The
St. Louis Cardinals are a professional
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
team based in
St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. With an estimated population of 354,361 in 2008, it is the principal municipality of Greater St. Louis, population 2,866,517, the largest urban area in Missouri and sixteenth largest in the United States...
. They are members of the
Central DivisionThe National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. It was created in 1994, merging two teams from the West and three teams from the East divisions of the National League. In 1998 it became the largest division in Major League Baseball, with the addition of a...
in the
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
of
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
. The Cardinals have won a
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
record 10 World Series championships, second only to the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
(who have 26) in
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
.
The Cardinals were founded in the
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings, taking the name from
an earlier National League teamThe St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877. Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The original...
. They joined the National League in 1892 and have been known as the Cardinals since 1900. The Cardinals began play in the current
Busch StadiumBusch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. It replaced Busch Memorial Stadium and occupies a portion of that stadium's former footprint...
in 2006, becoming the first team since 1923 (NYY) to win the World Series in their first season in a new ballpark. The Cardinals have a strong rivalry with the
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago , the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the...
that began with the
1885 World SeriesThe 1885 World Series was an end-of-the-year playoff series between the National League champion Chicago White Stockings and American Association champion St. Louis Browns. The Series was played in four different cities...
.
1880s–1930s
The Cardinals were founded in
1882-Champions:*National League: Chicago def. Providence 5 games to 4*American Association: Cincinnati Red Stockings*League Alliance: New York MetropolitansInterleague*Chicago vs. Cincinnati tie 1 game each*Chicago def...
as a member of the
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
called the St. Louis Brown Stockings. The club quickly achieved success, winning four AA pennants in a row, 1885-1888. Following these titles, St. Louis played in an early version of the
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
, the first two times against the
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
's Chicago White Stockings, now named the
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago , the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the...
. The 1885 series ended in dispute, but St. Louis won the 1886 series outright, beginning a St. Louis-Chicago rivalry that continues today. The American Association went bankrupt in
1892-Champions:*National League: Boston Beaneaters defeated Cleveland Spiders, 5 games to 0 - First half of season :- Second half of season :- Overall record :-Events:...
, and the Browns moved to the National League, leaving much of their success behind for the next three decades. The club changed its name to the "Perfectos" in
1899-National League final standings:-Events:*May 25 - Deacon Phillippe of the Louisville Colonels pitches a no-hitter against the New York Giants in a 7-0 victory....
, before adopting the "Cardinals" name in
1900-Champions:*Chronicle-Telegraph Cup: Brooklyn Superbas defeated Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 games to 1*National League: Brooklyn SuperbasAmerican League : Chicago White Sox-Statistical Leaders:-National League final standings:-Events:...
.
From 1902-1954 an American League Team, the
St. Louis Browns, also played in St. Louis. The Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 and became the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
.
The Cardinals' fortunes in the National League began to improve in
1920The 1920 Major League Baseball season was the eighteenth season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
, when
Sam BreadonSam Breadon was an American executive who served as the president and majority owner of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball from 1920 through 1947...
bought the club and named
Branch RickeyWesley Branch Rickey was an innovative Major League Baseball executive best known for two things: breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier by signing African American player Jackie Robinson and later drafting the first Hispanic superstar Roberto Clemente; and creating the framework for the...
his
general managerIn Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
. Rickey immediately moved the Cardinals to
Sportsman's ParkSportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All but one of them resided on the same piece of land: the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :For 33 years,...
to become tenants of their
American LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
rivals, the
St. Louis BrownsThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
, and sold the Cardinals'
ballparkRobison Field is the best-known of several names given to a former Major League Baseball park in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League from April 27, 1893 until June 6, 1920. Robison Field was home to the St. Louis Browns of the National League from...
. Rickey used the money from the sale to invest in and pioneer the
minor leagueMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in North America that compete at levels below that of Major League Baseball. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses, and many are members of Minor League Baseball, an umbrella organization for leagues...
farm systemIn sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
, which produced many great players and led to new success for the Cardinals.
Led by
Rogers HornsbyRogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
, who won the
Triple CrownIn baseball, the Triple Crown refers to:#A batter who leads the league in three major categories -- home runs, runs batted in, and batting average....
in both
1922The 1922 Major League Baseball season was the twentieth season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
and
1925The 1925 Major League Baseball season was the twenty-third season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
, the Cardinals improved drastically during the 1920s. They won their first National League pennant in
1926The 1926 Major League Baseball season was the twenty-fourth season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
and then defeated the favored
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees' 1926 season was their 24th season. The team finished with a record of 91-63, winning their fourth pennant, finishing three games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Miller Huggins. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium...
in seven games to win the
World SeriesThe 1926 World Series was the championship series of the 1926 Major League Baseball season, featuring the St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees...
. In
1927The 1927 Major League Baseball season was the twenty-fifth season held between the American and National Leagues.- Regular Season Standings :- World Series :- Award winners :- League leaders :- External links :*...
, now led by
Frankie FrischFrancis "Frankie" Frisch , nicknamed the Fordham Flash, or The Old Flash, was an German-American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century.Frisch was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed...
, the Cardinals fell just short, before claiming another pennant in
1928-Champions:*World Series: New York Yankees over St Louis Cardinals -Awards and honors:*League Award** Mickey Cochrane, Philadelphia Athletics, C** Jim Bottomley, St. Louis Cardinals, 1B-Statistical Leaders:-American League final standings:...
. The Yankees avenged their 1926 loss, however, by sweeping the Cardinals in four games in the
1928 World SeriesIn the 1928 World Series, the New York Yankees swept the St. Louis Cardinals in four games. Along with 1927, this was the first time a team had swept consecutive Series....
.
The Cardinals kept winning in the next decade, claiming back-to-back pennants in
1930The 1930 Major League Baseball season was the twenty-eighth season held between the American and National Leagues.- American League final standings :- National League final standings :- MLB Statistical Leaders :- External links :*...
and
1931The 1931 Major League Baseball season was the twenty-ninth season held between the American and National Leagues.- MLB Statistical Leaders :- External links :*...
. The Cardinals matched up with the
Philadelphia AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
in both World Series, losing in
1930In the 1930 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in six games, 4–2. Philadelphia's pitching ace Lefty Grove won two and saved one as the "Mackmen" played the Cards right....
but returning to win the
1931 seriesIn the 1931 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Athletics in seven games, a rematch and reversal of fortunes of the 1930 World Series.The same two teams faced off during the 1930 World Series and the Athletics were victorious...
. In
1934-Major League Baseball:*World Series: St. Louis Cardinals over Detroit Tigers *All-Star Game, July 10 at Polo Grounds: American League, 9-7-Awards and honors:*Most Valuable Player:**American League: Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers, C...
the team, nicknamed the
"Gashouse Gang"The Gashouse Gang was a nickname applied to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team of .The Cardinals, by most accounts, earned this nickname from the team's generally very shabby appearance and rough-and-tumble tactics...
for their shabby appearance and rough tactics, again won the pennant and then the
World SeriesThe 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
over the
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 101-53, the best winning percentage in team history, but lost the 1934 World Series to the Cardinals 4 games to 3. The season was their 34th since they entered the American League in 1901...
.
Dizzy DeanJerome Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball, and was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
won 30 games that season, the last National League pitcher to reach that mark.
