, most among major league pitching coaches. He had been the only member of La Russa’s staff under contract for next year.

Duncan missed several weeks last season tending to his wife, Janine, who had surgery in August to remove a brain tumor.

The Cardinals beat a self-imposed deadline of having a staff in place by the end of the week, just as they did when announcing they had hired the 41-year-old Matheny to a two-year contract with a club option for a third season on Sunday.

“Once we identified Mike as our new manager, he quickly went to work in assembling a coaching staff that offers a wealth of experience and leadership, but he also looked at areas where we could provide growth opportunities for key members from within the organization,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “We are extremely excited about our staff for next season.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I must admit a bit of apprehension regarding Mike Matheny as the new manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. He succeeds legendary Tony LaRussa who retired just days after winning the 2011 World Series. ESPN reports Matheny was offered a two-year contract to prove himself as the former catcher has no previous managerial experience.

Here are five reasons why Matheny still might be the best choice for the Cardinals.

New Trend

Matheny is part of a trend in Major League Baseball. He is one of a handful of former players who took over teams without previous managerial experience. Kirk Gibson, Robin Ventura and Mike Scioscia are all retired ball players who have made waves in their clubs. Gibson was interim manager for the Diamondbacks in 2010 before being hired on full time in 2011. Ventura was just hired by the Chicago White Sox without any previous experience. Scioscia has been with the Los Angeles Angels since 2000.

Former Catcher

Matheny is a former catcher. As such, he knows how to do several important things on the field. First is that Matheny knows what pitches need to be thrown and when. Second is that the catcher is the field general who directs players where the throw the ball. Being a catcher harbors great experiences for future baseball managers. Look at legends such as Yogi Berra for an example.

Familiarity

Matheny’s familiarity with current players such as Yadier Molina will only help. Matheny also caught for ace Christ Carpenter and played with Albert Pujols (assuming Pujols comes back to St. Louis). He played five seasons in St. Louis and won three of his four Gold Gloves in the Gateway City. As a fixture in the Cardinals organization, Matheny will fit in with the franchise’s philosophy. He even played two years with current batting coach Mark McGwire.

Youth Versus Experience

Matheny is just like the team he inherited from LaRussa. He is young for a manager and can relate to players. Yet he has loads of leadership experience both as a player and within the organization. The current make up of the club is a mix of veterans and young players, many of whom won’t need much complicated managing skills. The starting rotation will be set once Adam Wainwright returns to join Carpenter and crew. The skills on the team are there, all they need is a good skipper.

Expectations

I think Matheny will know what is expected of him. He knows how much baseball means to St. Louis. He made it to the 2004 World Series and realizes what it takes to be part of a championship-caliber team. Matheny will have the energy and drive of a new job while he is still young enough to appreciate what it takes to put a winner on the field. As long as he doesn’t lose sight of those ideals, Matheny should do just fine.

William Browning was born in St. Louis and is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.

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