photo: 2006 World Champions (St. Louis Cardinals)
Setting up the 16 teams to face off in the final rounds of our Best of St. Louis sim tournament, this article focuses on the 11 World Champion Cardinals teams.
Note: The other five teams of the 16 were detailed in the previous article of this series.
#1 seed, 1942 Cardinals (.688 winning percentage, +275 run differential)
No Cardinal team has ever won as many regular season games as the 1942 club’s 106. But for much of the season it did not look like they would even win the National League pennant, much less be considered the greatest of all Cardinals’ ball clubs.
Stepping back a bit, the Cardinals looked like they were the dominant National League club during the Great Depression years. Capturing their third championship in 1934, player-manager Frank Frisch had a nucleus that included Joe Mediwck, Dizzy Dean, Paul Dean, Ripper Collins and Bill DeLancey. The future looked bright, but injuries cut short three of these players. The promising careers of both Deans and DeLancey were cut short before what would have been their prime seasons. Branch Rickey was especially high on DeLancey, calling him one of the three best catchers he had seen.
By the end of the decade, Rickey replaced Frisch as manager with former outfielder Ray Blades. After winning 92 games in 1939, the 1940 club started poorly at 14-24. Owner Sam Breadon side-stepped Rickey and brought in Billy Southworth as manager. Billy the Kid had been a star for the 1926 Cardinals champions, and a coach with the Giants until a scuffle with Bill Terry in 1933 ended his tenure in New York. Rickey brought him back to the Cardinal organization in 1935 to manage in the minor league system, from where Breadon summed him to replace Blades. Under Southworth, the Cardinals went 69-40 in 1940 and won 97 games in 1941.
While playing good ball in 1942, a day off on August 15th and a come-from-behind 5-4 win by defending National League champion Brooklyn gave Leo Durocher’s Dodgers a comfortable 9 ½ game lead over the second place Cardinals. In addition, the Redbirds had already played 16 of the 22 scheduled games between the two rivals, leaving only six head-to-head matchups remaining to try to gain ground.
The first of these was a four-game series in St. Louis August 24-27. The Cardinals had climbed two games closer by the start of the series. The Redbirds won the first three, two in extra innings, including a complete-game 14-inning effort by ace Mort Cooper in the 2-1 second game victory. Brooklyn took the final contest, leaving town 5 ½ in front.
However, the momentum was with St. Louis. The Cardinals put on an incredible closing push, going an unheard of 26-4 the rest of the way and edging the Dodgers by two lengths. Going back to August 11, they were 40-7, an .851 pace to close out the season. The Dodgers over that same stretch were 12 games over .500 at 29-17 yet could not hold off the hard charging Cardinals.
When the dust settled, St. Louis led the league in runs scored and fewest runs allowed. Their .268 team batting average was best in the NL, as was their .717 OPS. Likewise, the pitching was tops, with a league leading 2.55 team ERA and 18 shutouts. The club was young, fast, and talented. Center fielder Terry Moore was the senior citizen at 30. Pitching ace Mort Cooper went 22-7, including a league leading 10 shutouts. Freshman sensation Johnny Beazley was 21-6 with sparking 2.13 ERA, second on the club to Cooper’s 1.78. Another freshman, Stan Musial, who had a 12 game “cup of coffee” the year before, hitting .426 in 47 at bats, showed he was the real deal, hitting .315 along with an .887 OPS. Enos Slaughter checked in at .318 with a .906 OPS.
Despite the late season success and 106 wins, the Cardinals were decided underdogs to the Yankees in the World Series. The Bombers won 103 in the American League and had not lost a World Series since Rogers Hornsby tagged out Babe Ruth on a steal attempt to give the Redbirds their first World Championship in 1926. Since then, the Yankees won eight championships. They also totally dominated the National League teams, going 32-4 in World Series play between 1926 and 1942.
It looked like more of the same in ’42, with the Bombers racing out to a 7-0 lead in Game 1. The Cardinals rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to make the score more respectful. Some observers including Dizzy Dean, then a radio broadcaster, felt the rally was more than a moral victory, and would inspire confidence in the Cardinal ball club. That was the case as they went on to sweep the next four, being the only team beat the Yankees twice in the World Series from 1926 until the Dodgers bested them in 1955 and again in 1963.