Joe MedwickJoseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American player in Major League Baseball. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
won the Triple Crown in
1937The 1937 Major League Baseball season was the thirty-fifth season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
, the last National League hitter to achieve the feat, but the Cardinals failed to win a pennant in the second half of the decade.
1940s–1970s
Outfielder
Stan "the Man" MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial , born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, , is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963...
joined the Cardinals in 1941. Musial spent 22 years in a Cardinals uniform and won three NL MVP Awards. In 1968, a statue of Musial was placed outside Busch Stadium to honor his career. Stan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Led by Musial, the Cardinals dominated the National League during
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, winning three straight pennants from 1942–1944. The
1942The St. Louis Cardinals 1942 season was the team's 61st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 51st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 106-48 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees...
"St. Louis Swifties" won a franchise record 106 games and defeated the Yankees in the
World SeriesThe 1942 World Series featured the defending champion New York Yankees against the St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals winning the Series in five games for their first championship since 1934 and their fourth overall....
. The team then posted 105 wins in both
1943In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, the 1943 Spring Training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The Chicago White Sox held camp in French Lick, Indiana, the Washington Senators in College Park, Maryland, and the New York Yankees...
and
1944The 1944 Major League Baseball season was the forty-second season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
. The
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1943 season was the team's 62nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 52nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-49 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they met the New York Yankees...
fell to the
YankeesThe New York Yankees' 1943 season was the 41st season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 14th pennant, finishing 13.5 games ahead of the Washington Senators. Managed by Joe McCarthy, the Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they defeated the St...
in the
1943 World SeriesThe 1943 World Series matched the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the New York Yankees, in a rematch of the 1942 Series. The Yankees won the Series in five games for their tenth championship in 21 seasons. It was Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy's final Series win.This Series was...
rematch. The
1944 World SeriesThe 1944 World Series was an all-St. Louis World Series, matching up the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park. It marked only the third time in World Series history in which both teams had the same home field .1944 saw perhaps the nadir of 20th-century baseball, as the...
was particularly memorable, as the Cardinals met their crosstown rivals, the
St. Louis BrownsThe St. Louis Browns season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Browns finishing 1st in the American League with a record of 89 wins and 65 losses....
, in the "
StreetcarA tram, tramcar, trolley, trolleycar, or streetcar is a railborne vehicle, of lighter weight and construction than a conventional train, designed for the transport of passengers within, close to, or between villages, towns and/or cities, on tracks running primarily on streets...
Series," with the Cardinals prevailing for their fifth title. In
1946The 1946 Major League Baseball season was the forty-fourth season held between the American and National Leagues. Because of the end of World War II many drafted ballplayers returned to the majors and the quality of play greatly improved. The World Series began on October 6 and pitted the Boston...
the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1946 season was the team's 65th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 55th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 96-58 during the season and finished 1st in the National League. In the World Series, they won in 7 games over the Boston Red Sox...
finished the season tied with the
Brooklyn DodgersThe Brooklyn Dodgers finished the season tied for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals. The two teams played in the first ever playoff series to decide the pennant, and the Cardinals took two straight to win the title....
, but claimed the pennant in a 3-game playoff series. The Cardinals then won the
World SeriesThe 1946 World Series was played in October 1946 between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox . In the eighth inning of Game 7, with the score 3–3, the Cardinals' Enos Slaughter opened the inning with a single but two batters failed to advance him...
in 7 games against the
Boston Red SoxDuring the 1946 Boston Red Sox season, the Red Sox won their sixth American League championship, with a record of 104 wins and 50 losses. In the World Series, the Sox lost in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals...
. In the bottom of the 8th inning in Game 7, with the score tied at 3–3,
Enos SlaughterEnos Bradsher Slaughter was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Country", he batted .300 for 19 seasons, the first 13 with the St...
scored on a "
Mad DashThe Mad Dash refers to an event in the eighth inning of the seventh game of the 1946 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox.-Background:...
" from first on a double to left-center to win the game and the series.
Rickey had left the Cardinals to become general manager of the Dodgers in
1942The 1942 Major League Baseball season was the fortieth season held between the American and National Leagues.- External links :*...
, and after their 1946 win, the Cardinals slid back to the middle of the National League. In
1953The 1953 Major League Baseball season was the fifty-first season held between the American and National Leagues. It also marked the first relocation of an MLB franchise in fifty years, as the Boston Braves moved their NL franchise to Milwaukee, where they would play their home games at the new...
the
Anheuser-BuschAnheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, is the largest brewing company in the United States. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and nearly 20 in other countries...
brewery bought the Cardinals, and
August "Gussie" BuschAugust "Gussie" Anheuser Busch, Jr. was an American brewing magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world as company chairman from 1946-75, and became a prominent sportsman as owner of the St...
became team president. He soon purchased Sportsman's Park from St. Louis Browns owner
Bill VeeckWilliam Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his flamboyant publicity stunts, and the innovations he brought to the league during his ownership of the Cleveland...
, renovated the ballpark, and renamed it
Busch StadiumSportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All but one of them resided on the same piece of land: the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :For 33 years,...
. The Browns, who had not been as successful or popular as the Cardinals in three decades, realized they could not compete with the deep pockets of the brewery. After the
1953 seasonThe 1953 Major League Baseball season was the fifty-first season held between the American and National Leagues. It also marked the first relocation of an MLB franchise in fifty years, as the Boston Braves moved their NL franchise to Milwaukee, where they would play their home games at the new...
the Browns left St. Louis to become the
Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
, and the Cardinals were left as the only major league team in town.
The Cardinals achieved another period of success in the 1960s with the help of a trade and a dominating pitcher. In
1964The 1964 Major League Baseball season was the 64th held between the American and National Leagues. It is best remembered for the end of the New York Yankees' dynasty, as they won their 29th American League Championship in 44 seasons. However, the Yankees lost the World Series to the St. Louis...
the Cardinals traded pitcher
Ernie BroglioErnest Gilbert Broglio was a right-handed pitcher in American Major League Baseball from 1959-66. Broglio signed with the independent Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League after he attended West Contra Costa Junior College. He was acquired by the New York Giants in 1956...
and two other players to the rival Cubs for outfielder
Lou BrockLouis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former player in Major League Baseball. Brock was a left fielder who played his career with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. He batted and threw left-handed. He is currently a special instructor coach for the St...
and two other players. The trade, since nicknamed "
Brock for BroglioThe phrase Brock for Broglio is sometimes used in the sport of baseball to signify a trade that in hindsight, turns out to be a ridicuously lopsided transaction....
," has become definitive of a trade which in retrospect is ridiculously lopsided. The Cardinals would prove to be on the good side of the trade, as Brock would successfully replace Musial, who had retired at the end of
1963The 1963 Major League Baseball season was the 63rd season held between the American and National Leagues. The World Series winners were the Los Angeles Dodgers, who swept the New York Yankees in four straight games...
, in left field. Behind Brock and pitcher
Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
, who won 20 games for the first time, the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1964 season was the team's 83rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 73rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished 1st in the National League, edging the co-runner-ups Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies by one game each...
won the
1964 World SeriesThe 1964 World Series pitted the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals against the American League champion New York Yankees, with the Cardinals prevailing in seven games. St...
over the
YankeesThe New York Yankees' 1964 season was the 62nd season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 99-63, winning their 29th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. New York was managed by Yogi Berra. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they were...
