St. Louis Cardinals Team History | SPORTS TEAM HISTORY

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

History of the Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals, home to some of MLB's greatest players, 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 the iconic MLB Greatest Player Stan Musial, as well as 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. The Chicago Cardinals 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. This loyalty and support from fans across North America and around the world, where Cardinal games are regularly broadcasted via radio networks like ESPN Radio International and XM Satellite Radio, exemplify the team's popularity. It gives everyone the opportunity to hear how exciting each game can be, no matter where they are located on the globe. With such a rich history and a loyal fan base supporting the team year after year, there's no doubt that the St. Louis Cardinals, formerly known as the Chicago Cardinals, will continue to dominate the Major League Baseball landscape far into the future.

History of the Cardinals

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