During the 1958–59 off-season Schoendienst was diagnosed with tuberculosis and underwent a partial pneumonectomy in February 1959. Despite being told that he would never play again, he returned to the Braves in 1960—only to be released at the end of the season. In 1961 he rejoined the Cardinals, first as a pinch hitter, then as a coach when Johnny Keane replaced Solly Hemus as the Cardinals' manager. He would remain on the Cardinals payroll in various capacities for the rest of his life. In his final three playing seasons he served as a player-coach, batting over .300 in both 1961 and 1962 and going hitless in five at-bats in 1963.
