St. Louis is plunged into profound grief. Dal Maxvill – the legendary shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals, World Series champion in 1964 and 1967, known as “The Glove” for his golden infield defense – has been officially confirmed by his family to be battling terminal cancer at the age of 86.
In an emotional announcement posted on his personal page and through the Cardinals Hall of Fame, his son tearfully shared: “Our father is very weak. The doctors say he doesn’t have much time left. But his last wish was to hold a bat, to walk onto Busch Stadium one more time – even if only to stand there, look at the stands, and hear the cheers of the Cardinals fans.”
The news came as a direct blow to the hearts of Cardinals fans. Dal Maxvill is an icon of quiet resilience: playing for the Cardinals from 1962-1972, he played a major role in two World Series championships (1964 against the Yankees, 1967 against the Red Sox). He was famous for his golden glove at shortstop – making few mistakes, handling the ball smoothly, and always being a defensive pillar for Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, and Curt Flood. Although not a powerful hitter (only a .217 career average), Maxvill was the “soul” of the legendary teams of the 1960s – the man Whitey Herzog once said: “Without Dal, we wouldn’t have won the championship.”
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After retiring, Maxvill became the Cardinals’ General Manager from 1978-1984, helping to build the strong roster that led to the 1982 World Series. He was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2019 and still frequently appears at Busch Stadium, signing autographs and chatting with fans. Now, at age 86, his health is rapidly deteriorating due to metastatic cancer. His family revealed he began showing symptoms in 2024, but kept it a secret to avoid worrying his fans. “Dad still tried to smile when talking about the Cardinals,” his son wrote. “He said, ‘I’m not afraid to die. I’m only afraid of not seeing Busch Stadium one last time, not holding a bat, not hearing the applause from the stands.’”
Dal Maxvill’s final wish shattered the entire Cardinals community. Busch Stadium – St. Louis’s “red cathedral” – immediately responded: “We will do everything we can to get Dal back on the field once more.” The team plans to hold a special “Dal Maxvill Day” ceremony in the 2026 season (possibly as early as spring training or opening day), where he will be wheeled onto the field in a golf cart, holding his old number 13 baseball bat, standing in the middle of the infield and throwing the first pitch if his health permits. The entire stadium will stand up and applaud, and a large screen will show highlights of his career: spectacular defensive plays in 1964 and 1967, and his humble smile when receiving the World Series ring.
Living legends like Ted Simmons, Orlando Cepeda, and Jim Kaat have expressed: “Dal was our brother. We’ll be with him on the court.” Cardinals fans flooded social media with the hashtags #OneMoreTimeDal and #MaxvillForever, sharing old photos: Maxvill hugging Gibson after the 1967 World Series, Maxvill smiling while signing autographs for children. Many wrote: “He gave us two rings. Now we just want him on the court one more time before he goes.”
Dal Maxvill never sought the spotlight. He was humble, loyal, and always put the team first. From his boy St. Louis dreamed of playing for the Cardinals, reaching the gold shortstop, becoming the GM who built the team, and now, as an aging man battling cancer – his journey is a testament to his pure love for baseball and the Cardinals. Now, with little time left, his simplest wish brings tears to the eyes of St. Louis: to simply pick up a bat, stand on Busch Stadium, and hear the cheers one last time.
Busch Stadium is preparing. The stands will be full. And when Dal Maxvill walks out – even if weak, even if just standing there – the whole city will applaud endlessly. It’s not just a tribute to a legend, but a promise: the Cardinals will always be with him, just as he has been with the Cardinals his whole life.
