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St. Louis Cardinals Team History

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  • 1882
  • 1926 - 1931
  • 1934 - 1944
  • 1946 - 1967
  • 1982
  • 2006
  • 2011
  • 1889 Cardinals

    St. Louis Cardinals Team Formation

    After the American Association collapsed, the National League re-enrolled St. Louis to raise the total to twelve. The St. Louis Cardinals have had perpetual affiliation since. Their inaugural season of reentry was largely a disappointment their winning percentage plunged from .625 in 1891 to .373. With an opportunity emerging the next season for a larger property at Vandeventer and Natural ...
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  • 1926-st-louis-cardinals

    World Series Winner 1926 – 1931

    World Series – 1931 In 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. World Series – 1926 The 1926 World Series pitted the NL champion St. Louis Cardinals against the AL champion New York Yankees. The Cardinals defeated the Yankees four games ...
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  • 1944 WS Game1

    World Series 1934 – 1944

    World Series – 1944 The 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, the other two being the 1921 and 1922 World Series in the Polo Grounds ...
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  • Bob Gibson World Series 1967

    World Series Winner 1946 – 1967

    World Series – 1967 The 1967 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the 1946 World Series, with the Cardinals winning in seven games for their second championship in four years and their eighth overall. The Series was played from October 4 to 12 in Fenway Park and Busch Memorial Stadium. ...
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  • 1982_World_Series_Program

    World Series Winner 1982

    The 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 by 3 games to none in the National League Championship Series. The Brewers won the American League East division by ...
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  • World Series - 2006 St. Louis Cardinals

    World Series Winner 2006

    The 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 Games 1, 3, 4, and 5. This was the third Series meeting between ...
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  • World Series - 2011 Cardinals

    World Series Winner 2011

    The 2011 World Series was the 107th edition of Major League Baseball’s championship series. The best-of-seven playoff was played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals, with the Cardinals defeating the Rangers in seven games to win their 11th World Series championship. The Series was noted for its back-and-forth Game 6, in ...
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History of the Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are among Major League Baseball (MLB) 's most successful and storied teams. Founded in 1882, they have won 11 World Series titles and 23 National League pennants, making them second only to the New York Yankees for total championships. The team has also had its fair share of legendary players, including Hall-of-Famers Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, and Ozzie Smith, among many others who helped shape their legacy as a powerhouse franchise.

The Cardinals' success is mainly due to their commitment to winning through robust scouting methods that allowed them to acquire talent from all parts of the country—not just locally or regionally—and develop it into championship-caliber players with consistent coaching staffs throughout their long tenure in MLB's top tier competition. This approach has enabled them to remain competitive even during periods when other teams may have fallen off due to a lack of resources or poor management decisions, an example being when they made six consecutive postseason appearances between 2011-2016 despite not having any superstars on the roster at any point during this run.

Their fan base is also considered one of baseball’s best, consistently filling Busch Stadium with passionate supporters eager to cheer on “the Redbirds” every game day regardless if it's a win or loss situation showing why they're so beloved by fans across North America as well as around world where Cardinal games can be heard broadcasted regularly via radio networks like ESPN Radio International & XM Satellite Radio network giving everyone opportunity hear how exciting each game can be no matter what part globe you're located at any time! With such a rich history behind them coupled with a loyal fanbase supporting the team year after year, there's no doubt that St Louis Cardinals will continue to dominate the major league baseball landscape far into the future!





Established
1882

City
St. Louis

League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1891 – 1999 / National League
1882 – 1891 / American Association

Team History
1882 – Present / St. Louis Cardinals

Nickname
Cardinals – The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, and their nickname carries a long and exciting history. The team was initially known as the Brown Stockings when they joined the National League in 1892 but changed their name to "Cardinals" just two years later after new owner Chris von der Ahe decided he wanted something more colorful for his team.

Von der Ahe chose "Cardinals" because of its ties to Catholic Saint Louis University, located near Busch Stadium, where the Cardinals play today. He thought it would be an appropriate name for a baseball club from a crucial religious city like St Louis; plus, it had a nice ring!

But why did Von Der Ahe choose red? Again, this can be traced back to Saint Louis University; At the same time, they don't have any official colors themselves (they use black & white); many schools around them used shades of red or maroon at that time - so Von Der Ahe figured this could represent both his hometown university and also give his team some unique flair compared with other teams in MLB who were sporting primarily blue or green uniforms at that time. And thus began what has become one of the sports' greatest nicknames: The Redbirds!

Over 120 years later, we still refer affectionately refer to our beloved Cards as “the Redbirds” – even though these days you’ll find plenty more than just red on their jersey – but no matter what color scheme they decide on each season (or how well our boys do) there will always be something special about being called “Redbird Nation." So next time you're cheering your favorite players out onto Busch Field, remember all those who came before us wearing those same bright cardinal-red jerseys - let's go, Cards!!

Championship
World Series 11
2011, 2006, 1982, 1967, 1964, 1946, 1944, 1942, 1934, 1931, 1926

Stadium
2006 – Present / Busch Stadium III
1982 – 2005 / Busch Stadium II
1966 – 1982 / Busch Memorial Stadium
1920 – 1966 / Sportsman’s Park III
1953 – 1966 / Busch Stadium I
1893 – 1920 / Robison Field
1917 – 1920 / Cardinal Field
1899 – 1911 / League Park
1893 – 1899 / Sportsman’s Park II
1882 – 1892 / Sportsman’s Park

Owner
1995 – Present / William DeWitt, Jr.
1953 – 1995 / Anheuser-Busch
1947 – 1953 / Fred Saigh
1947 – 1949 / Robert Hannegan
1917 – 1947 / Sam Breadon
1911 – 1917 / Helene Hathaway Britton
1899 – 1911 / Frank & Stanley Robison
1882 – 1899 / Chris von der Ahe

Who is the greatest St. Louis Cardinals?
  • Add your greatest player

To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.

Retired Number
1 / Ozzie Smith
2 / Red Schoendienst
6 / Stan Musial
9 / Enos Slaughter
10 / Tony La Russa
14 / Ken Boyer
17 / Dizzy Dean
20 / Lou Brock
24 / Whitey Herzog
42 / Bruce Sutter
42 / Jackie Robinson
45 / Bob Gibson
85 / August Busch Jr.
- / Rogers Hornsby
– / Jack Buck

*Blue is this team’s history

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