Buckprogram13

44th AnnualMissouri Athletic Club

Jack Buck SPORTS AwardsPresented by Maryville University

Honoring

Matt CarpenterBill McDermottChris Pronger

Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr.Chris Carpenter

Jim CrewsDwayne Evans

Aeneas Williams

december 11, 2013

2 2013 Sports Personality of the Year

2013 Jack Buck Sports Awards 3

Athletic” is the Missouri Athletic Club’s middle name. For 110 years, it has been a key ingredient in sustaining our St. Louis institution.

The athletic heritage was established at the inception of the Club, when MAC officials and athletes participated in the 1904 Olympics.

In the early days of the Club, MAC athletes and teams competed in many amateur athletic competitions throughout the country. The Club has hosted numerous national tournaments. The MAC also celebrates athletic excellence through events like the annual presentation of the Hermann Trophy, college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy.

In 1970, Jack Buck built on the MAC’s rich athletic tradition when he helped create the “Sports Personality of the Year” award. Buck, a longtime member of the MAC, recognized the need for an award to annually honor the top local sports figure.

The list of past award honorees listed in this program is testament to how fortunate we are as St. Louis sports fans to be treated to so many exceptional athletes. Numerous All-Stars, Hall of Famers and coaching legends have been honored throughout the history of the event.

The 2013 sports year has been another memorable one and we are pleased to have a distinguished group of honorees with us tonight: Tom O’Toole Jr., Bill McDermott, Chris Pronger, Jim Crews, Dwayne Evans, Chris Carpenter, Aeneas Williams and Matt Carpenter.

As we gather tonight for the 44th Jack Buck Sports Awards dinner, the MAC is proud to be home to the premier sports banquet in St. Louis. This event is not only enjoyed by those who attend here at the MAC, it is enjoyed by sports fans throughout the St. Louis area who listen on KMOX Radio. Every banquet since its inception has aired on KMOX Radio. We are also excited to have added a new media partner, Fox Sports Midwest. Tune in to FSM beginning on Dec. 16 and several other times throughout this month to catch a telecast of tonight’s banquet.

On behalf of the Board of Governors, management and staff of the Missouri Athletic Club, thank you for joining us for this great tradition. Also, a special thanks to Maryville University and all of our sponsors for their support of this year’s banquet. Sit back and enjoy this wonderful celebration of St. Louis sports!

John BughPresident

President’s Message

John Bugh

“

4 2013 Jack Buck Sports Awards

Tom Ackerman is Sports Director at KMOX, overseeing a department

that serves as the flagship station for the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. He is also the lead sports anchor on “Total Information A.M.”

In 16 years at KMOX, Ackerman has worked as a host, play-by-play announcer, anchor, reporter and producer since beginning his career at the radio station in 1997. He’s interviewed the biggest names in sports, covering Super Bowls, World Series, All-Star Games and Final Fours.

Ackerman, 38, has held play-by-play duties for University of Missouri men’s basketball, worked the sidelines on Mizzou football broadcasts, and hosted pregame and postgame shows for the Cardinals and Blues. He’s traveled throughout the NFL as a reporter covering the Rams.

Nationally, Ackerman calls television play-by-play of Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball and football — as well as featured basketball games

Tom Ackerman - Master of Ceremonieson radio for Compass Media Networks, having called such rivalries as Syracuse-Georgetown and North Carolina-N.C. State. In 2010, he called Kansas State’s upset of No. 1 Kansas.

Active in the community, Ackerman has a passion for helping local charities, volunteering for countless organizations each year. In 2013, Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club honored Ackerman with the “That’s A Winner Award,” recognizing his role in raising funds to improve sports facilities for children in the inner city.

Ackerman was included in the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30,” which notes young professionals in the St. Louis metropolitan area who are on their way to establishing prominent careers. He’s also a past recipient of the Riverfront Times’ best reporter (Radio/TV) award in its annual “Best of St. Louis” issue.