, with Gibson named series MVP. In
1966The 1966 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. The Braves play their first season in Atlanta, following their relocation from Milwaukee.- Awards and honors :*Most Valuable Player...
the Cardinals moved to the new
Busch Memorial StadiumBusch Memorial Stadium, later known as Busch Stadium, was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League baseball team from May 12, 1966 to October 19, 2005....
, where they hosted the
MLB All-Star GameThe 1966 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 37th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 12, 1966 at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri...
that summer. The next year the
teamThe St. Louis Cardinals 1967 season was the team's 86th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 76th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101-60 during the season and won the NL Pennant, by 10½ games over the San Francisco Giants...
reached and won the
1967 World SeriesThe 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall...
over the
Red SoxThe 1967 Boston Red Sox season, commonly referred to as The Impossible Dream, consisted of the Red Sox shocking New England and the rest of the baseball world by winning the American League Championship and reaching the World Series for the first time since 1946...
. Gibson pitched three complete-game wins, allowing only three earned runs, and was named World Series MVP for the second time. In
1968The 1968 Major League Baseball season was the 68th held between the American and National Leagues. The Athletics played their first season in Oakland this year, following the team's relocation from Kansas City...
, nicknamed the "Year of the Pitcher" for the domination of pitching over hitting throughout the majors, the Cardinals'
Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
proved to be the most dominant pitcher of all. Gibson's
earned run averageIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. The ERA tells the average number of runs a pitcher would surrender over the course of a full game had he been kept in for the full nine innings...
of 1.12 is a
live-ball eraThe live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball beginning in , following the dead-ball era. During that year offensive statistics rose dramatically in what would be mistakenly attributed to the introduction of a new "lively" ball...
record, and he won both the NL
Cy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
and the NL MVP Award. Behind Gibson's season the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1968 season was the team's 87th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 77th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 97-65 during the season and won their second consecutive NL Pennant, by nine games over the San Francisco Giants. They lost in 7 games to the Detroit...
reached the
1968 World SeriesThe 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
against the
Detroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The 1968 baseball season, known as the "Year of the Pitcher," was the Tigers' 68th since they entered the American League in 1901, their eighth pennant, and third World Series championship...
. Gibson would pitch another three complete games and set a World Series record with 35 strikeouts, including a single-game record 17 in Game 1. However, a key error by Cardinals outfielder
Curt FloodCurtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
in Game 7 allowed the Tigers to win the series. Gibson would win a second Cy Young Award in 1970, and
Joe TorreJoseph Paul Torre is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former Major League Baseball player. He played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Upon his retirement as a player, he later managed all three teams.Torre also managed the New York Yankees...
won the NL MVP Award in
1971The 1971 Major League Baseball season was the 71st held between the American and National Leagues. It was also the final season for the Senators in Washington, D.C., before the team's relocation to the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb Arlington for the following season, as the Texas Rangers, leaving the...
, but the Cardinals would fail to win a pennant during the 1970s.
1980–1989
The
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1981 season was the team's 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 90th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 59-43 during the season and finished second in the National League East in the first and second halves of the season...
returned to their winning ways in
1981-First half:-Second half:-Overall record:-Statistical leaders:-Postseason:NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
, but were left out of the playoffs in the strike-affected season. The Cardinals posted the best overall record in the NL East, however they finished in second place in each half of the split season. But just like in 1964, a trade would propel the Cardinals upward. Before the
1982The 1982 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. Making up for their playoff miss of the year before, the St...
season began the Cardinals acquired shortstop
Ozzie SmithOsborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "The Wizard," Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National League Gold Glove Award...
from the
San Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times.The Padres are one of four teams...
via a trade in exchange for
Garry TempletonGarry Lewis Templeton, nicknamed "Jumpsteady", is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets from 1976 to 1991...
. With Smith, and playing a form of baseball nicknamed
WhiteyballWhiteyball is a style of playing baseball that was developed by former Major League Baseball manager Whitey Herzog. The origins of the term stem from the 1982 World Series won by the St. Louis Cardinals, which were managed by Herzog...
after manager
Whitey HerzogDorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, scout, coach, manager, general manager and farm system director. He was born in New Athens, Illinois.-Player career:...
, the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1982 season was the team's 101st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous year's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92-70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East Division title by three games over...
won the
1982 World SeriesThe 1982 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Milwaukee Brewers, with the Cardinals winning in seven games.The Cardinals won the National League East division by three games over the Philadelphia Phillies, then defeated the Atlanta Braves, three games to none, in the National...
over the
Milwaukee BrewersThe 1982 Milwaukee Brewers season resulted in the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball winning their first and only American League Championship.- Offseason :...
. Herzog's Cardinals then reached the
1985 World SeriesThe 1985 World Series began on October 19, 1985 and ended October 27. The American League champion Kansas City Royals played against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, winning the series four games to three...
against the
Kansas City RoyalsThe 1985 Kansas City Royals season ended with the Royals' first world championship win over their intrastate rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals. The Royals won the Western Division of the American League for the second consecutive season and the sixth time in ten years...
. The series was nicknamed the "
I-70 SeriesThe 1985 World Series began on October 19, 1985 and ended October 27. The American League champion Kansas City Royals played against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, winning the series four games to three...
" after the highway that connects the two in-state rivals. The Royals won in seven games, but the series is most remembered by Cardinals fans for a blown call by umpire
Don DenkingerDonald Anton Denkinger is a former Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1969 to 1998. Denkinger wore uniform number 11, when the AL adopted uniform numbers in 1980...
in Game 6. The
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1987 season was the team's 106th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 96th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95-67 during the season and finished 1st in the National League East division...
would also reach the
1987 World SeriesThe 1987 World Series, in which the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, was the first World Series in which the home team won all seven games. This also happened in 1991 and 2001. The World Series victory by the Twins was the first for the franchise since 1924, when the team was...
, losing to the Minnesota Twins in seven games.
1990–1999
The Cardinals hit another period of little success in the early 1990s.
Joe TorreJoseph Paul Torre is the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a former Major League Baseball player. He played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Upon his retirement as a player, he later managed all three teams.Torre also managed the New York Yankees...
replaced Herzog as manager, but failed to make the playoffs despite several winning seasons. Before the
1996 seasonThe 1996 Major League Baseball season was the 96th held between the American and National Leagues, and was the final season of play before the beginning of Interleague play the following season...
the Cardinals were purchased by new owners led by
William DeWitt, Jr.William O. DeWitt, Jr. , an American businessman and noted George W. Bush campaign contributor, is currently the managing partner and chairman of the St. Louis Cardinals. He served on the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board during the George W...
and hired
Tony La RussaAnthony "Tony" La Russa, Jr. is a manager in Major League Baseball, currently with the St. Louis Cardinals...
away from the
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
. The team won the NL Central that season and defeated the
Padres-Offseason:* October 28, 1995: Rico Rossy was signed as a Free Agent with the San Diego Padres. * November 29, 1995: Mike Sharperson signed as a Free Agent with the San Diego Padres....
in the
NLDSThe National League Division Series , the opening round of the 1996 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 1, and ended on Saturday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:* San...
before falling to the
Atlanta Braves-Offseason:*January 3, 1996: Jerome Walton was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves. *January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox. The Cincinnati Reds sent Ray King to the Atlanta Braves to complete the...
in 7 games the
NLCSIn Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series...
. In
1998The 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees defeating the San Diego Padres in Game 4 of the World Series.The 1998 season was also marked by an expansion to 30 teams , with two new teams–the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the...
