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SAINT LOUIS CARDS BASEBALL

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The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1882, the Cardinals are the oldest team in Major League Baseball and are often referred to as the “Cardinals” or the “Cards”. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division.

One of baseball’s most storied franchises, the Cardinals have won 11 World Series titles, the first coming in 1926 and the most recent in 2011. They have also won 19 National League pennants, second most behind the San Francisco Giants. Many baseball legends like Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, and Albert Pujols have played for the Cardinals over the years. The Cardinals are also known as one of baseball’s best-run franchises, having experienced only 5 consecutive losing seasons in over 100 years.

The early years in St. Louis (1882–1919)

The Cardinals were founded in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings, the franchise’s first name. They were one of the older National League teams along with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Phillies. In the early days, the Cardinals spent most seasons finishing around .500, never achieving great success or failure.

In 1899, the team name was changed to the Perfectos as a newspaper-sponsored name, before finally settling on the current name St. Louis Cardinals a year later in 1900. During their early years, the team featured star players like pitcher Bob Caruthers and first baseman Baggy Bill Killilea. But it wasn’t until the 1910s that the Cardinals began to build a stronger, more competitive franchise.

In 1912, Branch Rickey was hired as the Cardinals’ business manager, and soon transformed the team’s operations. Rickey created a strong farm system to develop young talent. He also was one of the first executives to sign black players like pitcher Walter Johnson to the minor league teams he owned, as segregation in baseball was still common in the early 20th century.

The 1920s — the “Gashouse Gang” and first World Series title

The Cardinals breakout success began in the 1920s. Led by players like Rogers Hornsby, Jim Bottomley, and manager Branch Rickey, the 1924 Cardinals won their first National League pennant. They lost the 1924 World Series to the New York Giants.

Two years later, the infamous 1926 “Gashouse Gang” Cardinals team won the franchise’s first World Series title, defeating the heavily favored Yankees. Managed by Gabby Street, the team featured roughhousers like Frankie Frisch, Pepper Martin, and Jim Bottomley. They played with attitude and plenty of fights and brawls that earned them their memorable nickname.

The 1930s-1940s – Stan Musial and additional titles

In the 1930s, the Cardinals continued contending, winning National League titles in 1930, 1934, and 1942, though only winning the World Series in 1934 over the Detroit Tigers. One of the greatest Cardinals ever, Stan Musial made his debut in 1941 at just 20 years old.

Musial would go on to become one of baseball’s all-time greatest hitters. Over 22 seasons all with St. Louis, Musial batted .331, smashing 475 home runs and 3,630 hits, while winning 7 batting titles. In the 1940s, the Cardinals still featured future Hall of Famers like pitcher Mort Cooper, but didn’t achieve the same level of success they had in the previous two decades.

The 1950s – Additional titles behind Gibson and Flood

In the 1950s, the Cardinals returned to prominence, winning the World Series in 1964 and 1967. Led by future Hall of Famers like pitcher Bob Gibson, and outfielders Stan Musial and Curt Flood, the Cardinals were back winning pennants in 1942, 1944, and 1946.

Gibson in particular emerged as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers ever. His 1968 season winning 22 games with a minuscule 1.12 ERA is considered one of the single greatest pitching seasons of all-time. Flood meanwhile was a 6-time All-Star and crucial part of the Cardinals 1964 and 1967 championship teams.

The 1960s – Continued success and more titles

The 1960s saw the Cardinals continue their run of success that had defined much of their franchise history. Behind stars like pitcher Bob Gibson, outfielders Lou Brock and Curt Flood, and managers Johnny Keane and Red Schoendienst, the Cardinals claimed National League titles in 1964, 1967 and 1968.

They went on to win the World Series in 1964 and 1967. The ’64 championship team in particular is best remembered for Gibson’s complete game victory in Game 7. It marked the franchise’s first title since 1946 and 8th overall. Gibson and Brock in particular cemented their legacies in St. Louis during this era.

Later 20th century successes (1970s-2000s)

While they did not dominate the 1970s and 1980s quite like previous eras, the Cardinals still achieved plenty of success, including NL East titles in 1970, 1973, 1982 and 1985, and World Series wins in 1982 and 2006. Stars like Ted Simmons, Keith Hernandez and Willie McGee powered many of these teams.

In the 1990s and 2000s, the Cardinals continued racking up division titles and playoff appearances behind players like Gregg Jefferies, Ray Lankford, Edgar Renteria, and Larry Walker. They did not capture any World Series championships during this time period after their 1991 and 2006 titles.

Modern Cardinals (2010-present)

The Cardinals have remained one of MLB’s elite franchises well into the 21st century. Led by all-time greats like Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright, as well as franchise pillars Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have made the playoffs 12 times from 2000 to 2020.