Ackerman began his broadcasting career calling play-by-play for Indiana University basketball, football, and baseball for WIUS-AM in Bloomington

(1993-1997). He currently serves as Vice President of the IU Alumni Association’s St. Louis Chapter.

A St. Louis native, Tom is a graduate of Indiana University and St. Louis Country Day School. He is also a proud member of the Missouri Athletic Club. Tom and his wife, Angie, live in St. Louis with their daughters, Erika and Audrey.


Jack Buck Sports Awards

On Dec. 10, 2002, the name of the MAC Sports Personality of the

Year Dinner was changed to honor the man who was instrumental in starting it all back in 1970.

Jack Buck not only created the event to honor top local sports figures, he served as the event’s master of ceremonies for the first 32 dinners. His final public appearance was at the 2001 Sports Personality of the Year Dinner. Thanks largely to Jack Buck’s contributions, the event has become a highlight on the St. Louis sports calendar. It is a tradition not only enjoyed by MAC members, but by local sports fans who get to listen to the event on KMOX Radio.

Tune in to Fox Sports

Midwest on Monday,

Dec. 16 at 5 p.m. to watch

a broadcast of tonight’s

banquet. The show will air

again later than night at 10

p.m., on Dec. 18 at 9 p.m.

and several other times

throughout December.


Past Burnes Broeg Award RecipientsIn 1995, the Bob Burnes “Benchwarmer” Award was established to recognize years of

promoting St. Louis through sports. The award was named for the long-time sports editorat the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. In 2005, the name of the award was changed to also honor

Burnes’ friendly rival at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bob Broeg.

Dr. Abe Hawatmeh1995

Whitey Herzog1996

Carl Hogan1997

Doug Elgin1998

Bob Costas1999

John Rawlings2000

Frank Viverito2001

Mike Bush2002

Bob Broeg2003

Jerry Ritter2004

Rick Hummel2005

Mike Shannon2006

Ron Jacober2007

Frank Cusumano2008

Bernie Miklasz2009

Bill Wilkerson2010

John Kadlec2011

Joe Buck2012


Bill McDermott

Burnes Broeg Award

The title of longest running U.S. soccer broadcaster belongs to

St. Louisan Bill McDermott. He grew up in the Walnut Park neighborhood in North St. Louis and began playing soccer at St. Philip Neri. After playing soccer for most of his life, McDermott began covering the sport as a reporter in 1970 when he attended the FIFA World Cup in Mexico and provided reports for KMOX radio in St. Louis. In 1972, he began his career announcing games in the North American Soccer League, providing color analysis for St. Louis Stars away games on KPLR-TV in St. Louis.

“Soccer has been a part of my life for many years and has provided me with great opportunities, both as a player and an announcer,” said McDermott. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with all the people I’ve encountered along the way, and I’ve taken a lot from each of them. It’s shaped the commentator I am today.”

In addition to providing commentary for the first soccer game televised on ESPN in 1979, highlights to his career include:• Color commentator on Anheuser-Busch’s “Sports Time” Cable Network for college outdoor (NCAA), professional indoor (MISL) and professional outdoor (NASL) soccer • Color commentator for Cleveland

Force on WOIO-TV in Cleveland, OH and was awarded an Emmy for coverage • Voice-over for Budweiser radio commercial during 1994 World Cup • Color commentator for the inaugural season of MLS soccer for ESPN and espn2 • Color commentator for the Dallas Cup for ESPN International and espn2 • Reported on games for MLS Wrap Show on Fox Sports World • Play-by-play and color analysis for NASL, MISL, and MLS teams in addition to teams on the collegiate level • Morning host of FIFA World Cup Today, XM radio’s daily coverage of the 2006 tournament in Germany. • Reported on all FIFA World Cups since 1970

McDermott was the color commentator for the 1994 and 1998 World Cup for ESPN and ABC.“Some of my best soccer memories were at the 1998 World Cup in France, working with Bill McDermott,” said ESPN soccer announcer JP Dellacamera. “Bill has always impressed me with his knowledge of the game and its history, along with his work ethic. He has always been a pleasure to work with.”