, the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 1998 season was the team's 117th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 107th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-79 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League Central division....
were the focus of the baseball world as slugging first baseman
Mark McGwireMark David McGwire is a former Major League Baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals....
broke the single season home run record by hitting 70 home runs. McGwire's epic pursuit of
Roger MarisRoger Eugene Maris was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who is primarily remembered for hitting 61 home runs for the New York Yankees during the 1961 season...
' record along with the Cubs'
Sammy SosaSamuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
helped to re-popularize baseball after the 1994 strike.
2000–present
The start of the new millennium coincided with a new era of success for the Cardinals as the team, led primarily by
Albert PujolsJosé Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a professional baseball player who has played his entire career in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, won the NL Central in six of seven years. The Cardinals would fall short in the post-season in
2000The 2000 Major League Baseball season was the year of the long ball; an all-time record 5,693 home runs were hit during the regular season. The season ended with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Mets in Game 5 of the World Series...
,
2001The Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in a Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The attacks of September 11 pushed the end of the regular-season from September 30 to October 7. Because of that, the World Series was not completed until...
, and
2002The Major League Baseball season finished with the Anaheim Angels defeating the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series.- Major League Baseball final standings :
...
before missing the playoffs altogether in
2003The MLB season was the 100th season of Major League Baseball. The season ended when the Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in a six game 2003 World Series.-Playoffs:*World Series MVP: Josh Beckett...
. However, in
2004The 2004 MLB season was the 101st season of Major League Baseball. The season ended when the Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game sweep...
the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 2004 season was the team's 123rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 113th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 105-57 during the season and won the National League Central division...
won 105 games as they amassed the best record in baseball. They then defeated the
DodgersThe 2004 season brought change to the Dodgers as the sale of the franchise to developer Frank McCourt was finalized during spring training. McCourt promptly dismissed General Manager Dan Evans and hired Paul DePodesta to take over the team...
in the
NLDSThe National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2004 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 5, and ended on Monday, October 11, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a "wild card" team – participating in two best-of-five series. They...
and the
Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros' 2004 season was a season in which the Astros endured various changes. The biggest change was at the managerial level. Despite a 44-44 record, Jimy Williams was replaced by Phil Garner. Roger Clemens would win the NL Cy Young Award and become the fourth pitcher to win the Cy...
in a seven game
NLCSThe National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 13 to 21 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals and the wild-card qualifying Houston Astros...
to reach the
2004 World SeriesThe 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
against the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
. However, the Cardinals were swept and because the American League had home-field advantage, having won the
All-Star GameThe 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 75th playing of the midseason exhibition baseball game between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 13, 2004 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas,...
, the Cardinals ended up seeing
Curse of the BambinoThe Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 until 2004. While some fans took the curse seriously, most used the expression in a tongue-in-cheek manner...
broken on
their fieldBusch Memorial Stadium, later known as Busch Stadium, was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League baseball team from May 12, 1966 to October 19, 2005....
.
The
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 2005 season was the team's 124th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 114th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 100-62 during the season and won the National League Central division. In the playoffs the Cardinals swept the San Diego Padres 3 games to 0 in...
won 100 games and another Central Division title in
2005The MLB season was the 105th season of Major League Baseball. The season was notable for the league's new steroid policy in the wake of the BALCO scandal, which enforced harsher penalties ever than before for steroid use in Major League Baseball. Several players, including veteran Rafael Palmeiro,...
, but lost in an
NLCSThe National League Championship Series , the second round of the 2005 National League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion and defending league champion St. Louis Cardinals against the wild card qualifier Houston Astros, a rematch of the 2004 NLCS. The Cardinals, by virtue of having...
rematch to the
AstrosThe Houston Astros' 2005 season was a season in which the Houston Astros qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season. The Astros made it to their first World Series appearance in franchise history.-Offseason:...
. The Cardinals moved to the new
Busch StadiumBusch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball. It replaced Busch Memorial Stadium and occupies a portion of that stadium's former footprint...
in
2006In , the Major League Baseball season ended with the National League's St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series with the lowest regular season victory total in history. The American League continued its domination at the All-Star Game by winning its fourth straight game; the A.L. has won nine...
and finally overcame the playoffs. Despite winning only 83 games during the season, the
CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals 2006 season was the team's 125th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 115th season in the National League. The season started out with a bang, as the team raced out to a 31-16 record by late May...
defeated the
San Diego PadresThe 2006 San Diego Padres season captured their second consecutive National League West crown, with a record of 88-74, and for the first time in franchise history back-to-back postseason appearances, and three consecutive winning seasons...
in the
NLDSThe National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Sunday, October 8, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a "wild card" team – participating in two best-of-five series. They...
and the
New York MetsThe New York Mets' 2006 season was the 45th regular season for the Mets. They went 97-65 and won the NL East. They were managed by Willie Randolph. They played home games at Shea Stadium. They used the marketing slogan of "The Team. The Time...
in a seven game
NLCSThe National League Championship Series , the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St...
. In the
2006 World SeriesThe 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion, St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
, the Cardinals faced the heavily-favored
Detroit TigersThe 2006 Detroit Tigers won the American League Pennant. They represented the AL in the World Series before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 1. The season was their 106th since they entered the AL in 1901.-Regular season:...
, but won in five games for the franchise's tenth World Series title.
On August 22, 2009 they defeated the
San Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times.The Padres are one of four teams...
for the 10,000th win in franchise history, becoming only the 4th team to accomplish the feat, after the
San Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California who currently play in the National League West Division. One of the oldest baseball teams, the Giants hold the honor of having won the most games of any team in the history of baseball...
,
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago , the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the...
, and
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
.
The Cardinals became the first Major League Baseball club to clinch a Division title in
2009The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on Sunday, April 5, 2009 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 4–1. The regular season ended on October 6, extended two days for a one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins to...
, beating the Colorado Rockies on September 26. Despite having the fewest total victories of the 4 National League clubs headed towards postseason play, the Cardinals were considered as strong contenders for the league pennant because of their strong starting pitching and offense. The Cardinals were however swept in three games by the
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
in the best-of-five
National League Division SeriesIn Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
. The Cardinals lost the NLDS despite having beaten the Dodgers 5 out of 7 times in the regular season.
The 2009 season also saw 3 Cardinal players leading the National League in 3 major categories. First baseman
Albert PujolsJosé Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a professional baseball player who has played his entire career in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals...
's 47 home runs was tops in the majors, pitcher
Adam WainwrightAdam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals.-Early career:...
's 19 wins was the most in the National League (and tied for most in the majors with 3 American League pitchers), while
Chris CarpenterChristopher John Carpenter is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012. Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into...
's
ERAIn baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. The ERA tells the average number of runs a pitcher would surrender over the course of a full game had he been kept in for the full nine innings...
of 2.24 was the lowest in the National League (and second in the majors to Zach Greinke of the Cards' cross-state rival
Kansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
). Both Wainwright and Carpenter are regarded as strong candidates for the
Cy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, while Pujols is regarded as one of the favorites to win the
MVPIn sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
award. On October 5, 2009, Carpenter was named the National League's
Comeback Player of the YearThe Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award is presented by Major League Baseball to the player who is judged to have "re-emerged on the baseball field during a given season." The award was developed in 2005, as part of a sponsorship agreement between MLB and Viagra...
.
