in 1964, buchek played in only 35 games, largely as a backup to shortstop dick groat and second baseman julián javier, collecting six hits in 30 at bats. but it was a memorable season, as the cardinals prevailed in a late-september four-team pennant scramble to win their first national league title in 18 years. then they defeated the new york yankees in seven games in the 1964 world series. buchek appeared as a defensive replacement in four games at second base, and in his lone plate appearance, in game 6, he singled off jim bouton.