In January of 2009, McDermott was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as part of the St. Louis University Men’s Soccer teams that won NCAA Championships in 1967 and 1969 and in recognition of SLU’s 50 Years of Soccer. At SLU, he played for legendary coach Harry Keough. McDermott is also in the McBride High School, the St. Louis University and the St. Louis Soccer Halls of Fame.

McDermott has been the public address announcer at SLU soccer games since 1972 and also is the color commentator for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer. He also serves as master of ceremonies for the MAC Hermann Trophy banquet, college soccer’s version of the Heisman Trophy.

“They don’t call Bill ‘Mr. Soccer’ for nothing. He is steeped in the history of the game, while also staying current. He knows it strategically, technically, and historically,” said NBC sportscaster Bob Costas. “As a one-time excellent player himself, his commentary carries additional credibility. Plus he’s a universally well liked guy – easy to work with, easy to be around - unless you object to his propensity for recycling the same dozen or so jokes and routines for the entire 35 years I’ve known him.”

McDermott with soccer legend Mia Hamm at the Hermann Trophy banquet.


Legends Award

Chris Pronger’s professional career began with lofty expectations

when he was selected No. 2 overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers. Two decades after it started, Pronger lived up to his promise by wrapping up a career that is destined to put him in hockey’s Hall of Fame.

In October, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren announced that Pronger’s playing career had come to an end due to injuries. He scored 157 goals and 698 points in 1,167 career games.

At 6’6” and over 200 pounds, very few defensemen in the history of the NHL were able to affect games like Pronger. His combination of size, speed, toughness and skill made him a nightmare match-up for the league’s top forwards.

Pronger elevated the teams he played for throughout his 18 seasons. He led three different teams to the Stanley Cup finals (Edmonton, Anaheim and Philadelphia) winning the Cup with the Ducks in 2007, but the longest and most successful part of Pronger’s career was in St. Louis. He played in five NHL All-Star games while wearing the Blue note sweater.

In the Gateway City he made up half of one of the greatest defensive pairings with Al MacInnis, captaining the Blues to their only Presidents Trophy in 1999-2000. That season Pronger put together one of the best seasons by a defenseman in hockey history when he netted 14 goals and 62 points in 79 games, compiling a league-best plus-52 while averaging more than 30 minutes of ice time. He became one of only two players in NHL history to win both the Hart and Norris Trophies in the same season. The legendary Bobby Orr was the other to accomplish the rare feat. Pronger is also the last defenseman to be named the NHL’s MVP.

• Made five All-Star game appearances during his nine years in St. Louis.

• In 1999-2000 joined the legendary Bobby Orr as the only defensemen in NHL history to win the Norris and Hart Trophies in the same season.

• Appeared in three Stanley Cup finals and won two Olympic gold medals.

Chris ProngerOne of the greatest

blue-liners of his generation played nine seasons in St. Louis before being dealt to Edmonton, where he led the Oilers to the Cup finals during his first and only season in Albrta. Pronger would also star on the international stage. He was a mainstay for Team Canada and won Olympic Gold in 2002 and 2010.

After hanging up his skates, Pronger and his family have moved back to St. Louis. He has done some scouting for the Flyers over the last two years and has his sights on remaining active in the game that he played so well for nearly 20 years.


Hometown Hero

In September of this year, the Nominating Committee of

the United States Golf Association announced the nomination of St. Louis native Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr., to serve a one-year term as president of the USGA. The election of officers and the 15-member USGA Executive Committee will take place Feb. 8, 2014, at the USGA’s Annual Meeting at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

As president, O’Toole, 56, will lead the USGA’s professional staff of more than 300 and nearly 1,200 volunteers who serve on more than 30 committees.

