About Bob Underwood

Digital Content Creator for the St. Louis Football Cardinals (1960-1987) and founder of the Big Red Zone.

Former Big Red Lineman Herschel Turner passes at 82

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Bob Underwood

The St. Louis Football Cardinals lost another teammate this morning.

Herschel Turner, who played offensive guard and tackle, passed away at the age of 82.

The Cardinals selected 6-foot-3, 230-lb lineman in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft out of the University of Kentucky, where he was an All-American offensive guard and tackle.

As a senior, he was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference and participated in the Blue-Gray Game and the Senior Bowl. He logged the most minutes played on UK’s 1962 squad, known as The Thin Thirty. Turner was named Sports Illustrated Lineman of the Week on November 10, 1963. He is a member of the inaugural UK Hall of Fame.

Turner played two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and was named the club’s Rookie of the Year in 1964 after starting five games on an injury-depleted offensive line. He received accolades from head coach Wally Lemm after his first start on November 22 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Herschel Turner, whom we had taken off the defensive unit and just starting working at offensive tackle last week, had a grade of well over 90. He is the best of our draft choices last year. He really wants to play.”

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Big Red Flashback: Cardinals Dismiss Wally Lemm

Posted on January 10, 2025 by Bob Underwood

After a disappointing 5-9 record and citing the need for him to reside in St. Louis year-round, the Cardinals dismissed head coach Wally Lemm on January 10, 1966.

The Chicago native spent his offseason in Lake Bluff, IL, and declined to move to St. Louis until his children graduated from high school. His son Mike was in college, but his daughter Debbie was only in her junior year.

*Wally Lemm coached the Cardinals from 1962-1965.*

“We knew when we hired him that Wally wanted to be head coach on a six-month basis and that was fine,” club president Stormy Bidwill told the St. Louis Post Dispatch after Lemm’s dismissal. “But we felt more and more strongly that we wanted a head coach who would be with us all the time.”

“When the issue came up again, there was no compromise available, and by mutual consent, he is leaving the Cardinals.”

“We’re sorry that Wally is leaving because he did a good job with the Cardinals in the past seasons. Wally’s record speaks for itself and he had a good record.”

Lemm didn’t feel it was necessary to live in St. Louis during the offseason.

“I know the job can be done without being present in the offseason,” Lemm said. “We never went into training camp unprepared.”

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Former Cardinals Head Coach Charley Winner, dead at 99

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Bob Underwood

Charley Winner, who played college football at Washington University and was the head football coach of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1966-1970, passed away on July 18, 2023, at the age of 99.

Winner spent 37 years in the NFL as a coach or executive. However, there were no press releases about his death. Over the weekend, an anonymous user on X, formerly known as Twitter, informed me of the former Big Red coach’s passing. I found a short obituary here.

Charley Winner lived a remarkable life and his passing shouldn’t go unnoticed.

WWII Hero

Charles Height Winner was born in Somerville, NJ, and starred as a two-way player for the Somerset High School football team. Winner stood only 5-feet, 6-inches tall but had great speed. As a running back, he scored 11 touchdowns his senior year and was named first-team All-County.

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Big Red Flashback: Roger Wehrli Retires

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Bob Underwood

After an illustrious 14-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals, All-Pro cornerback Roger Wehrli announced his retirement on December 23, 1982, effective at the end of the season.

The veteran had played sparingly during the season as the Cardinals had decided to go with younger options, and Wehrli saw the writing on the wall.

“It’s a hard decision to make,” he said. “I had 14 good years with the Cardinals but this was the time to announce it. I’m still contributing, and I would like to go out as someone still contributing.”

“He epitomizes the word class,” head coach Jim Hanifan said, “not only as a player but as a man. In his 14-year career, he has to be regarded as one of the great cornerbacks in the history of the game.”

“I’d have to say he’s the best all-around athlete I’ve seen on this team since I’ve been here,” said Dan Dierdorf.

After starring at Missouri as a defensive back and one of the nation’s leading punt returners, Wehrli was the Cardinals’ first-round draft pick in 1969. He secured a starting job his rookie season and played in 130 straight games with the Big Red. Among his most notable achievements were 40 career interceptions and 22 fumble recoveries, a franchise record for non-quarterbacks.

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Big Red Flashback: Larry Wilson’s Last Game

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Bob Underwood

Larry Wilson’s brilliant 13-year NFL career came to an end on December 17,1972, in the season finale at Busch Stadium, and he went out a winner as the Cardinals defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-23.

“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” said the Rigby, Idaho native, as he peeled his legendary #8 jersey off his back.

Wilson grimaced as he undressed, the result of a cracked rib that he suffered while tackling Eagles wide receiver Harold Carmichael.

“It’s alright,” he said. “There’s nothing to a cracked rib.”

Then he reflected on the last game of his career.

“I’ve got mixed feelings. I’m sad, and yet I’m happy.”

“You can see what’s happened to me through the years,” he said. “I’ve gotten old. I had a guy all set up for an interception today and I was a step too late. I came in once on the safety blitz and got there just after he (John Reaves) threw the ball.”

