Willard Harrell Inducted into Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Bob Underwood

Former St. Louis Cardinals running back and special teams star Willard Harrell was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday at a ceremony in Springfield, Missouri.

Harrell was one of 22 inductees that included former Kansas City Royal Matt Damon, St. Louis Cardinal Matt Adams, and Mizzou Tiger Brock Olivo.

The Stockton, CA native was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1975 and played in the NFL for 10 years. Harrell scored a touchdown the first time he ever touched the ball when he raced 82 yards on a punt return in the Packers first exhibition game. In his second season, he led the team in rushing. After being released by Green Bay in 1978, Harrell had a tryout with the Cardinals where he eventually signed and played seven seasons.

According to the Missouri Hall of Fame enshrinement program, Harrell had one man to thank for becoming a St. Louis Cardinal.

“A few days later (after the tryout), they contacted my agent with an offer and I became a Cardinal,” Harrell said. “I found out later that Hanifan (former St. Louis head coach Jim Hanifan) was responsible for me becoming a Cardinal. He remembered me from my college days and always wanted me to play for him.”

Continue reading →

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.

Continue reading →

Big Red Alumni Gather for Jim Hart Golf Tournament

Gallery

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Bob Underwood

This gallery contains 26 photos.

Posted by Bob Underwood The 15th annual Jim Hart Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting Sunnyhill, Inc. was held on Monday, June 6 at The Legends Country Club in Eureka, MO. Jim Hart, Roger Wehrli, Jackie Smith, Jim Bakken, Johnny Roland, Mel … Continue reading →

Big Red Alumni Gather for Annual Christmas Party

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Bob Underwood

Several former St. Louis Football Cardinals alumni recently gathered in Chesterfield for the annual Christmas Party. Among those in attendance were Coach Jim Hanifan, Johnny Roland, Mel Gray, Jackie Smith, Bob Rowe, Mark Arneson, Tim Kearney, Ron Yankowski, Ernie McMillan, Eddie Moss, Mike Wood, Terry Miller, Eric Williams, Keith Wortman, Willard Harrell, Jim Otis, Herschel Turner, Tim Van Galder, Jerry Holloway, former Big Red PA announcer Jim Holder, former Mizzou and Dallas Cowboys player Howard Richards, former MIzzou and Raiders player Gus Otto, and Big Red Line cheerleader Melodee Hinkle.

Johnny Roland, Jackie Smith, Ernie McMillan
Coach Hanifan and Jackie Smith
Alderman Rocky Reitmeyer and Willard Harrell
Former Big Red PA Announcer Jim Holder and Bob Underwood
Tim Van Galder, Steve Jones and Ernie McMillan
Johnny Roland, Jackie Smith, Ernie McMillan and Coach Hanifan
Jackie Smith, Terry Miller and Ron Yankowski
Mark Arneson, Tim Kearney, Ron Yankowski, Bob Rowe, Terry Miller
Johnny Roland with the Big Red Cowboy Hat
Arneson, Yankowski, and Rowe
Mark Arneson and Terry Miller
Keith Wortman and Eric Williams
Eddie Moss and Rocky Reitmeyer
Jim Otis and Terry Miller
Roland, Smith, McMillan
Jim Otis and Ernie McMillan
Mark Arneson and Tim Kearney
Yankowski and Rowe
TVG, Jackie, Terry Miller, Yankowski, Wortman
Eric Williams
Coach Hanifan, Mel Gray, Sarah Jennings, and Bob Underwood
Eric Williams and Terry Miller
Tim Van Galder, Jackie Smith, Terry Miller, Ron Yankowski, and Keith Wortman

The Top 100 St. Louis Football Cardinals (90-81)

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Bob Underwood

With the NFL celebrating its centennial season in 2019, the league will soon be announcing its top 100 players of all-time. I thought it would be fun to go back and rank the Big Red’s top 100 players who played in St. Louis.

The Cardinals moved from Chicago after the 1959 season and played 28 years in St. Louis before Bill Bidwill moved to the desert in 1988. Several great players played under the arch during this period including four Hall of Famers.

These rankings are only based on the player’s time spent in St. Louis. Consideration was given to the player’s statistics, All-Pro/Pro Bowl selections, team leadership, and impact in the community. It is next to impossible to compare eras, so many of these picks were very difficult.

The Top 100 St. Louis Football Cardinals of All-Time: 90-81

90. Donny Anderson (RB)

Donny Anderson was acquired for MacArthur Lane in 1972 and scored 25 TDs in just three seasons in St. Louis. Anderson lead the team in rushing in 1972 and finished second in the league with 13 TDs in 1973. The versatile Anderson also was team co-leader with 41 receptions in ’73. He was the Green Bay Packers first round draft pick out of Texas Tech in 1965 and was a member of their Super Bowl teams in 1966-1967.

Continue reading →