Dayley used a snappy curve and fastball to become the Cardinals’ top lefthanded reliever. He recovered from career-threatening ligament damage in his left elbow in 1986 to win a personal-best nine games in ’87. In 1989 he set career highs with 71 appearances and 12 saves. He was particularly effective in the post-season, tossing ten scoreless innings in two League Championship Series and allowing just one run in 10 2/3 World Series innings, including a relief win in Game Two of the 1985 Fall Classic.