However, their on-field success during the new Millinium has also been marked by several tragedies. On June 18, 2002 long-time Cardinals radio broadcaster
Jack BuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
died. Four days later, Cardinals starting pitcher
Darryl KileDarryl Andrew Kile was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams, the last being the St. Louis Cardinals...
died in his sleep, apparently of heart failure, before a game in Chicago against the
Cubs-Offseason:*November 2, 2001: Mark Bellhorn was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago Cubs for Adam Morrissey . *January 16, 2002: Alan Benes was signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs...
. The game was canceled on the field by the Cubs captain at the time,
Joe GirardiJoseph Elliot Girardi is the manager of the New York Yankees, and a former Major League Baseball player. During his playing career, he was a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
, in a brief tearful statement to the fans. That day's game was canceled but Kile was scheduled to start the next day and in observance of their teammate, who never missed a start, the Cardinals played the game, as scheduled, against the Chicago Cubs. On April 29, 2007, also during a series with the
CubsThe Chicago Cubs' 2007 season began with the Cubs trying to rebound after a season in which they finished last in their division for the first time since .-Offseason:...
, Cardinals relief pitcher
Josh HancockJoshua Morgan Hancock was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. Born in Cleveland, Mississippi, he lived in St. Louis during the off-season...
, age 29, was killed in a car accident while driving drunk when his vehicle collided with a stopped tow truck that was aiding a disabled motorist on
Interstate 64Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with U.S. 40 and U.S...
, not far from Busch Stadium.
Ballpark
The Cardinals play their home games at Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis. Busch Stadium, also called Busch III, opened for the
2006-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3-3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
season at a cost of $346 million and can hold 46,861 people. The Cardinals finished their inaugural season in the new Busch Stadium by winning the
2006 World SeriesThe 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion, St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
, becoming the first team since the
1923-Champions:*World Series: New York Yankees over New York Giants -Awards and honors:*League Award** Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, OF-Statistical Leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
to win the World Series in their first season in a new ballpark. The ballpark has numerous statues of great former Cardinal players outside, including the iconic statue of
Stan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial , born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, , is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963...
in front of the third base entrance.
Busch Stadium is the Cardinals' fourth home ballpark and the third to be named Busch Stadium. The Cardinals' original home ballpark was
Sportsman's ParkSportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. All but one of them resided on the same piece of land: the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street on the north side of the city.- History :For 33 years,...
from 1882–1893 when they were playing in the
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
and known as the Browns. During 1893, the Cardinals moved to a new ballpark originally called New Sportsman's Park but more commonly remembered as
Robison FieldRobison Field is the best-known of several names given to a former Major League Baseball park in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League from April 27, 1893 until June 6, 1920. Robison Field was home to the St. Louis Browns of the National League from...
which served as their home from 1893–1920. During 1920 the Cardinals returned to the original Sportsman's Park and became tenants of their crosstown rivals, the
St. Louis BrownsThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
. In 1953, the Cardinals were purchased by the
Anheuser-Busch BreweryAnheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, is the largest brewing company in the United States. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and nearly 20 in other countries...
and the new owner subsequently purchased Sportsman's Park from the Browns and renamed it Busch Stadium, becoming Busch I. The Browns then left St. Louis for Baltimore after the season. The Cardinals moved to
Busch Memorial StadiumBusch Memorial Stadium, later known as Busch Stadium, was the home of the St. Louis Cardinals National League baseball team from May 12, 1966 to October 19, 2005....
, or Busch II, in downtown St. Louis during the 1966 season and played there until 2005. It was built as the
multi-purposeMulti-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed for use by multiple teams playing baseball, American football, soccer, and, in some cases, basketball and ice hockey or other sports...
home of both the baseball Cardinals and the St. Louis football Cardinals, now the
Arizona CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals are a professional American Football team based in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals are members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Cardinals were founded in 1898, and are the oldest continuously run professional...
. The current Busch Stadium was constructed immediately south of and partly on top of the site of Busch Memorial Stadium.
The Cardinals hold
spring trainingIn Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to audition for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
at
Roger Dean StadiumRoger Dean Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Abacoa community of the town of Jupiter, Florida. The stadium was built in 1998, holds 6,871 people, and features luxury sky-box seating, 2 levels of permanent seating, parking and concessions...
in Jupiter, FL. They share the complex, which opened in 1998, with the
Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Before moving to Jupiter, the Cardinals hosted spring training at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, FL from 1937–1997.
Logos and uniforms
The Cardinals have had few logos throughout their history, although those logos have evolved over time. The first logo associated with the Cardinals was an interlocking "SL" that appeared on the team's caps and or sleeves as early as 1900. Those early uniforms usually featured the name "St. Louis" on white home and gray road uniforms which both had cardinal red accents. In 1920 the "SL" largely disappeared from the team's uniforms, and for the next 20 years the team wore caps that were white with red striping and a red bill. In 1922, the Cardinals wore uniforms for the first time that featured two
cardinalThe Northern Cardinal or Redbird is a North American bird in the cardinal family. It is found from southern Canada through the eastern United States from Maine to Texas and south through Mexico to northern Guatemala and Belize. It can also be found on the Big Island of Hawaii...
birds perched on a
baseball batA baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces...
over the name "Cardinals" with the letter "C" of the word hooked over the bat. This logo, colloquially referred to as the "birds on the bat," originally had the birds perched on a black bat and "Cardinals" in printed letters. An alternate version of this logo with "St. Louis" replacing "Cardinals" appeared in 1930 and was the primary logo in 1931 and 1932 before "Cardinals" returned. In 1940 the now-familiar "StL" logo was introduced on the team's caps. The interlocking "StL" has undergone several slight modifications over the years but has appeared on the team's caps every year since. The first appearance of the "StL" in 1940 coincided with the introduction of
navy blueNavy blue is a very dark shade of the color blue almost appears as black. Navy blue got its name from the dark blue worn by officers in the British Royal Navy since 1748 and subsequently adopted by other navies around the world....
as a uniform color. From 1940 until 1955 the team wore navy blue caps with red bills and a red interlocking "StL" while the jerseys featured both cardinal red and navy blue accents. In 1951 the "birds on the bat" logo was changed to feature a yellow baseball bat. In 1956 the Cardinals changed their caps to entirely navy with a red "StL," removing the red bill. Also, for that one season, the Cardinals wore a script "Cardinals" wordmark on the their uniforms without the "birds on the bat." However, an updated version of the "birds on the bat" logo would return in 1957 with the word "Cardinals" now written in cursive beneath the bat. In 1962, the Cardinals were the first National League team to display players' names on the back of their jerseys. In 1964 the Cardinals changed their caps to be all red with a white interlocking "StL." In 1971, following the trend in baseball at the time, the Cardinals replaced their more traditional flannel front-button shirts and pants with belts with new pullover knit jerseys and elastic waist pants. Yet another trend in baseball led the Cardinals to change their road uniforms from gray to light blue from 1976–1984. In 1992 the Cardinals returned to wearing more traditional button-down shirts and pants with belts. That same year they also began wearing an all-navy cap with a red "StL" on the road only while wearing the same red and white cap at home games. In 1998 the "birds on the bat" was updated for the first time in 40 years with more detailed birds and bolder letters. In 1998 the Cardinals also introduced a cap featuring a single cardinal bird perched on a bat, which they wear only on Sunday home games. Over the years the Cardinals have also used other marketing logos that never appeared on uniforms that showed anthropomorphized cardinals in a pitching stance, swinging a baseball bat, or wearing a baseball cap.