“I am truly honored and deeply humbled to have been nominated as the next president of the USGA,” said O’Toole. “It has been my privilege to serve the organization for 25 years as a Rules official at the U.S. Open and other USGA championships. During that time, I have come to have deep admiration for the Association and its important work. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the Executive Committee and with the talented staff of the organization,

led by executive director Mike Davis. Together, we will continue to advance our mission and work with our valued partners across the golf industry to foster the long-term sustainability of this great game.”

O’Toole is in his sixth year as a member of the USGA Executive Committee and second as vice president. Currently, he chairs the Championship and Compensation Committees and also serves on the Audit, Commercial, Handicap, International Team Selection, Management, Rules of Golf and Joint Rules of Golf Committees.

O’Toole has been associated with the USGA since 1988, and has served as a Rules official at more than 125 USGA championships, including every U.S. Open since 1990. He also has been the lead official in conducting more than 125 qualifying rounds for USGA championships. Since 2004, O’Toole has been a consulting member of the Rules of Golf Committee.

In 1992, he helped to found the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association, a regional association

that serves eastern Missouri and central Illinois. He serves on the executive board of the Association.

O’Toole is a partner in the law firm of Mickes Goldman O’Toole, LLC. He chairs the firm’s Business and Corporate Group, while his practice focuses on real estate, specializing in zoning/land use, condemnation and real estate transactions. He received both his undergraduate degree (1979) and law degree (1985) from St. Louis University. He served as president of the Missouri Athletic Club in 1999-2000.

Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr.


Stan and the Missouri Athletic Club

• Stan joined the Missouri Athletic Club in 1958.• Stan is featured on the cover of the 1962 Roster. He was featured on the cover of the Cherry Diamond four times.• Stan was a frequent attendee at the Jack Buck Awards banquet.• In conjunction with the Club’s year-long centennial celebration in 2003, Stan is honored as the MAC’s “Athlete of the Century.”• In 2004, the Stan Musial Grille opens at MAC West. The restaurant features an impressive collection of photos and memorabilia from his Hall of Fame career. Stan would eat lunch in his restaurant on a regular basis.• In 2010, Stan Musial celebrates his 90th birthday with friends and family at MAC West.• In 2011, Stan brings his Presidential Medal of Freedom to MAC West to show friends and staff.

There are few figures in American history who earned as much

respect both on and off the field than Stan ‘The Man’ Musial. His talents were obvious to everyone from the moment he joined the Cardinals as a 20-year-old in 1941, until his final season in 1963. In 1969, Musial was elected on his first try into the Hall of Fame, calling it “the greatest honor of the many that have been bestowed upon me.” The MAC, St. Louis and the baseball community at large will miss Musial, the greatest Cardinal who ever lived: Stan will forever be ‘The Man.”

Club members who ate lunch at MAC West with any frequency were likely to run into a friendly, famous face. Stan ate lunch in the restaurant named after himself almost every day of the week. He even had his own booth commemorating where he liked to sit and there is now a plaque commemorating his favorite dining spot. Stan’s engaging personality made him a hit with staff and members, especially the children of MAC members. “He was great with the kids,” said MAC West Manager Darrin Harnetiaux. “He always had a kind word and would ask how they were hitting. He was extremely patient and giving of his time.”

The staff also formed a strong bond with Stan. His favorite server was Debbie Burke. “We were engaged,” joked Debbie. “We were together for 16 years and I have a ring! This past summer he gave me ring that said ‘I

The MAC Remembers Stan ‘The Man’ Musial

Love Stan.’ Stan loved to entertain with his harmonica playing. On Debbie’s 45th birthday, he played her the harmonica, signed it and gave it to her. “It is one of my most prized possessions,” Debbie said.

Stan celebrated his birthday at MAC West with friends including Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Stan strikes a pose at the MAC Hall of Fame banquet

Stan stopped by MAC West to show his Presidential Medal of Freedom to friends and staff.