Generally considered the greatest of all Cardinal teams, this team should go deep into the tourney.
#2 1944 Cardinals (.688 winning percentage, +282 run differential)
Relative to the league, this team was more dominant than the 1942 Champions. They cruised to the National League pennant by 14 ½ games over second place Pittsburgh. At the end of August, they were an incredible 61 games over .500, leading the Pirates by 18 ½ lengths. Their final mark of 105-49 fell one game shy of the ’42 team.
Stan Musial hit .347 including 51 doubles and had a 9.0 WAR. Johnny Hopp hit .334 with an OBP of .404. Mort Cooper duplicated his 1942 record of 22-7, while Max Lanier and Ted Wilks won 17 each. Left-hander Harry Brecheen went 16-5 in his sophomore season to give the Redbirds a talented four-man rotation.
A six-game win in the “Streetcar” series against the Browns capped the greatest three-year run of success in Cardinal history.
#3 1931 St. Louis Cardinals (.656 winning percentage, +201 run differential)
A strong case can be made that this club was better than any Cardinal team in history excepting the 1942 bunch. They were likely better than the ’44 team, considering the wartime club played in a somewhat watered-down era with World War II consuming many of the best players of the era. I seeded them third due to the ’44 team’s better winning percentage and run differential.
The 1931 team finished 13 games ahead of second place New York, second in the league in batting (to the Cubs) and pitching (to the Giants). This team was balanced, with good veterans and rookies who made an impact. Gabby Street, the former Senators’ catcher who once caught a ball dropped from the Washington monument, managed the Cardinals after Sam Breadon’s effort to bring 1928 manager Bill McKechnie back were rebuffed when McKechnie signed a five-year agreement to manage the Boston Braves. The notoriously cheap Cardinals were able to get Street for $7500.
The roster was dotted with Hall of Famers, including batting champion Chick Hafey (.349), MVP Frank Frisch, first baseman “Sunny Jim” Bottomley (.348 – a fraction lower than Hafey), and pitcher Burleigh Grimes. Rookies Pepper Martin (.300) and Paul Derrigner (18-8) made an immediate impact.
A repeat of the 1930 World Series pitted the Cardinals and Connie Mack’s heavily favored Athletics. The A’s had a roster of Hall of Famers themselves, winning their third consecutive American League title and going for their third Series win as well. Among stars were catcher Mickey Cochrane, first baseman Jimmie Foxx, outfielder Al Simmons and pitcher Lefty Grove, who went 31-4 that year. But the Cardinals upset the Mackmen with Martin “running wild” in the first five games stealing five bases and collecting 12 hits including four doubles and a home run.
#4 1946 Cardinals (.628 winning percentage, +167 run differential)
With the fourth Cardinal pennant winner in five seasons, the good times returned as the roster was full strength with players returning after military service. This was another Cardinal team that won the World Series despite being underdogs. Most of the early pennant winners were not considered the favorites in the Fall Classic, yet won anyway. (1926, 1931, and 1942 were all thought to be over-matched by their American League champions).
Like Bill McKecknie earlier, Billy Southworth left the Cardinals after the 1945 season, receiving a better offer from Lou Perini of the Braves. Owner Sam Breadon chose long-time organization manager Eddie Dyer to lead the club in ’46.
The Cardinals again topped the National League in hitting (.265) and pitching (3.01 ERA). Stan Musial returned with a bang. Adding first base to his defensive portfolio, “The Man” hit .365 with 86 extra base hits, good for a 1.021 OPS and 9.3 WAR. He won the first of his three MVP awards. Also back was Enos Slaughter, who drove in 130 runs with a .300 average and 4.8 WAR. Third baseman and recent Cardinal Hall of Fame inductee Whitey Kurowski chipped in with a 5.0 WAR, .301 average and 89 RBI.
A second-year utility player named Albert “Red” Schoendienst settled in at second base, and after Breadon sold unhappy catcher Walker Cooper to the Giants for $175,000, a local 20-year-old youngster with a lot of promise was given the chance to play. As it turned out the quick-witted Joe Garagiola was better behind a microphone than behind home plate but shined in the World Series, hitting .316 in five games.