Individual achievements and awards
- No-hitters: Cardinal pitchers have thrown ten no-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
s: Ted BreitensteinTheodore P. "Ted" Breitenstein was an American Major League Baseball player from St. Louis, Missouri who pitched from to for the St. Louis Browns/Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds...
(1891), Jesse HainesJesse Joseph "Pop" Haines, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and knuckleballer. He played briefly in 1918 and then from 1920 to 1937....
(1924), Paul DeanPaul Dee "Daffy" Dean was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in Lucas, Arkansas, he hurled for the St. Louis Cardinals , the New York Giants , and the St. Louis Browns ....
(1934), Lon WarnekeLonnie Warneke , nicknamed the "The Arkansas Hummingbird," was an American right-handed pitcher and umpire in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals from 1930 to 1943 and in 1945...
(1941), Ray WashburnRay Clark Washburn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Washburn, a right-hander, pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals from to and the Cincinnati Reds in ....
(1968), Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
(1971), Bob ForschRobert Herbert Forsch is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros . He batted and threw right-handed. He is also the author of Bob Forsch's Tales from the Cardinals Dugout, which was co-written by Tom Wheatley...
(two, in 1978 and 1983), Jose Jimenez (1999), and Bud SmithRobert Allan "Bud" Smith is a former American baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, active at the Major League level in 2001 and 2002....
(2001). The Cardinals have never been involved in a perfect gameA perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, win or lose.
- Cy-Young Awards: Two Cardinal pitchers have won Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
s: Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
in 1968 and 1970, and Chris CarpenterChristopher John Carpenter is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012. Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into...
in 2005.
- MVP Awards: 19 Cardinal players have won Most Valuable Player awards, the most recent being Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a professional baseball player who has played his entire career in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals...
in 2008. Bob Gibson won both the Cy Young Award and the MVP award in 1968. The Cardinals are second only to the New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
in Most Valuable Player awards won (22).
- Rookie of the Year: Six Cardinals have won the Rookie of the Year award: Wally Moon
Wallace Wade Moon, known popularly as Wally Moon, is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Moon played his 12-year career in the National League for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers...
in 1954, Bill VirdonWilliam Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
in 1955, Bake McBrideArnold Ray "Bake" McBride , also nicknamed "Shake n' Bake", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, known primarily as a member of the highly successful Philadelphia Phillies' teams of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He made his Major league debut for the St...
in 1974, Vince ColemanVincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
in 1985, Todd WorrellTodd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from to ....
in 1986, and Albert PujolsJosé Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a professional baseball player who has played his entire career in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals...
in 2001.
- Hitting for the cycle: 20 Cardinal players have hit for the cycle
In baseball, a player hits for the cycle when he hits a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game, though not necessarily in that order...
, the most recent being Mark GrudzielanekMark James Grudzielanek is a second baseman in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Grudzielanek previously played with the Montreal Expos , Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs , St.Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals . He bats and throws right-handed.Grudzielanek attended J. M...
in 2005.
- Triple Crown: Four of the sixteen Triple Crown
In baseball, the Triple Crown refers to:#A batter who leads the league in three major categories -- home runs, runs batted in, and batting average....
of hitting in the major leagues (including three of only six in the National League) were by Cardinals. Tip O'Neill won the American Association Triple Crown in 1887. Rogers HornsbyRogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
became the only two-time Triple Crown winner in NL history when he did it in 1922 and 1925 (Ted WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. He played 21 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, twice interrupted by military service as a Marine Corps pilot...
won two AL Triple Crowns). Joe Medwick'sJoseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American player in Major League Baseball. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
Triple Crown in 1937 is the last in the history of the National League. Hornsby's 1925 numbers led the entire major leagues, making him one of only five players to have won this expanded Triple Crown.
- Home runs and RBI in a game: Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim", he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.As a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds and St...
drove in 12 runs for the Cardinals against Brooklyn on Sept. 16, 1924, an all-time MLB single-game record that still stands. Another Cardinal, Mark WhitenMark Anthony Whiten is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter batter who played for the Toronto Blue Jays , Cleveland Indians , St. Louis Cardinals , Boston Red Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , Atlanta Braves , Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees...
, tied that record on Sept. 7, 1993, and in the process tied another MLB single-game record by hitting four home runs in a game.
- 2 Grand Slams in a single inning: Fernando Tatis
Fernando Tatís, Jr. is a Major League Baseball utility player for the New York Mets. He previously played for the Texas Rangers , St. Louis Cardinals , Montreal Expos , and Baltimore Orioles . He bats and throws right-handed...
is the only player in Major League history to hit two Grand Slam Home Runs in the same inning, on April 23, 1999 vs. Chan Ho Park of the Dodgers.
Hall of FamersThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Players elected with Cardinals logo on plaque (elected year in parentheses)
- Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former player in Major League Baseball. Brock was a left fielder who played his career with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. He batted and threw left-handed. He is currently a special instructor coach for the St...
, LF, 1964–1979 (1985)
- Dizzy Dean
Jerome Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball, and was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
, P, 1930–1937 (1953)
- Bob Gibson
Pack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
, P, 1959–1975 (1981)
- Stan Musial
Stanley Frank "Stan" Musial , born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, , is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963...
, LF-1B, 1941–1944, 1946-1963 (1969)
- Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American former professional baseball player and manager who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. A second baseman and switch-hitter in Major League Baseball, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and Milwaukee Braves...
, 2B, 1945–1956, 1961–1963)
- MGR 1965-1976, 1980, 1990 (1989)
- Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Country", he batted .300 for 19 seasons, the first 13 with the St...
, RF, 1938–1942, 1946–1953 (1985)
- Ozzie Smith
Osborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "The Wizard," Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National League Gold Glove Award...
, SS, 1982–1996 (2002)
- Billy Southworth
William Harrison Southworth was an American right fielder, center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Playing in and and from to , he batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Southworth managed in and from through...
, RF, 1926–1927, 1929; MGR, 1929, 1940–1945 (2008)
- Bruce Sutter
Howard Bruce Sutter is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the split-finger fastball, which he called "The Jewel"....
, P, 1981–1984 (2006) |
|
Players elected with Cardinals as primary team
- Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley was born in Oglesby, Illinois and grew up in Nokomis, Illinois. Nicknamed "Sunny Jim", he was a left-handed Major League Baseball player. He also served as player-manager for the St. Louis Browns in 1937.As a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds and St...
, 1B, 1922–1932
- Frankie Frisch
Francis "Frankie" Frisch , nicknamed the Fordham Flash, or The Old Flash, was an German-American Major League Baseball player of the early twentieth century.Frisch was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed...
, 2B, 1927–1938
- Chick Hafey
Charles James "Chick" Hafey was an American player in Major League Baseball. Hafey was part of two World Series championship teams as a St. Louis Cardinal, and was selected by the Veteran's Committee for the Hall of Fame in .Playing for the St...
, LF, 1924–1931
- Jesse Haines
Jesse Joseph "Pop" Haines, was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and knuckleballer. He played briefly in 1918 and then from 1920 to 1937....