Stan “The Man” Award

On Oct. 7, 2011, Chris Carpenter squared off against his friend

and former Toronto teammate Roy Halladay in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS against Philadelphia. On the road in a pressure-packed environment the Cardinals’ ace would deliver one of the best performances in franchise history. Carpenter’s 1-0 shutout masterpiece was a critical moment in the Cardinals journey to the 2011 World Series championship.

Jayson Stark of ESPN put the instant classic in perspective: “These are the baseball games that take that special journey through history, a ride only the October classics get to take.

They don’t come along often. Maybe

Chris Carpenterevery 10 years. Or every 20. Or every 50. So when you see them, you want to freeze them and savor the feeling, hang onto the memory -- because they won’t come around again for a long, long time.

In the many, many winner-take-all postseason games ever played, just two other pitchers had ever closed out a series by going the distance to win a 1-0 game.”

Carpenter delivered many other clutch performances throughout his decade in a Cardinals uniform. He had a franchise record 10 victories with a 3.00 ERA in 18 postseason starts. In the regular season, Carpenter had a 144-94 record.

The 38-year-old right-hander was a three-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion and the 2005 National League Cy Young Award. He battled back from injuries throughout his career. He returned from Tommy John surgery to win the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year award.

An injury announced in February of 2013 ended his season and ultimately his career. After a decade in St. Louis, Carpenter will retire from the starting rotation, where he served as the team’s ace and the staff ’s clubhouse leader for most of his tenure.

At the press conference last month announcing Carpenter’s retirement, General manager John Mozeliak pointed out that the veteran found ways to make valuable contributions to the team even when he was not playing. “His leadership and leading by example I think created what we now see with the Adam

Wainwrights of the world and hopefully what we see with these young guys like Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller coming,” Mozeliak said.

Chairman Bill Dewitt Jr. said Carpenter played a pivotal role in some of the greatest years ever for the organization:

“He will always be remembered as one of the great players in Cardinal history, having been a part of and a core piece of and without whom we wouldn’t have been to a lot of these positions of four pennants and two world championships during his tenure here as the leader of the pitching staff,” DeWitt said.

Mozeliak added“When you think back to everything

this organization has been through in regard to his ups and downs, he will still go down as one of the greatest we’ve ever had…We think back to his career and what an amazing one it was. He was part of so many highlights and I think he really created a culture of higher expectations.”

In memory of long-time member and baseball legend Stan Musial, the MAC has established the Stan “the Man” award to honor a local athlete who over their career

has led by example and delivered in the clutch.


Past Carl O. Bauer Award Recipients

Kellen Winslow1978

Bob Guelker1979

Phil Bradley1980

Jim Holtgrieve1981

Kurt Petersen1982

Ray Armstead1983

Al and Jackie Joyner1984

Bob Shannon1985

Floyd Irons1986

Thaddeus J. Strobach1987

Nino Fennoy1989

Anthony Bonner1990

The Carl O. Bauer Award recognizes a top amateur sports figure. Bauer was an important personality in the Missouri Athletic Club’s history, who brought innovation and inspiration to the Club’s Athletic

Department during his 45 years of service as Athletic Director.

Mike Mayweather1991

Tom Jager1992

Ellen Port1993

Ed Hightower1994

Erwin ClaggettScott HighmarkH Waldman1995

Erin Narzinski1997

Kristin FolklLarry Hughes1998

Nancy Fahey1999

Terry Michler2000

Niele Ivey2001

Doug Woolard2002

Marque Perry2003

Mike Kalist2004

Brad Smith2005

Cheryl Levick2006

Chase Daniel2007

Dawn Harper2008

Anne Kordes2009

Mark Edwards2010

Harry Statham2011

Mike McGinty2012


Jim Crews and Dwayne Evans

Jim Crews was named Saint Louis University’s interim head

coach at the beginning of the 2012-13 campaign when it was announced that Rick Majerus would not coach. As interim coach, he led the Billikens to a school-record 28 victories (28-7), Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament championships and a second straight NCAA Tournament bid.

