The St. Louis Cardinals are an iconic franchise with a storied history that dates back over 120 years. What began in the 1890s as a member of the original National League has evolved into one of baseball’s most celebrated and successful organizations.
Some key figures and events that helped shape the Cardinals over their lengthy tenure in St. Louis include:
Branch Rickey: As the Cardinals’ general manager from 1919-1942, Rickey helped modernize the team’s style of play with innovations like the farm system and player development. He also broke baseball’s color barrier by signing Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers’ farm system in 1945.
Gussie Busch: The Anheuser-Busch magnate purchased controlling interest in the team in 1953 and helped transform the franchise into a model of business and community success in St. Louis.
Stan Musial: Known as “Stan the Man,” Musial played his entire 22-year career with the Cardinals from 1941-1963. He was a first-ballot Hall of Famer and won 3 MVP awards while establishing himself as perhaps the greatest Cardinal of all-time.
Bob Gibson: The dominating right-hander anchored St. Louis’ pitching staff in the 1960s, winning two Cy Young Awards and the 1968 World Series MVP. Gibson thrived under pressure with a fearsome competitive streak.
Whitey Herzog: His creative managing approach helped lead the Cardinals to three NL pennants and the 1982 World Series title during his initial tenure from 1980-1990. Herzog emphasized fundamentals, speed, and a small-ball offensive style.
Ozzie Smith: A genius in the field at shortstop, “The Wizard” made his beloved backhand snag look effortless for 19 seasons in St. Louis from 1982-1996. He provided highlight-reel plays and steady leadership on playoff contenders.
2006 Championship Team: Led by 41-year-old manager Tony La Russa, the Cardinals won their first title in over 20 years by defeating the Detroit Tigers in a thrilling seven-game World Series. 22-game winner Chris Carpenter was named Series MVP.
Some additional Cardinal achievements and accolades include:
11 World Series titles (2nd most all-time), including championships in 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, and 2011.
19 NL pennants, last winning the NLCS in 2013.
24 Hall of Famers have worn the Cardinals uniform, including Musial, Gibson, Smith, Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Joe Medwick and Rogers Hornsby among others.
24 NL Central division titles since the division’s inception in 1994.
Over 1,900 regular season victories at historic Busch Stadium I and Busch Stadium II from 1966-2005 before moving to the new Busch Stadium III in 2006.
Off the field, the Cardinals have established themselves as pillars of the St. Louis community for generations. Their widespread fan support is matched only by franchises like the Yankees and Red Sox. Over the decades, they’ve developed traditions like the gingham uniform caps, the “Meet the Cardinals” event before each home opener, and the seventh inning sing-a-long “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”
Entering the 2020 season, the Cardinals employed a player development philosophy under GM John Mozeliak that consistently produced homegrown talent. Recent playoff appearances have been led by stars like Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina, and Paul Goldschmidt. Meanwhile, younger players like Jack Flaherty, Dylan Carlson and Nolan Arenado give hope that more rich history is still to be written at Busch Stadium.
Through lean stretches and dynasties alike, one constant remains – the Cardinals’ commitment to winning, history, and representation of St. Louis with pride. Their loyal, knowledgeable fanbase expects nothing less from a franchise that has established itself among the elite of American sports for well over a century.