Pitching was led by left handers Howie Pollet (21-10, 2.10) and hard luck Harry Brecheen (15-15 despite a 2.49 ERA). The Cardinals might have been even better had Max Lanier not taken Jorge Pasquel’s money and bolted to the Mexican League. Lanier had a 6-0 record and 1.93 ERA at the time of his departure. Things could have been worse though, as reportedly Pasquel tempted Musial, then earning $13,500 with the Cardinals, with a five-year contract worth $125,000. Terry Moore and Enos Slaughter were also wooed by Pasquel but also turned down offers.
As so many Cardinal teams have done, this club charged late to the pennant. Seven games out in August, the Cardinals forced a first-place tie with Brooklyn, leading to the first-ever pennant playoff. The Cardinals won the first two in the best of three series to earn the right to face the favored Red Sox in the World Series.
Dyer used what became commonplace some 70 years later, a shift against Ted Williams in which third baseman Kurowski was the only infielder on the left side of second base. It worked as Williams had only five hits in the series, all singles. The hard-luck Brecheen won two games and saved the finale, as Enos Slaugher’s legendary “mad dash” brought the Cardinals their sixth championship.
#5 1943 Cardinals (.682, winning percentage, +204 run differential)
The number one seed in the losers bracket, this team advanced by sweeping Whitey Herzog’s 1987 club. They would have been seeded as high as third had they won the World Series but are penalized a couple of slots in the tourney. Still an excellent regular season ball club that could give fits to some more well-known champions.
#6 1922 Browns (.604 winning percentage, +223 run differential)
Easily the greatest Brownie team of all-time, and one of the best clubs in St. Louis history. I gave these guys a first round bye despite not winning the pennant, rounding out the field to 12 teams receiving byes. Manager Lee Fohl’s team had everything in 1922 except luck. They led the majors in run differential, hitting, and team ERA. Potent offense and quality pitching make this team a force, and I expect they will go far in the tournament.
#7 2004 Cardinals (.648, winning percentage, +196 run differential)
Similar to the 1943 Cardinals and 1922 Browns, this team was better than some higher seeded teams. They advanced to the field of 16 by sweeping the 1930 club in the Loser’s Bracket. Walt Jocketty built a powerhouse ball club that put it all together in 2004. But something happened when they reached for the prize, suddenly looking dis-jointed and tired they were swept out of the World Series by Red Sox. With a clean slate and talented roster, they will be a tough foe for anyone facing them in the tournament.
#8 1967 Cardinals (.627 winning percentage, +138 run differential)
After the late surge to the pennant three years earlier and knocking off the Yankees in the World Series, the mostly veteran Cardinals slipped to mediocrity in 1965 and 1966. Predicted to repeat their sixth-place finish of ’66, the Cardinals started quickly in ’67 winning their first six games. Never falling more than 4 ½ games off the pace, they took the league lead on June 19th and maintained it the rest of the way, finishing 10 ½ games ahead of second place San Francisco.
A spirited group, this is another Cardinal club that was balanced with veterans in their prime, and young, talented players. Dubbed “El Birdos” by MVP Orlando Cepeda, the Cardinals had the best pitching in the league and finished seven runs behind the Cubs for the best offense. In July, ace starter Bob Gibson was injured by a smash off the bat of Roberto Clemente, breaking his ankle. He was out two months, and yet the Cardinals increased their lead by six games over that stretch. Second-year right-hander Nelson Briles stepped into the rotation and went 8-2 during Gibby’s absence.
Rookie Steve Carlton won 14 games with a 2.98 ERA, matching Gibson. Gibby won 13 in 24 starts. Another rookie, at 29 years old, Dick Hughes was the big winner with a 16-6 record and 2.67 ERA.
Cepeda, the former Giants slugger acquired the year before for Ray Sadecki, hit .325 and drove home 111, while Lou Brock, and Tim McCarver joined him on the All-Star Team with big years. Curt Flood hit .335, but a sore throwing arm kept him out of the lineup for 30 games. Julian Javier added an offensive force hitting .281 with 14 homers, while Mike Shannon successfully moved from right field to third base opening a slot for newly acquired Roger Maris. Maris was not the power hitter of his Yankee years, but drove in 61 runs in 125 games, many of them clutch.
Red Schoendienst was the perfect leader for this team, using a “let them play” approach and inspiring leadership. A seven game World Series win over the “Impossible Dream” Red Sox completed a magical year. This club will match-up with a team much like them from a previous generation, the 1934 champs.