Crews’ coaching performance, as well as the Billikens’ success on the court, did not go unnoticed on the national scene. Crews earned the national coach of the year award from the Sporting News and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). He was one of four finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year award. In addition, he earned his fifth

Carl O. Bauer Award

conference coach of the year honor when he was named A-10 Coach of the Year. Following the season, Crews was formally introduced as the Billikens’ 26th head men’s basketball coach on April 12, 2013.

Crews is no stranger to success on the basketball court. He has been a part of 15 NCAA Tournaments as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Crews learned from the legendary Bob Knight at Indiana for 12 seasons, four as a player and eight as an assistant coach. During his four-year playing career from 1972 to 1976, the Hoosiers forged a

remarkable 108-12 record. As a senior in 1976, Crews helped IU to a 32-0 record and a national championship, the last time a Division I men’s program has posted an undefeated record.

After serving as an assistant coach at Indiana, Crews was the head coach at Evansville University for 17 years and head coach at Army for seven. He was retired from coaching, when Rick Majerus asked him to join his staff at SLU as an assistant before the 2011-12 season.

One of the key players in the Billikens recent run of success has been senior forward Dwayne Evans. Last season, he led the team in scoring and rebounding and was named a first-team All-Conference pick. Evans was named

the Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 Championship in helping the Billikens capture the tournament title. He scored 24 points in SLU’s NCAA Tournament victory over New Mexico State and surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career.

Evans is one of 30 men’s basketball players the NCAA selected as a candidate for the 2013-14 Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievement in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.

A business administration major, Evans was named to the A-10 All-Academic team a season ago. He is active in the community as well, volunteering with the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA) as well as Athletes in Action. This past summer, Evans traveled to Africa on a goodwill basketball tour with AIA.

Dwayne Evans

Jim Crews

Coach Crews and Dwayne Evans led SLU to their best season in school history


In recognition of dedicated support of sports in St. Louis and making a positive difference in the community.

Past Jack Buck Award Recipients

Charles Nash1999

Mike and Leslie Jones2000

Flint Fowler2001

Walt Jocketty2002

Jerry Clinton2003

Tony LaRussa2004

Jay Randolph2005

The Cardinals2006

John Davidson2007

Kelly Chase2008

Ernie Hays2010

Steven Jackson2012

August A. Busch, Jr.1987

Ben Kerner, Bing Devine1988

Joe Garagiola, Yogi Berra1989

Robert Hyland1990

Michael Shanahan1991

Ozzie Smith1992

Michael Roarty1993

Stan Musial1994

Thomas F. Eagleton1995

Bill DeWittFred HanserDrew Baur1996

Martin L. Mathews1997

Red Schoendienst1998


Aeneas Williams

Jack Buck Award

By: Julia Faron

Aeneas Williams is known by many as a football player. During his

14-year career, he made eight Pro Bowl appearances, was a four-time First Team All-Pro and was a part of the 2001 NFC Championship team.

Throughout his playing career and after retirement, he has amplified the positive platform that comes along with being a successful pro athlete and made an even greater impact through his ministries as a pastor.

Williams made his personal commitment to Jesus Christ during his junior year at Southern University. During his playing career, he would hear his teammates talk about struggles they were enduring and would be there to help them address those situations. Williams retired in 2004 and remained involved in his former teammates’ lives and the church. Then, in 2007, he and his wife Tracy decided to start a ministry of their own.

“We sensed in our hearts that we were to start this ministry,” Williams said. “Our first service was with my wife and our four children in our basement and it’s been growing ever since. It’s been a wonderful ride and a rich experience.”

