prompting Ashford to resign from the league. After a contract dispute and visa problems caused Javier to miss part of spring training , a broken hand caused Javier to miss a month and a half of the regular season. In his absence, the Cardinals used a revolving door of second basemen that included Jerry Buchek, Phil Gagliano and Dal Maxvill. Javier was never able to regain form upon his return in August, as he batted just .195 with eight runs batted in over the rest of the season. The World Series champions finished a disappointing 80–81 and in seventh place Red Schoendienst's first season at the helm. Each member of St. Louis' aging infield was replaced heading into the season with the exception of Javier. The team showed modest improvement, but still managed only a sixth-place finish. For his part, Javier batted just a .228 with thirty RBIs, both career lows for a full, healthy season. 1967 World Series After two subpar seasons in a row, Javier headed into spring training battling Phil Gagliano for the starting second base job. Javier ended up winning the job and carrying the Cards to victories in their first six games, batting .435 with two home runs and eight runs scored. His batting average hovered around .300 through the middle of July, as he finished the season at .281 with 64 RBIs and a career-high fourteen home runs. He was one of four Cardinals players to finish in the top ten in National League Most Valuable Player balloting. The Cardinals won 101 games in to cruise into a rematch of the World Series with the Boston Red Sox. In the second game at Fenway Park, Boston's Jim Lonborg came four outs away from recording the second no hitter in World Series history until Javier connected for a two-out double in the eighth. In the seventh and deciding game, Javier connected for a three-run home run off Lonborg to seal St. Louis' 7–2 win. He also had an RBI in the Cardinals' 6–0 game four victory. He earned his second career All-Star nod when Red Schoendienst named him as a reserve on the NL team. The Cardinals won 97 games in to repeat as National League champions. They lost a seven-game World Series to the Detroit Tigers in which Javier batted .333 with three RBIs. He drove in the lone Cardinals run of their 13–1