Former Cardinals great Ted Simmons, recently elected to the club's Hall of Fame, said the toughest pitcher he ever had to face was former New York Mets and Cincinnati ace Tom Seaver. The toughest hitter he ever squatted behind as a catcher was Kansas City's George Brett, like Seaver a Hall of Famer.
Of Seaver, Simmons said, "He clearly was tops. There were guys who maybe threw a little harder.