#9 1934 Cardinals (.621 winning percentage, +143 run differential)
The “Gas House Gang” was in their finest hour – another spirited group with a colorful cast of characters that exemplified the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction.” It would be hard to make up the kind of personalities that this team possessed – the “Wild Horse of the Osage” Pepper Martin, outspoken and incredibly talented pitcher Dizzy Dean, loud-mouthed and brash Leo Durocher, sluggers Joe Medwick and “Ripper” Jim Collins, young catcher Bill DeLancey, and Dizzy’s brother Paul. Not to mention the old Flash himself, Frank Frisch as player-manager.
In late August, Diz led his brother into a revolt stemming from Dizzy’s complaint at the notoriously cheap management about Paul’s $3,000 salary. The Dean’s skipped a charity game, were fined, then suspended when Diz tore up a uniform. Asked by the press to tear up another one for a photo op, Diz obliged.
As is custom with Cardinal teams, the ’34 club trailed reigning World Champion New York by seven games on Labor Day. But the Deans tantrum seemed to pull the club together. Frisch held a clubhouse meeting saying, “Nobody is bigger than the game”, and the Gang rallied winning eight of nine. After Commissioner Landis intervened and the Deans were reinstated, the Cardinals were rolling. Meanwhile the Giants struggled yet maintained a 5 ½ game lead with 14 to play. On September 21st the Cardinals won a make-up double-header from Brooklyn when Diz pitched a three-hit shutout in the opener, followed by Paul throwing a no-hitter in the second game. The Dodgers did the Cardinals another favor, taking two from the Giants at the end of the season as Brooklyn fans taunted Giant manager Bill Terry for his off-season comment about the Dodgers asking, “Are they still in the league?”
The World Series against Detroit was a wild seven game affair, with the Deans each winning two games to bring the Cardinals their third title.
#10 1926 Cardinals (.578 winning percentage, +139 run differential).
The first Cardinal pennant winner and World Champion, we are approaching the 100th anniversary of the team that started it all in terms of great modern era Cardinal ball clubs. Hall-of-Famer Rogers Hornsby had taken over as manager from Branch Rickey midway through the 1925 season and revamped the starting rotation, getting instant results. The Cardinals were 13-25 under Brach Rickey in 1925 when owner Sam Breadon moved Rickey upstairs full time and made Hornsby manager. The Rajah had troubles managing later in his career but was very successful with the Cardinals. The ’25 team responded to go 64-51 under Rog and combined with the 1926 record he had a .569 winning percentage as Cardinal manager. This tops such revered pilots as Whitey Herzog, Red Schoendienst and Tony La Russa. Those three managed a lot longer of course, but Hornsby’s record as Cardinal manager combined with his incredible playing career put him in the top five all-time Cardinals, and a special place in club history as the leader of the first World Champion.
The ’26 team was not laden with great individual seasons from their stars but received solid contributions from more journeyman-type players. Hornsby hit only .317, this after a five-year stretch of averaging over .400. He still produced a 4.4 WAR. Third baseman Les Bell, possibly benefiting more than any other player from Hornsby’s influence, led the offense with a 4.6 WAR and .325 average including 64 extra base hits and 100 RBI. Jim Bottomley led the league with 120 RBIs. Cather Bob O’Farrell won the MVP, hitting .293 and played 147 games while providing leadership and inspiration. Center fielder Taylor Douthit hit .308 with a .375 on base percentage in his first full year providing stability at the leadoff spot.
The top hurler was Flint Rhem, a 20-game winner who had a reputation to celebrate by bending his elbow as much as teammate Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander. Pete, along with outfielder and future outstanding manager Billy Southworth were mid-season acquisitions, without whom the team probably would not have captured the pennant. Although Alexander was only 9-7 as a Cardinal, his 2.91 ERA topped the club, and his 134 ERA+ reflects his value was not shown in the W-L record. Southworth hit .317 and added 3.2 WAR in only 99 games as a Cardinal.
