In 1952, his Cardinals won seven more games than they had in 1951 and he was chosen Major League Manager of the Year by "The Sporting News". The Cards advanced from fourth to third place in the National League standings, although finishing 15 games behind the pennant-winning Dodgers. But his time as Cardinal manager coincided with the slow decline of the team and its farm system from its glory days in the 1940s and the ownership transition from Fred Saigh to August "Gussie" Busch. On May 27, 1955, after a 17–19 start, he was fired.