Cardinal Timeline

Pre-1892 | 1892-1899 | 1900-1925 | 1926-1950 | 1951-1975 | 1976-present

The St. Louis Brown Stockings, owned by John B.C. Lucas, became a charter member of the National League in the nation's centennial year. The team went 45-19 and finished in second place, four games behind Chicago, 47-13. George Washington (Grin) Bradley went 45-19 and recorded the league's first no-hitter.

1877

Bradley was signed by Chicago in 1877 and the team finished in fourth place. Under accusations of scandal, Lucas withdrew his team from the league before the 1878 season.

1881

The Sportsman's Park and Club was formed to take over the operation of the Grand Avenue Ballpark. With Dutchman Chris Von der Ahe as corporate president and chief stockholder, professional baseball was back in St. Louis. Von der Ahe entered his St. Louis Browns into the American Association. Charles Comiskey was his manager. The team won four consecutive pennants from 1885-1888.

1886

The American Association Browns beat Chicago of the National League in a winner-take-all world championship game that went 10 innings.

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St. Louis Cardinals: 1892 to 1899

1892

The American Association folded at the conclusion of 1891 and the St. Louis Browns rejoined the N.L. as part of the newly reformed 12 team circuit. The St. Louis franchise has had continuous membership in the National League ever since.

1893

Von der Ahe was offered a larger property at Vandeventer and Natural Bridge Avenues, so Chris and his corporation moved Sportsman's Park to the new location. The last (exhibition) game at the Grand Avenue ballpark was April 23rd vs. Cincinnati and the club moved to the new grounds to be ready for the home opener on April 27th. The park was known as (New) Sportsman's Park.

1898

After several years of second-division baseball and a disastrous fire, Chris Von der Ahe and his corporation were bankrupt. The Robison Brothers stepped in to purchase the Browns.

1899

The Robison Brothers, Frank and Stanley, discarded the name of Browns, calling the St. Louis National Leaguers the Perfectos. The team was outfitted in red striped stockings and red-trimmed uniforms. When sportswriter Willie McHale, of the St. Louis Republic, heard a lady fan remark, "What a lovely shade of cardinal," the new nickname was used in his column, and struck a chord with St. Louis fans. The team officially changed its name from the Perfectos to the Cardinals in 1900. The ballpark also discarded the old Sportsman's Park name in favor of League Park.

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St. Louis Cardinals: 1900 to 1925

1902

An American League team came to St. Louis, taking up the old Browns team name, and since they moved into the old Grand Avenue ballpark, they readily took on the old "Sportsman's Park" name.

1911

The ownership of the club passed to Robison's daughter, Mrs. Helene Hathaway Britton. Mrs. Britton bought out Manager Roger Bresnahan's contract and hired Miller Huggins.

1914

In Miller Huggins' second year, the Cardinals finished the season in third place. It was something of a sensation because a St. Louis National League team had not finished that high since 1877.

1916

After the season, Mrs. Britton sold her stock in the club to her attorney, James C. Jones, and stockholders, including a St. Louis automobile dealer named Sam Breadon.

1917

The fan-controlled club needed a baseball man to run it. They found one in Branch Rickey, then business manager of the A.L. Browns . Rickey was named president, however the club continued to struggle financially. Mr. Breadon was called upon frequently for financial assistance. League Park was renamed Cardinal Field.

1920

Sam Breadon became president and majority stockholder of the Cardinals, and Branch Rickey moved to Vice President and General Manager. This leadership team successfully developed the Cardinals, leading them to their first World Championship in 1926. One of Breadon's first moves was to sell Robison Field and become tenants at Sportsman's Park. Branch Rickey used proceeds from the sale of the ballpark to invest in the first Cardinals farm club affiliation at Houston, TX.

1922

Rogers Hornsby won the Triple Crown with 42 home runs, 152 RBI and a .401 batting average.

1924

Hornsby won the batting title with a .424 average, the highest mark in the National League since 1900.

1925

Hornsby won his second Triple Crown with 39 home runs, 143 RBI and a .403 average. On Memorial Day, Rogers Hornsby was named manager of the club, succeeding Branch Rickey. Rickey became strictly a front office man, and a very successful one, building a reputation for his excellent eye for raw talent and thrifty dealings. The Cardinals had six farm teams in 1925, and that number increased over the next few years to help fuel their growing success story.

