His five-year deal from the Cards before the 1996 season, worth an estimated $33 million, was the first multi-year contract of the 30-year-old's career. "It's been a long time coming," the left fielder said at the time. "I've put up a lot of good numbers in the major leagues."

The good numbers dipped. Injuries and strikeouts increased. He hit .246 and knocked 30 homers in 1996, but struck out a career-high 162 times in 1997, and his role was decreased in 1998. After he was traded to Philadelphia, Gant voiced his opinion that Mark McGwire batting third fouled up the Cards' lineup.

"That lineup worked for Ray Lankford and Brian Jordan and Delino Deshields and J.D. Drew in his few games in September, " manager Tony La Russa shot back. "The only one it didn't work for was Ron Gant. It was whiff, whiff, whiff."