This included winning the 2011 World Series, defeating the Texas Rangers behind World Series MVP David Freese. Under the leadership of Hall of Famer Tony La Russa and current manager Oli Marmol, the Cardinals maintain high standards of both on-field success and organizational stability. Players like Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and jack Flaherty have helped extended the Cardinals run excellence for over 100 years running now.

The St. Louis Cardinals rank among baseball’s model franchises due to their incredible sustained success and player development over a history spanning nearly 140 years. No other National League team can match their 11 World Series championships and their “Bird” logo has become one of baseball’s most identifiable brands. The Cardinals look primed to remain a elite MLB franchise well into the future.

SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS BASEBALL CARDS

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The Saint Louis Cardinals are one of the most historic franchises in Major League Baseball. Known also as the “Cardinals”, the team has won 11 World Series titles and been featured on hundreds of baseball cards over the decades. Cards featuring Cardinals players date back to the earliest years of the hobby in the late 1800s.

Some of the earliest existing Cardinal cards come from cigarette manufacturers, who began inserting baseball cards as promotions starting in 1888. Companies like Allen & Ginter and Happy Hooligan issued cards of many top players of the time, including a few who spent time with the franchise known then as the Browns in the National League. In 1891, the St. Louis Browns placed second in their league and began appearing on more baseball cards.

In the 1900s and 1910s, candy and gum companies took over production of baseball cards. Brands like Walter Trumbull Company, American Caramel, and Tip-Top Candies issued small, triangular shaped cards known as “text cards.” Stars Rogers Hornsby and Charles “Burleigh Grimes were among the first Cardinals players to appear prominently on these early cardboard promotions.

In 1909, the Browns became the Cardinals, adopting their enduring nickname. Now branded as the Cardinals, the franchise reached the World Series for the first time in 1926 and again in 1928, bringing more national recognition. Stars like Grover Cleveland Alexander, Jesse Haines, and Jim Bottomley started showing up regularly in gum card sets by brands like Goudey and Chevrolet.

The golden age of baseball cards launched in 1933 with the hugely popular Goudey gum cards featuring photographs for the first time. Stars Dizzy Dean, Pepper Martin, Joe Medwick, and Burleigh Grimes earned iconic cardboard representations. The 1934 Goudey set is considered one of the most valuable in the hobby due to stars like Dizzy Dean in their Cardinals uniforms.

After World War 2, production of cards ramped up tremendously. The 1947 to 1948 Leaf and Bowman sets were the first to feature color photos, starring Red Schoendienst, Enos Slaughter, and Walker Cooper. Topps took over the baseball card market in the 1950s with their famous design and photo quality immortalizing Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, and Ken Boyer. Musial’s 1952 Topps card is one of the rarest and most coveted of any Cardinals star.

The 1960s marked the peak of Topps’ dominance and success of the Cardinals franchise. Led by superstars like Bob Gibson, Lou Brock and Curt Flood, St. Louis won the World Series in 1964 and 1967. Iconic cards ranging from the 1961 to 1969 Topps issues established the franchise’s great players as cardboard legends. Brock’s 1968 and 1969 are especially coveted for his base-stealing prowess.

After 1967, the Cardinals endured a playoff drought for nearly two decades. This period saw the rise of many competing brands including Fleer, Kellogg’s, and Donruss. stars like Ted Simmons, Keith Hernandez, and Ozzie Smith captured the imagination of collectors in the 1970s and early 80s issues. Smith’s breakthrough in 1982 helped spark a renaissance for the club.

With Whitey Herzog at the helm, “Whiteyball” small-ball tactics led St. Louis back to the top, winning the 1982 World Series. Stars like Willie McGee and Terry Pendleton gained fame on Fleer, Donruss and Score issues through the mid 80s championships. The Rally Bird phenomenon of the 1985 World Series further entrenched the franchise as fan favorites on cardboard.

The late 1980s and 1990s saw the Dominance of Upper Deck, Topps, and Score capture stars like Ozzie Smith, Todd Zeile, and Bob Tewksbury into the ultra-modern card era. After a slump, the franchise rebuilt around younger talents like Albert Pujols. His iconic rookie card in 2001 Topps helped to usher in a new period of success.

Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright led St. Louis to three more World Series titles between 2006-2011. Higher end products like Topps Chrome, Bowman, and Archives captured the new stars alongside franchise legends. Pujols is now undoubtedly one of the most significant Cardinals players ever depicted on cardboard.

Current stars like Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, and Jack Flaherty continue to have their talents preserved in Topps flagship issues and various high-end products. As one of baseball’s most storied franchises, hundreds of talented players have cemented their legacies not just on the field, but through their iconic cardboard representations over more than a century in the hobby. Few teams can rival the Cardinals’ sustained baseball card history.