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St. Louis Cardinals: 1926 to 1950

1926

In their first World Series appearance, the Cardinals, led by player-manager Hornsby, edged the Yankees in a seven games. The team led the N.L. in eight offensive categories. Their 90 home runs led the league, while their 82 triples placed them second. They were not caught stealing once (83 SB). Veteran 39-year-old right-hander Grover Cleveland Alexander, obtained by the Redbirds in a midseason trade with the Chicago Cubs, won the second and sixth games of the Series, then came on to save the seventh game.

1928

The Cardinals won the pennant behind Jim Bottomley's 93 extra base hits and a staff that completed 83 games, but they were swept by the Yankees in the Series. Babe Ruth batted .625 for the Series and hit three home runs in one game, and Lou Gehrig batted .545 with nine RBI. Four of Gehrig's six hits were home runs.

1930

On September 28, the last game of the season, 19-year-old Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean made his big league debut, pitching a complete game three-hitter in a Cardinals win. The team won the pennant but dropped the Series to Philadelphia that year, 4-2. Cardinal victories were pitched by Bill Hallahan, 5-0 in the third game, and Jesse Haines, 3-1 in the fourth.

1931

In Pepper Martin's (the "Wild Horse of the Osage") rookie season the Cardinals avenged their loss to Philadelphia, taking the Series in seven games. Martin stole five bases, collected 12 hits and batter .500. Bill Hallahan and Burleigh Grimes each pitched two victories for the Cardinals.

1932

Dizzy Dean won 18 games in his rookie campaign after spending all of 1931 in Houston, in the Texas League. He led the league in strikeouts (191), shutouts(4) and innings pitched (286).

1933

Leo (the Lip) Durocher's first year with the club and Joe Medwick's rookie season. Frankie (Fordham Flash) Frisch, at 34, played 2B while co-managing with Gabby Street.

1934

The "Gas House Gang" won the National League pennant on the final day of the season, then defeated Detroit in the Series. Four games to three. Dizzy Dean predicted 45 wins between himself and his brother, Paul, a rookie. Dizzy won 30, his brother 19, for a total of 49 and each won two games in the Series. The final game of the Series, won by the Cardinals 11-0, was marked by Commissioner Kenesaw Landis' order to eject Joe "Muscles" Medwick from the game. Medwick had slid hard into Tigers third baseman, Marv Owen, in the sixth inning, so infuriating Detroit fans that they bombarded him with fruit, vegetables and debris when he took his position in left field in the bottom of the inning. Landis removed Medwick to halt the disturbance.

1937

Medwick won the Triple Crown with 31 home runs, 154 RBI and a .374 batting average. He remains the last National Leaguer to accomplish the feat.

1940

After years of wrangling, the Browns and the Cardinals finally agreed to split the $150,000 cost of installing lights at the park. The Browns were given the honor of hosting the first night game in St. Louis on May 24th.The Cardinals first night game was on June 4. Medwick went 5-for-5, but the Birds were trounced by the Dodgers, 10-1. The All-Star Game was hosted by the Cardinals at Sportsman's Park on July 9th and a sellout crowd of 32,373 saw the National League win, 4-0. Johnny Mize hit a then club-record 43 home runs.

1942

Winning 43 out of their last 51 games, St. Louis erased a 10.5 game deficit and passed Brooklyn on September 13th on their way to a world championship. The 106-48 Cardinals are considered won of baseball's all-time greatest teams; the average player age was under 27. Home-grown talents Enos (Country) Slaughter and Stan (The Man) Musial, a 21-year-old rookie, were products of Branch Rickey's farm system. Mort Cooper was N.L. MVP, posting 22 wins, seven losses and a 1.77 ERA. In the Series, the Cardinals lost the first game to the Yankees, then roared back to win four straight. Rookie pitcher Johnny Beazley won two games, lefthander Ernie White shut out the Yankees in the third game, and third baseman Whitey Kurowski belted an RBI-triple in the second game and a two-run, ninth-inning homer to clinch the finale.