, P, 1920–1937
- Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
, 2B, 1915–1926, 1933
- Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American player in Major League Baseball. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
, LF, 1932–1940, 1947–1948
- Johnny Mize
John R. "Johnny" Mize was a baseball player who was a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and New York Yankees. He played in the Major Leagues from 1936 through 1953 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.Mize was born in Demorest, Georgia, where he later...
, 1B, 1936–1941 |
Other Hall-of-Famers associated with Cardinals
- Grover Cleveland Alexander
Grover Cleveland "Old Pete" Alexander was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:...
, P, 1926–1929
- Walter Alston
Walter Emmons Alston , nicknamed "Smokey," was an American baseball player and manager. He was born in Venice, Ohio. He is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he lettered three years in both basketball and baseball and is a member of the University's Hall of Fame...
, 1B, 1936
- Jake Beckley
Jacob Peter Beckley , nicknamed "Eagle Eye", was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. He was born in Hannibal, Missouri....
, 1B, 1904–1907
- Roger Bresnahan
Roger Philip Bresnahan , nicknamed "The Duke of Tralee" for his Irish roots, was an American player in Major League Baseball who starred primarily as a catcher and a player-manager....
, C, 1909–1912
- Mordecai Brown
Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown , nicknamed "Three Finger" or "Miner", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Due to a farm-machinery accident in his youth, Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand and eventually acquired his nickname as a result...
, P, 1903
- Jesse Burkett
Jesse Cail Burkett , nicknamed "The Crab", was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century...
, LF, 1899–1901
- Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, from to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in . He was affectionately known to Philadelphia fans as "Lefty". He played the greatest number of years for the Philadelphia Phillies, receiving his greatest...
, P, 1965–1971
- Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Cepeda was born to a poor family. His father, Pedro Cepeda, was a baseball player in Puerto Rico, which influenced his interest in the sport from a young age. His first contact with professional baseball was as a batboy...
, 1B, 1966–1968
- Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key player in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
, MGR, 1882–1889, 1891
- Roger Connor
Roger Connor was a 19th century Major League Baseball player, born in Waterbury, Connecticut. Known for being the player whom Babe Ruth succeeded as the all-time home run champion, Connor hit 138 home runs during his 18-year career, and his career home run record stood for 23 years after his...
, 1B, 1894–1897
- Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
, SS, 1933–1937
- Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck," is a former American Major League Baseball player. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
, P, 1996–1997
- Pud Galvin
James Francis "Pud" Galvin , an American professional baseball pitcher, was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1965....
, P, 1892 |
|
- Burleigh Grimes
Burleigh Arland Grimes was an American professional baseball player, and the last pitcher officially permitted to throw the spitball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964.-Career:...
, P, 1930-1931, 1933-1934
- Miller Huggins
Miller James Huggins , nicknamed "Mighty Mite", was a baseball player and manager. He managed the powerhouse New York Yankee teams of the 1920s and won six American League pennants and three World Series championships.-Playing career:As a player, Huggins joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1904 as a...
, 2B, 1910-1916
- Rabbit Maranville
Walter James Vincent Maranville , better known as Rabbit Maranville due to his speed and small stature , was a Major League Baseball shortstop. At the time of his retirement in 1935, he had played in a record 23 seasons in the National League, a mark which wasn't broken until 1986 by Pete Rose...
, SS, 1927-1928
- Bill McKechnie
William Boyd McKechnie was an American third baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He was the first manager to win World Series titles with two different teams , and remains one of only two managers to win pennants with three teams, also capturing the National League title in 1928...
, MGR, 1928-1929
- John McGraw, 3B, 1900
- Kid Nichols
Charles Augustus Nichols , better known as Kid Nichols, was a Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols won 361 games, the 7th highest total in major league history...
, P, 1904-1905
- Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson , nicknamed "Uncle Robbie", was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball...
, C, 1900
- Dazzy Vance
Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance was a star Major League Baseball starting pitcher during the 1920s.Born in Orient, Iowa, Vance played a decade in the minors before establishing himself as a big league player in 1922 with the Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 31, when he went 18-12 with a 3.70 ERA and a...
, P, 1933–1934
- Bobby Wallace
Rhoderick John "Bobby" Wallace was a Major League Baseball pitcher, infielder, manager, umpire and scout....
, SS, 1899–1901, 1917–1918
- Hoyt Wilhelm
James Hoyt Wilhelm was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985....
, P, 1957
- Vic Willis
Victor Gazaway Willis was a Major League Baseball player nicknamed "The Delaware Peach." He was a starting pitcher. He is a member of the National Hall of Fame and Museum, enshrined in 1995....
, P, 1910
- Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American baseball player who pitched for five different major league teams from 1890 to 1911....
, P, 1899–1900 |
Ford C. Frick Award recipients
Names in
bold received the award based on their work as Cardinals broadcasters.
- Jack Buck
John Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
(1954-59, 1961-2001)
- Harry Caray
Harry Caray Harry Caray Harry Caray (born Harry Christopher Carabina, (March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
(1945-69)
- Joe Garagiola
Joseph Henry "Joe" Garagiola, Sr. is an American former catcher in Major League Baseball who later became an announcer and television host, popular for his colorful personality.-Early life:...
(1955-62)*
- Milo Hamilton
Leland Milo Hamilton is an American sportscaster, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball teams since 1953...
(1954)
- Bob Uecker
Robert George "Bob" Uecker is an American former Major League Baseball player, later a sportscaster, comedian and actor. Uecker was given the title of "Mr...
**
* Played and broadcast for the Cardinals
** Played but did not broadcast for the Cardinals
Retired numbers
RogersRogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
HornsbyRogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
2B, Mgr
Honored 1937 |
Ozzie
SmithOsborne Earl "Ozzie" Smith is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. Nicknamed "The Wizard," Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National League Gold Glove Award...
SS
Retired 1996 |
Red
SchoendienstAlbert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American former professional baseball player and manager who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. A second baseman and switch-hitter in Major League Baseball, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and Milwaukee Braves...
2B, Mgr, Coach
Retired 1996 |
StanMusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial , born Stanisław Franciszek Musiał, , is a retired American professional baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963...
OF, 1B
Retired 1963 |
Enos
SlaughterEnos Bradsher Slaughter was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "Country", he batted .300 for 19 seasons, the first 13 with the St...
RF
Retired 1996 |
Ken
BoyerKenton Lloyd Boyer was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals. Winner of the National League MVP Award, he became the second player at his position to hit 250 career home runs, and retired with the third highest slugging...
3B, Mgr, Coach
Retired 1984 |
Dizzy
DeanJerome Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball, and was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
SP
Retired 1974
|
Lou
BrockLouis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former player in Major League Baseball. Brock was a left fielder who played his career with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. He batted and threw left-handed. He is currently a special instructor coach for the St...
LF
Retired 1979
|
Bruce
SutterHoward Bruce Sutter is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the split-finger fastball, which he called "The Jewel"....
RP
Retired 2006
Jackie
RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
Retired by MLB 1997 |
Bob
GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
SP
Retired 1975
|
GussieBuschAugust "Gussie" Anheuser Busch, Jr. was an American brewing magnate who built the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world as company chairman from 1946-75, and became a prominent sportsman as owner of the St...
Owner
Retired 1984
|
JackBuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
Broadcaster
Honored 2002
|
When Rogers Hornsby was honored in 1937, "STL" was used in place of a number.
Jackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
's number 42 was retired throughout baseball in
1997-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
. The Cardinals 'retired' the number 42 a second time in Sept.
