It occurred to me, as a fan of St. Louis professional sports teams, the St. Louis teams have participated in three of the most one-sided trades ever.

1. The most egregious of all trades occurred in 1956 by the St. Louis Hawks basketball team. Their first round draft pick was Bill Russell whom they traded to the Boston Celtics. And the only NBA championship the Hawks won during Russell's career with the Boston Celtics was 1958 when - you guessed it - Russell was injured and did not play in Boston's championship series with the Hawks. The circumstance that renders this trade as the worst trade ever is that the Hawks with their juggernaut Bob Petit were the second best team in the NBA - without Russell - for a decade.

2. The other two trades are neck and neck. Steve Carlton, perhaps as dominant a left-handed pitcher as Sandy Koufax in his prime, was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals for . . . anyone? . . . Anyone? . . . Bueller?

Finally a St. Louis team got the better of a trade. In 1964, the St. Louis Cardinals, with a record of 28 wins 31 losses, completed a six-player trade. They sent pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz, and utility player Doug Clemens to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies sent Jack Spring, Paul Toth, and Lou Brock to the the Cardinals. The Cardinals WITH Brock moved from last place in the National League to World [series] champions. And the championships kept coming. The Cubbies end of the deal depended upon Ernie Broglio who had been an excellent pitcher until he went to Chicago. Then nothing.

Dallas Cowboys trade of Hershel Walker to Minnesota Vikings. There were something like 18 players and draft picks involved in the deal, and Dallas came out way ahead.

Naphtali,

the Carlton deal was not by the Cardinals choice. He wanted a lot more $$$ than the Cards would pay. Kind of like the Jr Griffey deal from Seattle to the Reds.

But, I agree about Brock.

Funny/neat aside: my insurance agent is Mike Garman. He was a lefty reliever for the Cards, and was Gibby's favorite. He relieved him in Gibson's last game, and Gibby gave him his glove. I went over to see Mike and he even took the glove out of the case and let me wear it to play catch out in the parking lot. Bitched the whole ten minutes about having to use my first baseman's mitt. He had a fastball nearly 100mph as a HS senior. Some of the kids he pitched against would not bat, there was a slight issue with wildness (inside) at times. Neat guy, goes to our church...

Not only 1 sided, but the worst trade ever. 1999, Mike Ditka gives up 8 picks from the Saints for Ricky Williams.
http://www.canalstreetchronicl...ams-mike-ditka-trade

buckeye, yep that trade is for sure a contender for the worst. Remember the Sports Illustrated ESPN cover with Ditka and Williams? I'm sure Ditka would like to forget that one.

pothead ricky probably can't remember that one...