1943

N.L. MVP Musial led the league in batting average (.357); hits (220); doubles (48); triples (20); total bases (347); on-base average (.425); and slugging percentage (.562). The Cardinals dropped four of five to the Yankees in the World Series.

1944

The Cardinals felled the St. Louis Browns in the cross-town champion's only World Series appearance. In this only all-St. Louis World Series, pitching dominated as the Cardinals defeated the Browns, four games to two. The two teams combined to strike out a six-game Series-record 92 batters, 49 by Cardinal pitchers and 43 by Browns hurlers. Emil Verban topped Cardinal hitters with a .412 average. The Series was dubbed the "Streetcar Series" as many fans used that mode of travel to and from the ballpark.

1946

Home paid attendance topped 1 million for the first time. The Cardinals and Dodgers finished the season in a tie for first in the N.L., the first time that occurred in the major leagues. Stan Musial won the N.L. MVP award, leading the league in nearly every offensive category. Enos Slaughter led the league with 130 RBIs. The Cardinals took a three-game series with the Dodgers to decide the N.L., then defeated Boston in a seven-game World Series. Harry "the Cat" Brecheen won three games for the Redbirds. In the bottom of the eighth inning of the seventh game, with the score tied at 3 to 3, Enos Slaughter singled, then scored all the way from first on Harry Walker's double to left-center. Slaughter's "Mad Dash" surprised Red Sox relay man Johnny Pesky, whose moment's hesitation allowed Slaughter to score the winning run.

1947

At the end of the season, Breadon, his health failing, sold out to Robert E. Hannegan (then Postmaster General of the United States) and Fred Saigh. Hannegan served as president until 1949, selling his share to Saigh.

1948

Stan Musial won his third N.L. Most Valuable Player award and led the league in nearly every batting department - average (.376); runs (135); hits (230); total bases (429); doubles (46); triples (18); runs batted in (131); and slugging percentage (.702). The St. Louis Browns hosted the All-Star Game at Sportsman's Park on July 13.

1950

The Cardinals played their first night opener in St. Louis.

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St. Louis Cardinals: 1951 to 1975

1952

In late 1952, when it appeared that Fred Saigh might sell the club to out-of-town interests who might seek to move it, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., led by its president, August A. Busch Jr., stepped in and purchased the club. The sale was announced on February 20, 1953.

1953

Bill Veeck, owner of the A.L. Browns knew as soon as the sale to Anheuser-Busch, Inc. was announced, that he would seek to move his team to Milwaukee or Baltimore. Veeck negotiated the sale of Sportsman's Park to A-B on April 9. Following the 1953 season, the park was renovated and renamed Busch Stadium.

1954

Musial hit five home runs in a May 2 double-header against the Giants at Busch Stadium. Hear the audio.

1957

Musial established an N.L. endurance record by extending his streak of consecutive games played to 895 before being forced to the bench by injury. The mishap occurred at Philadelphia on August 22, when he tore a muscle and chipped a bone in his shoulder blade as he swung at and missed a high, outside pitch. He won the batting title with a .351 average.

1958

Musial, pinch-hitting in the sixth inning, doubled against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 13 to collect his 3,000th career hit. Curt Flood played 121 games in his rookie campaign.

1962

Musial, nearing his 42nd birthday, made a bid for his eighth batting title by hitting .330, but Tommy Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the crown with a .346 mark. Twenty-three-year-old Bob Gibson was recalled from the minors.

1963

Musial, who won seven N.L. batting titles in his 22-year career with the Cardinals and had a lifetime average of .331, announced his retirement. His famous No. 6 became the first Cardinal number to be retired on September 29. The All-Star infield of Julian Javier, Dick Groat, Ken Boyer and Bill White set the tone for 1964.

1964

On June 15 the Cardinals acquired OF Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs. In 103 games with the Cards he scored 81 runs, helping to catapult the team from 7th to 1st place, as they won the division on the season's last day. Ken Boyer won the N.L. MVP with 119 RBIs. OF Curt Flood won a Gold Glove alongside Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente. The Cards upset the New York Yankees in a seven-game series, the Cardinals first Series appearance since the addition of four new franchises and two new divisions to baseball in 1961. Ken Boyer hit a grand slam to win the fourth game; Tim McCarver, who batted a Series-high .478, smashed a 10th inning home run to win the fifth game, and Ron Taylor and Roger Craig combined for 9.2 scoreless innings of relief.

