Dick Hughes obit

Cardinals World Series Champion, Rookie Sensation With Career Cut Short, Dies

 

He was not on the list.

The St. Louis Cardinals persist as one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises, with a number of history making players who have represented them over the years.

And with 11 World Series championships and 19 National League pennants in its history, the team has had a number of title winning players contribute to that history over the years as well. On Friday, fans received news that one of the team’s former championship players had died.

“I'm sad to report that former Cardinals pitcher Dick Hughes has died at the age of 88,” Augie Nash reported on X. “Dick debuted with the Cardinals in 1966 and spent his entire 3-year career with the team.”

Hughes, who was born in Arkansas, began his professional pitching career in 1958, though he did not debut with the Cardinals until eight years later, at age 28. However, his long-awaited debut was quickly followed up by a sensational rookie campaign in 1967.

Over 27 starts in that season, Hughes posted a 2.67 ERA with 161 strikeouts and a 0.954 WHIP that was the best in that National League. He pitched nine World Series innings for the Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox, helping the team secure a championship that season.

Hughes earned MVP Award votes for that campaign and came in second to eventual Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in the National League Rookie of the Year Award votes.

Unfortunately, after that sensational rookie season, Hughes injured his throwing shoulder in Spring Training 1968 and, with no available surgery to repair a rotator cuff, that injury cut his promising career short.

“‘Something happened’ at the end of the warm-ups, throwing at game speed. ‘My shoulder ached,’ remembered Hughes, and ‘I was given a (cortisone) shot,’” according to Thomas Van Hyning of the Society for American Baseball Research. “Hughes pitched five innings after alerting trainer Bob Bauman that something was wrong. X-rays later showed he had a torn rotator cuff, an injury doctors could not properly repair in those days. Hughes said it would have been ‘best in hindsight to shut it down and give it time to heal.’”

Instead, Hughes appeared in 25 games for the Cardinals in that season before being put on the disabled list and eventually ending his career.

Hughes stuck on with the Cardinals in a few different roles before leaving baseball altogether and focusing on his family.

“His playing career in baseball ended in 1968 although he served various roles in the Cardinals organization … until 1975,” a local obituary noted. “At this point, he chose to spend more quality time with his family… His love of music, playing the guitar, and outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing also influenced his children and eventually his grandchildren.”

Richard Henry Hughes went home to be with Jesus on May 6, 2026, at the age of 88. He was the oldest child of Alvin and Odelle Hughes and was born on February 13, 1938, in Stephens, Arkansas. He had two siblings, a brother Bill and a sister, Linda. The family eventually moved to Shreveport, Louisiana when Richard was in elementary school. He grew up there and graduated from Byrd High School in 1956. During his senior year, he led their baseball team to its first and only state championship. Richard then earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Arkansas and was there two years before signing a professional contract with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. Using a portion of his baseball signing bonus, he and his Dad purchased land near Stephens Arkansas with future plans to raise cattle.

During the next eight years, he worked his way up in the minor leagues and spent several years in the United States Army Reserves. In 1962, while back in Stephens in between minor league assignments, he met his future wife, Anne who was from Waldo, Arkansas. By September 1963, they were engaged, and on January 26, 1964, their 62 year adventure began as husband and wife. Beginning in 1966, they enjoyed his brief but exciting two plus years in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, where they beat the Boston Red Sox in the 1967 World Series and lost to the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series.

Like everything in his life, Richard was fully committed. He was not only a devoted husband but also a loving father. He and Anne were blessed with three children, Stephen, Sherry, and Scott. His playing career in baseball ended in 1968 although he served various roles in the Cardinals organization (which often required extended periods of time away from home) until 1975. At this point, he chose to spend more quality time with his family. He utilized his earlier land purchase as a means of supporting them through raising cattle, broilers, and timber. With Anne teaching school and Richard developing his farm, the kids learned a range of skills and life lessons. It was a family affair! His love of music, playing the guitar, and outdoor pursuits like hunting and fishing also influenced his children and eventually his grandchildren.

During Richard's life, he participated in many local civic and community organizations. This included the Stephens School Board, several terms as Justice of the Peace, Stephens Housing Authority, Community Outreach Center, and many years serving as an election official.

Richard's faith was woven into every aspect of his life. His salvation experience as a teen at church camp began his lifelong walk with the Lord. Loving God, loving others, and serving was a way of life. His 62 year church membership at First Baptist Church in Stephens included serving as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, worship leader, and many other capacities. He and Anne were often called on to provide funeral music with Richard singing and Anne playing the piano. They were asked to lead music at many family reunions and gatherings. His prayer and deep desire were for all of his family to be spiritually grounded.

He is survived by his loving wife, Anne; their children, Stephen (Susanne) Hughes, Sherry (Curt) Pelot, and Scott (Christy) Hughes; grandchildren, Jonathan (Ronni) Hughes, Eli (Hannah) Davis, Joshua Hughes, Joseph (Caitlyn) Hughes, and Hannah (Noah) Lambka; and precious great grandchild, Samuel Davis.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home, Inc. in Magnolia, AR with a Celebration of Life Service following at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Sandy Carter officiating. A private burial will be held.

Honorary pallbearers will be Eli Davis, Jonathan Hughes, Joseph Hughes, Joshua Hughes, Noah Lambka, Curt Pelot, Brian Wreyford, and Jeff Wreyford.