By the time he was a sophomore at Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas, Sadecki was drawing major league scouts to his games. His senior year, after the Cyclones went 18-0, and won the state baseball championship, the "bonus baby" signed with the Cardinals while still only seventeen years old. He compiled a 22-16 record, a 3.77 earned run average & 349 strikeouts over his first two seasons in the Cards\' farm system. After six appearances with the Rochester Red Wings in 1960, in which he compiled a 1.76 ERA, Sadecki received a call up to the majors at just nineteen years old.\n', '

He allowed five runs (2 earned), while lasting just 2​2⁄3 innings in his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates to take the loss. His first career win was a shutout of the Cincinnati Reds on June 15, in which he scattered three hits while walking eight & striking out nine. Splitting his time between starts & relieving, he posted a 9-9 record, 3.78 ERA & 95 strikeouts over 157​1⁄3 innings pitched to earn Cardinal Rookie of the Year honors.\n', '

He became a full-time starting pitcher in 1961, and led his team with 222.2 innings pitched & fourteen wins (tied with Larry Jackson). He also proved to be one of the better hitting pitchers in the National League. In 87 at bats, Sadecki had 22 hits for a .253 batting average, and drove in twelve runs.\n', '

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