1966

The Cardinals closed old Busch Stadium on May 8 with a 10-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants. On May 12, they opened new Busch Memorial Stadium in downtown St. Louis by defeating the Atlanta Braves, 4-3, in 12 innings. Lou Brock singled with the bases loaded, driving in Curt Flood with the winning run. The winning pitcher was Don Dennis, the loser Phil Niekro. Mike Shannon got the first Cardinal hit, a first-inning single, and Atlanta's Felipe Alou hit two home runs. The Cardinals also hosted the All-Star Game.

1967

Home paid attendance topped 2 million for the first time. "El Birdos" enjoyed the dominating play by Latin stars Julian Javier and Orlando Cepeda. Winning their 11th pennant, the Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox, four games to three. Bob Gibson pitched three complete-game victories and Lou Brock put on one of the finest offensive displays in World Series history. Gibson limited the Red Sox to only 14 hits in three games, and Brock topped all Series hitters with a .414 batting average. Lou also set a Series record by stealing seven bases and Roger Maris hit .385 and drove in seven runs.

1968

Bob Gibson had a 22-9 record, hurled 13 shutouts, had a 15-game winning streak and allowed only 38 earned runs in 304 innings for a 1.12 ERA, a Major League record for a pitcher who worked more than 300 innings. He set a World Series strikeout record with 17 in the first game against Detroit. His remarkable season earned him the National League's Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards. In the Series, the Cardinals led three games to one, but the Tigers rallied to win the last three contests and claim their first world championship since 1945. Gibson won two games for the Redbirds and had 35K in the Series, breaking the mark of 31 he set against the Yankees in 1964. Lou Brock batted .464 and stole seven bases.

1969

On September 15 against the New York Mets, Steve Carlton struck out 19 batters, a major league record at the time. However, he lost the game, 4-3, as Ron Swoboda hit a pair of two-run homers. Carlton struck out at least one man in every inning and fanned the side in four different frames.

1970

Gibson had a 23-7 record and received his second N.L. Cy Young Award. The Cardinals played their first season at Busch on AstroTurf, which replaced the original natural-grass field.

1971

Joe Torre won the N.L. batting title with a .363 average and was named league MVP. Gibson pitched his only career no-hitter, an 11-0 victory over the Pirates on August 14. Red Schoendienst established a longevity record for Cardinal managers, completing his seventh season. Lou Brock became the first major league player to steal 50 or more bases in seven consecutive years.

1972

Gibson extended his major league record for most seasons with 200 or more strikeouts to nine. He also set an N.L. career mark for right-handers with his 2,786th strikeout. Brock extended his record for most consecutive seasons of 50 or more stolen bases to eight. The Cardinals drew their 50 millionth fan since 1900.

1973

Brock stole his 600th base, moving into ninth place on the all-time list, and extended his major league record for most consecutive seasons with 50 or more steals to nine. Gibson moved into second place on the all-time strikeout list. Joe Torre collected his 2,000th hit and 1,000th RBI.

1974

Brock steals 118 bases to break Maury Wills' single-season mark and surpasses Max Carey's N.L. career record. Brock moves from ninth to second on the all-time career stolen base list. Gibson strikes out the 3,000th batter of his career to become only the second pitcher in baseball history to reach that figure. The Cardinals draw more than 1,800,000 fans, the third-highest home attendance in their history. The Redbirds and Mets play a 25-inning game, the longest night game in major league history and the longest game ever played to conclusion. Cardinals win as Bake McBride scores from first on two errors. McBride is named the N.L. Rookie Of The Year.

1975

Brock gets career hit No. 2,500 and stolen base No. 800. Gibson retires after a 17-year Cardinal career and 251 victories. Gibby is honored by a standing-room crowd on Bob Gibson Day. Jacket Day attracts 50,548 fans, the largest regular-season crowd in St. Louis baseball history. Hrabosky compiles 13 wins and 22 saves and is named "Fireman of the Year.'' Ted Simmons finishes second in the league batting race with a .332 average.

