St Louis Cardinals World Series Victories

Since joining the American National League in 1891, the St Louis Cardinals have claimed ten championship titles in the Baseball World Series. Three-times champions over the New York Yankees, they have twice beaten both the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, and seized individual victories from the Philadelphia Athletics, St Louis Browns and the Milwaukee Brewers. The World Series is a best of seven championship, which means that the contest can be won in as few as four games or, in a really thrilling tournament, victory may not be won until all seven matches have been completed.

Nicknamed ‘the Cards’, the team have confronted the New York Yankees a total of five times in the championship tournament (1926, 1928, 1942, 1943 and 1964), winning three times (1926,1942 and 1964). Their first victory took place in 1926, when the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) was formed and A. A. Milne published Winnie-the-pooh. Pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander acquired fame when he struck out Yankee batter, Tony Lazeri, leading to Babe Ruth being tagged out in an attempt to steal second base. Their next Series championship over the Yankees in 1942 was a convincing victory of four games to one. In 1964, the Cardinals beat the Yankees in seven games.

The Cardinals have won two out of three championship series’ against the Boston Red Sox. In 1946, following the country’s recent victory against the Axis powers, the Series went the whole seven games. Their final winning game made history for Enos Slaughter’s Mad Dash. Just over two decades later in 1967, under the management of former All Star Red Schondienst, the Cards won in another four-three nail biter. In October of the same year, baseball legend Joe Dimaggio joined the Oakland A’s as executive Vice President.

The Cardinals’ first World Series victory over the Detroit Tigers was in 1934 during the 31st World Series. Dizzy Dean pitched the team to an 11-0 victory in the seventh and final game. In Liverpool, Ohio, notorious bank robber, Pretty Boy Floyd was gunned down by FBI agents. The second occurrence was in 2006, more than half a century later. Somewhat oddly, the National Anthem was not performed prior to the opening game. Instead, rock legend Bob Seger, who considered ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ too challenging for his vocal range, performed ‘America the Beautiful’.

The team lost their first World Series encounter to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1930, coming back the next year winning four games out of seven. Burleigh Grimes distinguished himself by being baseball’s last legal spitball pitcher. This year saw the inauguration of scheduled transcontinental air travel.

In what could be described as their own World Series ‘local derby’, the Cardinals emerged victorious over local rival the St Louis Browns. Deeply involved in the war between the Allied and Axis powers, the dugouts were decimated with many players off fighting for their country. The Series was decided in four games to two. The Browns have not had an opportunity to even the score.

A style of play called, ‘Whiteyball’, named after Cardinals’ manager Whitey Herzog, is sometimes credited for their victory in 1982 over the Milwaukee Brewers. This Series was dubbed the ‘Suds Series’, owing to the fact that both teams home towns boasted major breweries.

In their 120 years as a National League team, the St Louis Cardinals have become the second most victorious team in major league baseball, winning ten championship World Series. Only the New York Yankees have won more.

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