The World Series was legendary, with the Cardinals edging the heavily favored Yankees in seven games. Game 7 is still talked about today, featuring Alexander coming into a based loaded situation in the seventh inning with the Cardinals holding a 3-2 lead. Facing Tony Lazzeri, the Yankee second baseman squared up a pitch that would have cleared the bases, but he was out in front a bit too much and pulled it foul. Pete then struck him out and retired the next five Yankees before walking Ruth with two out in the ninth. The Babe thought he would catch the Cardinals napping and attempted to steal second. O’Farrell put the throw on the bag to Hornsby, who tagged out Ruth ending the Series. The Rajah called that the greatest moment of his career.
#11 1985 Cardinals (.623 winning percentage, +175 run differential)
1985 is another team that lost the World Series but is probably better than some of the higher ranked teams in the tournament. The much discussed “play”, when umpire Don Denkinger blew the call on what should have been the first out of the ninth inning in a game the Cardinals could have won the World Series lives in infamy among the Redbird faithful. This team advanced from the Loser’s Bracket by knocking off the 1968 club in a tight seven-game series. Speed and defense defined the 1980’s Cardinals, and this team used it to perfection leading the league in runs scored and finishing second in runs given up.
#12 2013 Cardinals (.599 winning percentage, +187 run differential)
Second-year manager Mike Matheny took this team to a pennant, the fourth in 12 seasons and as of 2025 the last one in Redbird history. Another club that led the league in runs scored, the Cardinals were balanced offensively and had just enough pitching to knock off the Pirates in the Division Series, then the Dodgers in the NLCS. Once again, the Red Sox had the better of the Cardinals, winning the World Series in six games and evening the record of the two teams in Fall Classic play at two apiece. The ’13 team advanced from the Loser’s Bracket by defeating the 1928 squad in six games.
#13 1964 Cardinals (.574 winning percentage, +63 run differential)
The epitome among Cardinal teams of the classic Yogi Berra phrase, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over”, this club spent most of the ’64 season as under-achievers. After a second-place finish in 1963, the Cardinals were expected to contend for the pennant but stumbled to a 40-41 record at the halfway point. Things were so bad that in August owner Gussie Busch fired general manager Bing Devine, and all but assured Leo Durocher would take the managerial reigns in 1965, replacing Johnny Keane.
The Redbirds play improved in August with call-ups Barney Schultz and Mike Shannon stabilizing the bullpen and outfield. June acquisition Lou Brock became a sensation, hitting, stealing bases and playing a good leftfield, while Bill White shook off a half-season slump and was hitting and driving in runs like the White of old. With St. Louis still trailing Philadelphia by 6 ½ games with 12 to go, the pennant race appeared settled. But suddenly the high-flying Phillies could not win, and the Cardinals could not lose. The “Phillie Phlop” included 10 straight losses, while the Cardinals won eight in a row. Coming into the final weekend, the Cardinals had a series with the last place Mets while the two other contenders, Cincinnati and the Phillies, played each other.
But those pesky Mets won the first two games, while the Phillies shook off their slump and split the first two in Cincinnati. Heading into Sunday, the final day of the season, a Cardinal loss and Phillie win would result in a three-way tie for the pennant. And for a few innings it looked like that would be the case, with the Mets taking an early lead and the Phillies pounding the Reds. But the Cardinals bats awakened as they ran away to an 11-5 win, clinching the pennant by a game over Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
Ken Boyer was named the MVP with his league leading 119 RBIs and steady field leadership. White had just 32 RBIs at the All-Star break but ended with 102. Curt Flood led the league with 211 hits, while Brock, a .251 hitter at the time of his acquisition from the Cubs on June 15th, belted the ball at a .348 clip wearing the Birds-on-the-Bat. Mike Shannon added nine homers, all in the second half. Dick Groat and Julian Javier were solid up the middle, with Groat hitting .292.
Schultz was a life saver for the last two months, his knuckleball saving 14 games to the tune of a 1.64 ERA. Bob Gibson emerged as the staff ace with 19 wins and the lowest ERA among the starters at 3.01. Gibby matched Boyer atop the team’s WAR leadership with 6.1. Ray Sadecki, a promising lefthander from Kansas City, finally lived up to the hype, winning 20 games, while veteran Curt Simmons added 18. Pitching was also aided by a couple of unknowns, lefty Gordy Richardson and righty Bob Humphries. Richardson started six games and relieved in 13 others, sporting a 4-2 record and 2.30 ERA. Humphries appeared in eight games, all in relief, going 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA.