In addition to weekly service at The Spirit Church, Williams and his wife each lead a monthly bible study. Williams leads a men’s program called The Men’s Locker Room, and Tracy leads a study for women called Wonder Women. These ministries are open to men and women of all ages throughout

the St. Louis area, including non-Spirit Church members. Each ministry discusses relative topics that Pastor Williams and other various speakers feel are fitting and beneficial for the participants.

“Sometimes I share the topic and I bring in successful others to share the principles in their lives that they’ve used to help them be successful,” Williams said.

The Williams’ shape these events so that they are comfortable and inviting to all people by incorporating information that can be useful regardless of religious beliefs.

Williams is also passionate about speaking to corporations, pro sports teams, and NFL programs, in addition to working with the league office. Recently, Williams spoke at the 2013 NFL Rookie Symposium in Aurora, Ohio.

“That experience is near and dear to my heart,” Williams said. “Being able to share some of my prior experiences, both successful and not so successful, and encouraging those guys to maximize their time in the league has truly been a wonderful experience.”

Williams shared one of the key messages that he spoke to the NFL rookie class about at the symposium. He asked the rookies, ‘Where do you think you can find the most wealth in the world?’

“Some would say in the heart, some Dubai – a number of places, but the answer I’m looking for, I ultimately had to give them, is the cemetery,” said Williams. “Most people go to the grave without fully reaching their potential, so potential inventions, books never written, athletes never seen or only seen for a short period of time (lie there).’

“I really wanted to encourage the guys that while you have this opportunity, which is only one percent of all high school players, to leverage this opportunity, because the game

always ends sooner, many times, than most players are ready for it.”

Through his ministries and events such as the symposium, Williams has had time to talk with current Rams, including the 2013 rookie class. He shared his one fundamental characteristic to a successful team based on his experiences.

“One of the hallmarks of the teams that had success were great players that were very unselfish and were very team orientated, which makes for something special or the potential for something special when that happens,” Williams said.

When he isn’t working, Williams enjoys being a husband and a father to his four children: Saenea (16), Tirzah (14), Cheyenne (8), and son Lazarus (12).

The Williams family has made St. Louis home since he moved here to join the Rams in 2001.

“St. Louis is No. 1, a great place to raise a family,” Williams said. “The fans are awesome, even post-career. It’s a wonderful congregation, a wonderful group of people. This is a wonderful place to make home.”


The second base position was a question for the Cardinals

heading into the 2013 season. Could a valuable utility infielder that had never been an everyday player in the big leagues or a starting second baseman at any level become a starter player at his new position? Matt Carpenter answered the question with a resounding yes by playing excellent defense, emerging as the top leadoff hitter in the game and becoming an MVP candidate. Carpenter’s breakout season has earned him the 2013 Missouri Athletic Club Sports Personality of the Year award.

Carpenter made the transition look easy, but he put in a lot of extra work leading up to the 2013 season to make it happen. He spent the offseason practicing on his dad’s high school baseball field working on making the move from third base to second base. He also arrived in spring training 10 days early to get a crash course in second base defense from Cardinals’ coach Jose Oquendo. After learning from a guy who was known as the “Secret Weapon” during his Cardinal career in the 1980s, Carpenter emerged as the 2013 version of the “Secret Weapon” when he unleashed an attack on National League pitching. FanGraphs, which specializes in ranking players through thorough statistical analysis, rated Carpenter as the third best player in the NL in 2013. A 13th round pick out TCU wasn’t expected to be this good.

You know it has been a special season when you break one of Stan Musial’s records. Carpenter broke Stan’s franchise record for most doubles in a season by a left-handed hitter. He also led major league baseball in hits, runs, doubles and multi-hit games.

Carpenter had countless clutch performances throughout 2013,

Carpenter Captures Sports Personality of the Year

but if you could capture the essence of his determination in one at-bat, it would be in the third inning of game 6 of the NLCS against Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. He grinded through an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with a ringing double. That hit ignited a four run rally and propelled the Cardinals to a victory that sent them to the World Series.

