MLB – The History of the Cardinals
One of the storied franchises in the Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals hold the distinction of having won the most pennants in the National League, ten, second only to the New York Yankees, one of my great teams for betting on with my MLB Odds at my favorite online sportsbook.
The St. Louis Cardinals were started in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings in the American Association League. For the next four years, the Brown Stockings won the Association championship including a disputed series against the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs) which started a rivalry that continues to this day. St. Louis joined the National League in 1892 when the Association went bankrupt. St. Louis changed names several times, becoming the Perfectos in 1899 and in 1900 changing the name to the Cardinals.
At first, the Cardinals were not very successful in the National League. That began to change in 1920 when Branch Rickey became general manager of the team. Rickey started a minor league system to prepare players for competition at the National League level. Rickey signed Roger Hornsby, who won the Triple Crown of the National League in 1922 and 1925. In 1926, the Cardinals were able to win the National League pennant for the first time. They defeated the Yankees to win the 1926 World Series. The Cards won another pennant in 1928, but lost to the Yankees in the World Series.
Moving on to the early 30s, the Cards won pennants in 1930 and 1931, winning one World Series. In 1934, the team, now nicked the “Gashouse Gang” for their shabby appearance, won the pennant and the World Series behind pitcher Dizzy Dean who won 30 games that year. Dizzy is still the last pitcher in the National League to win 30 games. The end of the 30s did not produce any pennants for the Red Birds, even though Joe Medwick won the Triple Crown in 1937, the last hitter to achieve that in the National League.
In 1942, Stan Musial joined the Cardinals and began the first of 22 years in a Cardinal uniform. Stan the Man still ranks as one of the most beloved players of all time and still makes regular appearances at the ballpark. With Stan, the Cards won the pennant during 1942 through 1944. In 1942, the Cards defeated the Yankees in the World Series, losing to them in 1943. In 1944, they played cross town rivals the St. Louis Browns, and won the “street car” World Series. In 1946, tied for the pennant, the Cards won a three game playoff and the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. Enos Slaughter won the game by running from first to home on his “Mad Dash” in the eighth inning.
In 1952, the Cards were purchased by the Anheuser Busch Brewery and Gussie Busch became in charge. During the 50s, no pennants were won, but things picked up in the later 60s. In 1964 and 1968 behind pitcher Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, obtained in the “Brock for Broglio” trade, the Cards won two pennants and the World Series in 1964.
The 1970s resulted in no pennants despite some good players on the Cards, including Gibson and Joe Torre. In 1982, after acquiring shortstop Ozzie Smith, the Cards won the National League pennant and World Series. In 1985 and 1987, the Cards won the pennant again, but lost in the World Series including the “I-70” series in 1985 against the Kansas City Royals. In 1996, the Cardinals were sold to a group led by William DeWit, Jr. The Cards did win their division in 1986 with new manager Tony LaRussa, but failed to go the World Series. 1984 featured Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa and their quest to break the home run record, now held by Barry Bonds.
During the 1990′s the Cards failed to win any pennants, but things picked up in the 2000s. The Cards acquired Benji Molina and the great Albert “the machine” Pujols. In 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Cards won the pennant and reached the World Series in 2004, only to lose to the Boston Red Sox in five games. In 2006, the year the Cards moved to their new stadium, they won their 10th World Series against the Detroit Tigers. The Cards may be entering another rebuilding cycle in 2011 with the possible loss of “the machine” after 2011. The future, though, should be wonderful if the past is any guide.