The World Series was the club’s fifth against the Yankees, the teams splitting the first four. The Cardinals won in 1926 and 1942, and the Yankees prevailed in 1928 and 1943. The fifth consecutive pennant for the Bronx Bombers was the end of their dynasty. Legendary sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris were still productive, as was Whitey Ford. But age and attrition had taken their toll on the Bombers, and the Cardinals went on to win two more pennants before the Yankees reached the Fall Classic again.
Once again, the Cardinals played in a Series that went the full seven games. After splitting the first two, New York won Game 3 and looked as if they were on their way to a three games to one lead, carrying 3-0 lead into the sixth inning of Game 4. But Boyer turned the Series around, clubbing a grand slam that Ron Taylor and Roger Craig made stand up for a 4-3 Series tying win.
Tim McCarver followed up with a 10th inning three-run homer in Game 5 to secure the win. After dropping the sixth game, the Cardinals jumped on young Mel Stottlemyre, pressed into service on short rest due to an injury to Ford, and sailed to the championship behind Gibson. Gibby tired late, but Johnny Keane stuck with him giving the ultimate praise to the big right-hander when asked why he did not take him out, “I had a commitment to his heart.”
Gibson earned the Series MVP award by pitching three complete games and striking out 31. Second year catcher McCarver hit .478 in the Series. League MVP Boyer, in addition to the big grand slam in Game 4, had three hits including another home run in the Game 7 pressure cooker, and scored three times. The Boyers, Ken and Clete, homered in Game 7 with their parents in the stands.
#14 1982 Cardinals (.568 winning percentage, +76 run differential)
Whitey Herzog was brought in the replace Ken Boyer as Cardinal manager during the 1980 season and then elevated to the dual role of manager and general manager. As GM, Whitey made his mark in a big way, trading all-star catcher Ted Simmons after the season, and bringing in closer Bruce Sutter. At one point Whitey had acquired two future Hall of Fame closers, with Rollie Fingers also added. But Fingers was flipped four days later, sent to the Brewers with Simmons.
The 1981 team had turned things around for the Cardinals, as they compiled the best record in the National League East Division. Due to a player strike at around the 50-game point that resulted in two “half” seasons, MLB had the winning team in each half play a post season series to decide the division champion. The Cardinals finished second in each half and were out of the post season despite the best overall record.
Herzog made more moves after 1981, bringing in “good hit, poor field” speedster Lonnie Smith, and trading talented but temperamental shortstop Garry Templeton to San Diego for “great field – no hit” shortstop Ozzie Smith, with others involved going both ways.
The addition of the Smiths solidified the lineup, and the Cardinals put all doubt aside as to the best team in the National League, winning the Eastern Division by three games over Philadelphia, and sweeping West Division Atlanta in the NLCS.
Lonnie Smith led the league in runs scored with 120, and the team in WAR at 6.2. The infield defense was spectacular with Smith and Tommy Herr at short and second, and all-world first baseman Keith Hernandez. The call-up of Willie McGee in May, joining Lonnie Smith and George Hendrick in the outfield, gave the ‘Birds one of the best outer gardens in the league. Rookie McGee hit .296 in 123 games. Hendrick was the home run leader at 19 and led in RBIs as well with 104.
The always entertaining Joaquin Andujar topped the starting rotation, winning 15 games and accumulating 5.5 WAR. Veteran Bob Forsch also notched 15 victories, and Bruce Sutter’s split-finger pitch produced a league leading 36 saves. Set-up man Doug Bair added eight saves and was consistent at keeping games in check for Sutter. 43-year-old Jim Kaat even saved a couple of contests.
An entertaining seven-game World Series against old friend Simmons and the Milwaukee Brewers ended with the Cardinals first World Championship in 15 years.
#15 2011 Cardinals (.556 winning percentage, +80 run differential)
2011 marked yet another Cardinal team that looked to be playing out the string late in the season, but a late surge coupled with another club’s demise proved fortuitous. At the end of August, the Cardinals trailed division leading Milwaukee by 8 ½ games, likewise Atlanta held an 8 ½ game advantage for the wild card spot. But a funny thing happened on the way to the playoffs. The Cardinals went 17-8 in September, while the Braves brought back memories of the ’64 Phillies, stumbling down the stretch at 8-18, including a total collapse at the end, losing their last five games. If that was not bad enough, they lost their final three at home to division champion and what turned out to be Cardinal playoff opponent Philadelphia, with game number 162 a 4-3 loss in 13 innings in a game the Braves led going into the ninth 3-2.