2006-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3-3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
as
Bruce SutterHoward Bruce Sutter is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the split-finger fastball, which he called "The Jewel"....
had been elected to the
Hall of FameThe National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
earlier in the year.
Cardinal stockholders honored Busch with the number 85 on his 85th birthday, in 1984. Also, while not officially retired, the number 25 of
Mark McGwireMark David McGwire is a former Major League Baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals....
(1B, 1997–2001) has not been reissued since he retired, the number 51 of
Willie McGeeWillie Dean McGee is a former center and right fielder in Major League Baseball who spent the majority of his 18-year career playing for the St. Louis Cardinals...
(OF 1982–1990, 1996–1999) has not been reissued since late in the 2001 season, and the number 57 of
Darryl KileDarryl Andrew Kile was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams, the last being the St. Louis Cardinals...
(P, 2000–02) has not been reissued since his death in the middle of the
2002-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - Anaheim Angels*Postseason - October 1 to October 27Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
...
season. (Kile is honored with a small circular logo bearing his initials and number on the wall of the Cardinal bullpen, as is deceased pitcher
Josh HancockJoshua Morgan Hancock was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. Born in Cleveland, Mississippi, he lived in St. Louis during the off-season...
. Hancock's number 32 also has not been reissued since his death in early 2007).
The team also honored longtime radio commentator
Jack BuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
by placing a drawing of a microphone on the wall with the retired numbers.
The Cardinals are tied with the
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
as having retired the second-most numbers in baseball with 10, behind only the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
' 16.
Minor league affiliations
- AAA: Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and are owned as a...
(Pacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor league baseball league operating in the West, Midwest, and Southeast of the United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League...
)
- AA: Springfield Cardinals
The Springfield Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club, and is owned by the Cardinals. The club plays at Hammons Field.The Springfield Cardinals...
(Texas LeagueThe Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a AA league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1890...
)
- Advanced A: Palm Beach Cardinals
The Palm Beach Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club....
(Florida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced Minor League Baseball league operating in the state of Florida. Class A is the middle of five classifications of minor leagues that are affiliated with Major League Baseball teams...
)
- A: Quad Cities River Bandits (Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort Cardinals – began operating...
)
- Short A: Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
(New York - Penn LeagueThe New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
)
- Rookie: Johnson City Cardinals
The Johnson City Cardinals are a rookie league team based out of Johnson City, Tennessee. The Cardinals are affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and play with the Appalachian League. The team plays its home games at Howard Johnson Field....
(Appalachian LeagueThe Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
), Gulf Coast League Cardinals (Gulf Coast LeagueThe Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
)
Radio and television
In St. Louis, Cardinals games on radio can be heard over
KTRSKTRS, located at 550 kHz, is an AM radio station in Maryland Heights, Missouri that carries a News/Talk format and is owned by the St. Louis Cardinals and CH Radio Holdings. It broadcasts with 5,000 watts of power during the day and 5,000 watts at night. The call letters KTRS stand for K Talk Radio...
, a
talk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station of which the team owns 50 percent.
Mike ShannonThomas Michael Shannon is a former American-born Major League Baseball player and current radio sportscaster.Shannon is a radio broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and played with the Cardinals during some of the team's most successful years...
and
John RooneyJohn Rooney is an American sportscaster, currently best known for his role as a radio broadcaster for Major League Baseball's St. Louis Cardinals.-Early career:...
alternate as
play-by-playSports commentary, in broadcasting, is a term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress. In North America, in a lot of sports, the sports commentator is assisted by a color commentator, and sometimes a sideline reporter...
announcers. KTRS feeds the games to a network comprised of 115 stations, covering all or portions of
MissouriMissouri is a state in the Midwest region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. Missouri is the 18th most populous state with a 2008 estimated population of 5,911,605. It comprises 114 counties and one independent city....
,
IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
,
ArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquin name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares a border with six states, with its eastern border largely defined by the Mississippi River. Its diverse geography ranges from the mountainous regions of the...
,
IndianaIndiana is a U.S. state, the 19
th admitted to the Union. It is located in the Great Lakes region, and with approximately 6.3 million residents, is ranked 16
th in population and 17
th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38
th in land area, and is the...
,
IowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland." It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of...
,
KentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Kentucky is a Southern state situated in the Upland South, although the state is infrequently placed, geographically and culturally, in the Midwest. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a...
,
MississippiMississippi is a state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi . The state is heavily forested outside of the...
,
OklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,617,316 residents in 2007 and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
.
Prior to moving to KTRS in 2006, the Cardinals and KMOX radio enjoyed a partnership that spanned over seven decades. But the relationship ended after the 2005 season when
CBS RadioCBS Radio Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, fourth behind main rival Clear Channel Communications , Cumulus Media and Citadel Broadcasting...
, KMOX's parent company, and the Cardinals failed to reach terms on a new rights agreement, resulting in the team leaving the 50,000-watt clear-channel station in favor of becoming part-owners of 5,000-watt KTRS.
On television, coverage is split between Fox Sports Midwest (branded as FSCARDINALS during games) and
KSDKKSDK, Channel 5, is the NBC-affiliated television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KSDK is owned and operated by Gannett Company, and the station's transmitter is located in Marlborough, Missouri. The station broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 35, using its former analog channel assignment...
, St. Louis'
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
affiliate. KSDK replaced
KPLR-TVKPLR-DT, Channel 11, is a television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KPLR is owned by the Tribune Company, and is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. The station's studios are located in Maryland Heights, Missouri, in Northwest St. Louis County KPLR-DT, Channel 11, is a television station...
as the Cardinals' over-the-air television broadcaster starting in the 2007 season, airing mostly Sunday afternoon and holiday games, as well as a magazine/highlights program on Sunday mornings. KSDK and its predecessor, KSD-TV, previously carried the team from 1963 until 1987.
Dan McLaughlinDan McLaughlin is a professional sports broadcaster who currently works on both St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues telecasts on the cable television channel Fox Sports Midwest...
and
Al HraboskyAlan Thomas Hrabosky is a former Major League Baseball player from - for the St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, and Atlanta Braves and is currently the color commentator on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest.Hrabosky's nickname is The Mad Hungarian, because of his unusual...
are the official announcers on FS Midwest.
Joe BuckJoseph Francis "Joe" Buck is an American sportscaster and the son of sportscaster Jack Buck. He has won numerous Sports Emmy Awards for his play-by-play work with Fox Sports.-Education:...
(son of legendary Cardinals announcer
Jack BuckJohn Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
) had previously teamed with Hrabosky but now is the lead play-by-play caller for
FoxThe Fox Broadcasting Company , commonly referred to as Fox , is an American television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, from 2004 to 2009 Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the 18–49 demographic...
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
and
National Football LeagueThe National Football League is the largest professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing its name to the National Football League in 1922. The league currently consists of...
broadcasts.
Jay RandolphJay Randolph is an American sportscaster.-Early life and career:The son of U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph, he grew up in West Virginia and as a young man enjoyed considerable success as an amateur golfer. In 1958, Randolph began his broadcasting career as an announcer and sports director for a...
and Rick Horton team up for KSDK contests; Horton also serves as a substitute announcer on both television and radio if a regular is ill or on assignment. All telecasts on KSDK are in
HDTVHigh-definition television is a digital television broadcasting system with higher resolution than traditional television systems...
, along with the majority of games on FS Midwest.
External links