Although he doesn’t possess the speed of a prototypical leadoff hitter, Carpenter excelled at the most important past of that role. He made pitchers work and found ways to consistently get on base. He drew 72 walks to go along with his 199 hits.

“I take a lot of pride in kind of being self-made, being a guy that is kind of an afterthought to even

making the big leagues and then let alone even becoming an All-Star,” Carpenter told ESPN.com. “I didn’t just want to be an adequate second baseman; I wanted to be a good one and I wanted to help our team win.”


Carpenter Captures Sports Personality of the Year

Bob Gibson1970

Joe Torre1971

Lou Brock1973

Ted Simmons1977

Keith Hernandez1979

Whitey Herzog1982

Ozzie Smith1984

Willie McGee1985

Todd Worrell1986

Pedro Guerrero1989

Tony La Russa1996

Mark McGwire1998

Albert Pujols2002

Scott Rolen2004

Chris Carpenter2005

Jason Isringhausen2007

Adam Wainwright2009

Lance Berkman2011

Matt Holliday2012

Cardinals who have won the Sports Personality of the YearCarpenter Stats

BA HR RBI Runs2013 .318 11 78 126

• National League All-Star

• Finished 4th in National League MVP voting

• Led the majors in hits, runs, doubles and multi-hit games.

• He had 55 doubles, breaking Stan Musial’s franchise record of 53 by a left-handed hitter.


Past Sports Personalities of the Year1970-2012

Bob GibsonSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1970

Joe TorreSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1971

Al OnofrioUniversity of Missouri Tigers

1972

Lou BrockSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1973

Don CoryellSt. Louis Football Cardinals

1974

Terry MetcalfSt. Louis Football Cardinals

1975

Jim BakkenSt. Louis Football Cardinals

1976

Ted SimmonsSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1977

Warren PowersUniversity of Missouri Tigers

1978

Keith HernandezSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1979

Pat TilleySt. Louis Football Cardinals

1980

Mike LiutSt. Louis Blues

1981

Whitey HerzogSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1982

Roy GreenSt. Louis Football Cardinals

1983

Ozzie SmithSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1984

Willie McGeeSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1985

Todd WorrellSt. Louis Baseball Cardinals

1986

Rich GrawerSaint Louis University

Billikens1987

Jackie Joyner-KerseeOlympics

1988

Pedro GuerreroSt. Louis Cardinals

1989

Brett HullSt. Louis Blues

1990

Hale IrwinGolf1990


Past Sports Personalities of the Year1970-2012

Jimmy ConnorsTennis1991

Norm StewartUniversity of Missouri Tigers

1992

Curtis JosephSt. Louis Blues

1993

Charlie SpoonhourSaint Louis University

Billikens1994

Brendan ShanahanSt. Louis Blues

1995

Tony La RussaSt. Louis Cardinals

1996

Dick VermeilSt. Louis Rams

1997

Mark McGwireSt. Louis Cardinals

1998

Al MacInnisSt. Louis Blues

1999

Kurt WarnerSt. Louis Rams

2000

Marshall FaulkSt. Louis Rams

2001

Albert PujolsSt. Louis Cardinals

2002

Isaac BruceSt. Louis Rams

2003

Scott RolenSt. Louis Cardinals

2004

Chris CarpenterSt. Louis Cardinals

2005

Torry HoltSt. Louis Rams

2006

Jason IsringhausenSt. Louis Cardinals

2007

Gary PinkelUniversity of Missouri

2008

Adam WainwrightSt. Louis Cardinals

2009

Sam BradfordSt. Louis Rams

2010

Lance BerkmanSt. Louis Cardinals

2011

Matt HollidaySt. Louis Cardinals

2012

Jim Crews

Chris Pronger

Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr.

Dwayne Evans

Bill McDermott

Aeneas Williams

Chris Carpenter

Buckprogram13

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