He played for the Cardinals from 1945-56 and again from 1961-63. He coached for the 1964 world champion Cardinals and managed the Cardinals from 1965-76, winning National League pennants in 1967-68 and a World Series in 1967.
After two years as an Oakland Athletics coach, Schoendienst would return as a Cardinals coach from 1977-1995, including stints as interim manager in 1980 and 1990, and after that, for more than 20 years, was a staple in uniform before every home game and in spring training as a special assistant to the general manager.
Indeed, Schoendienst led the National League in fielding percentage at second base seven times, in addition to hitting better than .