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St. Louis Cardinals: 1976 to Present

1976

John Denny wins the National League ERA title at age 23, tying youngest right-hander to win ERA title in N.L. Lou Brock gets 2700th hit of his career and closes to within 27 of tying Ty Cobb's stolen base record.

1977

Lou Brock breaks Ty Cobb's career stolen base mark with number 893 in San Diego, August 29. Garry Templeton becomes youngest M.L. shortstop ever to gather 200 hits in a season. Templeton leads majors with 18 triples, highest number since 1957. Ted Simmons sets club record for home runs by a catcher with 21. Ken Reitz sets new fielding record with N.L. third baseman by committing only 9 errors. Bob Forsch wins 20 games.

1978

Bob Forsch no hits Phillies 5-0, April 16 at Busch Stadium. Manager Vern Rapp dismissed April 24. Ken Boyer becomes Cardinal manager April 29. Ted Simmons sets club season record and career high with 22 homers for a catcher. George Hendrick has 7 RBI's at Atlanta, August 25. Busch Memorial Stadium gets new Astroturf.

1979

Lou Brock collected his 3000th career hit (single off Dennis Lamp) in the 4th inning against the Cubs on August 13 at Busch Stadium. On September 23, Brock stole his 938th base making him baseball's all-time stolen base leader surpassing William (Sliding Billy) Hamilton. Keith Hernandez wins batting title with .344 average and is co-winner of National League M.V.P. award with Pittsburgh's Willie Stargell. Garry Templeton led N.L. with 211 hits. Templeton also led the league in triples with 19, for the third year in a row, setting a new N.L. record and tying the major league mark. His 19 triples are highest number since 1957. He became the first switch-hitter in major league history to collect 100 hits, both right and left-handed, in one season. Garry finished with 100 hits RH and 111 hits LH. Ted Simmons hit a career high 26 home runs, which also set a club record for homers by a catcher.

1980

Ken Reitz sets new fielding record for N.L. third baseman by committing only 8 errors. Dane Iorg has 7 RBI's, August 28 vs. Atlanta. Manager Ken Boyer dismissed June 8. Whitey Herzog becomes Cardinal manager June 9. On August 18, John Claiborne fired as G.M. and Herzog named G.M. on August 29. Red Schoendienst served as interim manager for balance of season. On October 24, Herzog assumed dual role of general manager and field manager.

1981

The Cardinals finished the season with the best winning percentage in the Eastern Division, but missed the playoffs because they finished second in each of the two sections of the schedule, revised due to the mid-summer players' strike. The Philadelphia Phillies, leaders when the strike began, were voted the first-half championship (however, the Phillies, Cardinals, and Cincinnati Reds voted against it), while Montreal won the second half. In each half, the Cardinals played fewer games than the winners, and could have tied or won either half with the opportunity to play the same number of games. Bruce Sutter, one of several players obtained in winter trades by Whitey Herzog, won the Rolaids Relief Man award.

1982

In order to concentrate more on managing, Whitey Herzog stepped down as General Manager on Opening Day, turning the reins over to Joe McDonald. The move paid off as the Cardinals stayed in first place for only 48 days of the season and claimed their first ever National League East Championship. A 3-0 sweep of the Atlanta Braves put the Cards in their 13th World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers who fell 4-3 to St. Louis in the 'Fall Classic.' The 1982 team was characterized by an aggressive running style of baseball; seven players stole bases in double figures, led by team catalyst Lonnie Smith, who swiped 68. The team hit only 67 home runs, the fewest in the major leagues. Strong and consistent pitching performances were the rule; prior to clinching the title the Cardinals never lost more than three games in a row. Bruce Sutter had a hand in almost half of the team's victories.

1983

Despite the fact that the 1983 Cardinals finished in fourth place, eleven games out, the team was competitive and exciting, although inconsistent, throughout much of the season. The team climbed to within a half-game of the division lead on September 5 before embarking on a thirteen-day road during which the starting rotation struggled. The running Redbirds set a new club record with 207 stolen bases. Danny Cox made his way from extended spring training to make the rotation. Bob Forsch pitched the second no-hitter of his career. George Hendrick moved to first base after Keith Hernandez was traded to the Mets; he earned a spot on the Silver Slugger and All-Star Teams. Ozzie Smith won his fourth straight Gold Glove and Willie McGee won his first.

