than third in any of the first three seasons of Javier's career, the Cardinals were in a heated battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League for most of the season. The Dodgers came to St. Louis a game ahead of the Cards on September 16 for a three-game set. Javier went two-for-fourteen with two errors in this crucial series. The first error came in the ninth inning of the first game, allowing the Dodgers to score the final run of their 3–1 victory. The second error occurred on a Dick Tracewski ground ball in the thirteenth inning of the final game, allowing the Dodgers to complete the three-game sweep on their way to winning the National League pennant. Javier drove in a career-high 65 runs and dropped to the seven spot in the batting order in . The 1964 Cardinals came back from eleven games out of first place on August 23 to win their first NL pennant since on the last day of the regular season by one game over the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies. When they faced the New York Yankees in the World Series, Javier was limited to one pinch-running appearance due to a bruised hip. Dominican Professional Baseball League suspension During the off-season, Javier caused some controversy in the Dominican League while playing with the Aguilas Cibaenas. During the winter league play-offs in the Dominican Republic after being called out on strikes by home plate umpire Emmett Ashford. Javier struck Ashford who during his 12 years in the PCL became the best-known umpire for being " a showman, exuberant, strong, alert, loud and expressive," recalled Paul Wysard of Ashford's' days in the PCL. The incident was initiated when Javier showed his dislike to the second called strike and Javier took his time to get back in the batter's box, Ashford instructed the pitcher to pitch without Javier being in the batter's box and called him out on strike infuriating Javier who voiced his discontent and got into an argument with expletives being called by both Javier and Ashford and then Javier struck Ashford twice in the face, Ashford responded hitting Javier back with the mask. Javier was originally suspended indefinitely by the Dominican Professional Baseball League, but after Javier pleaded his case and told his side of the story it was eventually cut to three days and fifty dollars,