When you think of the legendary 2004 St. Louis Cardinals, names like Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen immediately come to mind. You might even think of a young Adam Wainwright. But games aren't just won by the superstars; they’re won by the guys who come jogging out of the bullpen in the 7th inning to put out a fire.

This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Ray King, the durable, 250-pound left-handed specialist affectionately known as "Burger." Acquired in the blockbuster trade that brought Jason Marquis and Adam Wainwright to St. Louis, King became a workhorse for Dave Duncan’s "scrap heap" bullpen. From his chaotic MLB debut with a borrowed glove to his historic 2004 season, King’s story is one of dependability, high-stakes drama, and some of the best numbers ever posted against the game's greatest hitters.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Trade That Changed Everything: How King arrived in the deal for JD Drew and became an unsung hero of the 2004 pennant run.

The "Bonds Killer": A look at the eye-popping stats King posted against legends like Barry Bonds (who hit just .059 against him) and Ken Griffey Jr.

The Iron Man of the Bullpen: How King racked up 86 appearances in a single season—the second-most in franchise history—including a mind-boggling 30 consecutive scoreless outings.

The La Russa Fallout: The "September Slide" that led to a public spat with the skipper and a quick exit from St. Louis.

The Lost Glove Debut: The hilarious story of King’s first big league game wearing cleats bought that morning and a teammate's glove.

Whether it was his streak of 328 games without an intentional walk or his mastery of the high-leverage middle innings, Ray King was the glue that held a championship-caliber bullpen together.

"He wasn't the guy getting the final out... but when the fire needed to be put out, Ray King was the guy they called."

Listen now and subscribe to the Redbird Rundown for your weekly dose of Cardinals history!

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