The Phillies later may have regretted their season ending sweep, dropping the final two games in the best-of-five division series to the team they helped get to October baseball, the Cardinals. Game 5 was a classic and one of the best pitched games this fan has witnessed, with Chris Carpenter beating pal and former teammate Roy Halladay 1-0.
The Cardinals went on to knock off rival Milwaukee in six games in the NLCS and won it all in a drama-filled seven-game World Series.
This marked the end of the line for the tandem of Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols as Cardinals (other than Albert’s swan song in 2022), but what a way to go out! As usual Albert led the club with a 5.2 WAR, hitting 37 homers and knocking in 99 runs. Free agent signee Lance Berkman added 31 homers and drove in 94. Playing only 124 games, Matt Holldiay made it a bit of a latter day “MV3” with 22 homers, 75 RBIs and a .296 average.
But third baseman David Freese earned the post season glory, hitting .545 with three homers in the NLCS, and .348 in the World Series. A ninth inning game-tying two run triple in Game 6, and 11th inning home run that won the game is still one of the greatest individual achievements in the long history of Cardinal baseball. Freese’s post season heroics earned him the MVP of both the NLCS and World Series.
Carpenter was the bellwether of the pitching staff, throwing 237 innings and adding 3.5 WAR despite a mediocre looking 11-9 record. Kyle Lohse, Jamie Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle McClellan all won in double figures, picking up the slack for injured Adam Wainwright. Fernando Salas saved 24 games, and Jason Motte emerged as a dynamic closer toward the end of the season, saving five post-season games.
Most likely this club will be knocked out early in the tournament as they are not one of the better Cardinal teams to win it all, but they provided arguably the greatest post-season run of any of the 11 World Champions.
#16 2006 Cardinals (.516 winning percentage, +19 run differential)
With the expanded playoff structure in Major League Baseball, mediocre regular season teams have a greater shot at getting into the post-season. As a result, a team that perhaps under-achieved during the prior six months will occasionally put it all together in October. That was the case with this team, and later, to some degree in 2011 as well. The 2006 team had the same core players as the great 105-win 2004 group, but injuries hollowed out the lineup at times. Jim Edmonds missed 52 games, and shortstop David Eckstein 39. Even Albert Pujols lost 19 games of service and Scott Rolen 20.
Notable additions since 2004 included Chris Duncan and Scott Spiezio. Duncan hammered 22 homers in only 280 at bats, checking in with a 140 OPS+. He was an adventure in the outfield though, and too early for the NL designated hitter. Spiezio was a big help in filling in for Rolen, and his 120 OPS+ almost matched Rolen’s 126. Mid-season acquisition Ronnie Belliard at second base anchored the infield.
Pitching was a problem. Chris Carpenter was healthy and good, and Jeff Suppan was as expected. But after that the rotation was in shambles. Jason Marquis pitched 194 innings despite an ERA of 6.02. Mark Mulder was even worse, although held to only 93 innings his ERA was 7.14. Anthony Reyes, a minor league star but likely damaged goods by this time had a 5-8 record and 5.06 ERA.
While the Cardinals stumbled through the regular season, barely holding on to win the weak NL Central Division, everyone was healthy by the post-season, and the team played championship baseball. They knocked off San Diego in the NLDS three games to one and were pushed by the favored Mets in the league championship series to seven games, but prevailed.
The World Series heavily favored the American League champion Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won 95 games and had the best run differential in baseball. At least one media person mocked that the Tigers would win the Series “in three”. But it was the Cardinals who took home the hardware, winning in five games. It was the third time St. Louis and Detroit met in the Fall Classic, with the Cardinals taking a 2-1 edge. This was one of the bigger World Series upsets in modern times.
The 2006 squad will likely be overmatched by the great 1942 St. Louis “Swifties” in the tournament but deserve to give it a go with their World Championship banner hanging in Busch Stadium.
What is next
Looking ahead, in the next installment, we will cover the first round of the 16-team tournament and preview the quarter-final round.
Also, stop by The Cardinal Nation’s free forum and join the special discussion on this tournament or any of the many other active threads about St. Louis Cardinals baseball!
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