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Big Red Flashback: Dierdorf’s Last Game

Posted on December 18, 2024 by Bob Underwood

Date: December 18, 1983

Place: Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

Temperature: 10 degrees at kickoff, with a -20 degree windchill by game’s end.

Dan Dierdorf, who played for the St. Louis Cardinals for 13 seasons (1971-1983), had announced at midseason that he would retire at the end of the 1983 campaign. The former second-round draft choice out of Michigan had planned to take a few snaps at his old right tackle position during the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the weather almost changed his mind.

*Head Coach Jim Hanifan and Dan Dierdorf*

The temperature at kick-off was only 10 degrees and it continued to drop throughout the afternoon. By game’s end the windchill was -20 F.

“I’ve been playing football for 23 years, and ever since I started, I’ve had a picture of my last game. But I never saw it snowing and five degrees.”

After being honored during a brief pre-game ceremony, in which former teammate Conrad Dobler and Cardinal head coach Jim Hanifan said a few words, Dierdorf bundled up in his Big Red parka and red stocking cap and stood shivering on the sidelines.

“I was so cold I could hardly move,” he said. “It’s really tough to stand around all day and then try to go into the game. I wasn’t planning on playing at all because it was so cold.”

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St. Louis Cardinals Alumni Christmas Gathering 2024

Posted on December 17, 2024 by Bob Underwood

Several St. Louis Football Cardinals alumni attended their annual Christmas Party at Wentes Restaurant in Chesterfield, Missouri on December 16.

The alumni congratulated Willard Harrell on his upcoming induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, and many shared memories of Ernie McMillan, Pat Fischer and Charley Johnson, who recently passed away.

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Former Big Red Star Ernie McMillan Dies at 86

Posted on November 26, 2024 by Bob Underwood

Longtime St. Louis Football Cardinals star Ernie McMillan passed away last night at the age of 86.

The Cardinals selected McMillan in the 13th round of the 1961 NFL Draft. The Chicago native played tight end at the University of Illinois before becoming an offensive lineman in the NFL.

It didn’t take long for McMillan to master the offensive tackle position. He played in four Pro Bowls and was twice selected as second-team All-Pro. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1972 and won the Chuck Drulis Award in 1973.

McMillan was a team captain and inspiration to his Cardinal teammates.

“Ernie McMillan is a professional football player’s football player,” teammate Jackie Smith once said.

Throughout his playing career, McMillan enjoyed working with youth programs and was honored many times for his community service. He often spoke at local churches, schools and organizations such as the YMCA. He also published Proud Magazine, which was designed to give the black community in St. Louis a voice and a focus.

After retiring from football, McMillan served as offensive line coach for the Green Bay Packers and later the Cardinals where he worked under his former coach Jim Hanifan.

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Remembering Pat Fischer: Former Cardinals and Redskins Star

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Bob Underwood

Another Big Red star from yesteryear has passed.

Pat Fischer, the 5′ 9″ cornerback out of the University of Nebraska has passed away at the age of 84.

Fischer was a jack of all trades in college. His senior season, he started at quarterback and defensive back and was a fabulous kick returner. The Omaha native still holds the Cornhusker record with a career average of 18.3 yards per punt return. He was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1974.

In 1961, Fischer was the St. Louis Cardinals 17th round draft selection and was given little chance to make the team. However, he impressed coaches with his desire, toughness, and aggressiveness. He not only made the team, but played 17 seasons in the NFL.

After playing special teams for a couple of seasons, Fischer got his chance to start full-time in 1963 and led the team with 8 interceptions. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1964 and was named first-team All-Pro after picking off 10 passes and scoring three touchdowns.

Fischer’s 29 Big Red interceptions still rank fifth all-time in team history.

He joined the Washington Redskins in 1968, where he played 10 more seasons.

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Former Big Red QB Charley Johnson Passes at 85 Years Old

Posted on September 4, 2024 by Bob Underwood

The first “great” quarterback of the St. Louis Football Cardinals, Dr. Charley Johnson, passed away at the age of 85 on September 3.

Johnson was the Cardinals’ 10th-round selection out of New Mexico State University in the 1960 NFL draft and took over the starting role from Sam Etcheverry during the 1962 season. He threw seven touchdown passes in season-ending victories over Dallas and Philadelphia and would compile a 30-15-3 record from 1963-1966.

The Big Spring, Texas native twice threw 6 touchdown passes in a game and had another one in which he tossed for 5 scores. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 1963 and led the NFL in passing yardage in 1964 when the Cardinals finished only a half-game behind the World Champion Cleveland Browns in the NFL East Division. During this period, he also found time to finish his Doctorate degree in Chemical Engineering while attending Washington University in St. Louis.

In 1966, Johnson led the Big Red to a 7-1-1 record before going down with a season-ending knee injury against the Giants at Yankee Stadium. The next summer, Johnson was drafted into the U.S. Army, handing over the starting quarterback duties to a young Jim Hart.

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