1984

The Cardinals got off to a bad start in 1984 and dwelled in fifth place for much of the first half of the season before turning things around after the All-Star break to finish with a winning record (84-78). Following the mid-summer classic the Cards posted a 42-33 record, second in the N.L. That surge lifted the Cards into a third-place finish in the division at year's end despite contending with many injuries. The team's 220 stolen bases broke the club record of 207 in 1983. They were the first major league team since the 1916 St. Louis Browns to steal 200 or more bases three years in a row. Bruce Sutter set a National League record and tied the major league record for saves in a season (45) and was Fireman of the Year. Joaquin Andujar (20-14, 12 CG, 4 SHO) became the club's first 20-game winner in seven seasons and won a Gold Glove. Rookie Terry Pendleton hit .324 after joining the club in July, sparking the team to a 41-29 record. The Cards drew over 2,000,000 fans for the third consecutive year.

1985

The Cardinals lost their first four games, bounced back to 7-7, only to lose the next four.

The next time they reached .500 was at 20-20, before turning it on. They finally made it to first-place on June 21, where they remained for most of the season. Five defeats in six games early in September left the Cardinals a game behind the New York Mets with 25 to play. But the Redbirds then won 14 of their next 15 and took the division title by three games with 101 victories. Willie McGee was the batting champion (at .353, a new high for a N.L. switch-hitter) and league Most Valuable Player; Vince Coleman was Rookie of the Year; and John Tudor and Joaquin Andujar each won 21 games while Danny Cox took 18. Willie McGee and Ozzie Smith won Gold Gloves again, and great starts by Tommy Herr (110 RBI) and Jack Clark (22 homers) contributed. Closer Todd Worrell was called up on August 28. In a great NLCS, the Cards dropped the first two games and then won four straight. Ozzie won Game 5 with a dramatic bottom-of-the-ninth home run off Tom Niedenfuer, his first ever homer batting left-handed (hear the audio). Down 5-4 with two out in the top of the ninth of Game 6, Jack Clark tagged Niedenfuer for a three-run homer to take the game and the series. In the World Series, Bret Saberhagen's Kansas City Royals defeated the Redbirds in seven games. The most memorable event of the series was Don Denkinger's blown call in the top of the ninth inning in Game 6, on Jorge Orta's leadoff grounder Don Denkinger call in the Game 6.

1986

The defending National League Champions stumbled at the beginning of the season. After the first two months of the season the Cardinals had the worst record in the League. But the team righted itself posting winning records in each of the next four months to finish third in the National League's Eastern Division. Individually Vince Coleman stole 107 bases to become the first player ever to steal over 100 bases in each of his first two seasons and the first N.L. player to steal 100 bases twice; rookie left-hander Greg Mathews, who was promoted from Louisville, won 11 games in little more than half a season; Ozzie Smith won his seventh straight Gold Glove and Todd Worrell was named N.L. Rookie of the Year. Worrell blazed his way to a major league rookie record 36 saves, becoming the first rookie pitcher ever to lead the league in saves and the first rookie to earn N.L. Relief Pitcher of the Year honor...Three attendance milestones were hit and surpassed during the course of the season. The Cardinals reached the two million mark for the fifth consecutive year, drew the 75 millionth fan in the history of the franchise since 1900 and drew the 50 millionth fan to see the Redbirds play under Anheuser-Busch ownership.

1987

Sparked by a potent offense, the Cardinals slipped no further than two games back in the N.L. East standings and claimed sole possession of first place on May 22. Beset by injuries to several key players throughout the season, manager Whitey Herzog made use of a mixture of experienced veterans and eager rookies to fill the voids created by injuries. The Cardinals extended their lead to 9-1/2 games on July 23 but saw the lead shrink to 1 game as late as Sept. 19. A come-from-behind win a New York on Sept. 11 followed by a doubleheader sweep of the Expos on Sept. 29, set the stage for the pennant clinching win over Montreal on Oct. 1. Several Cards enjoyed banner seasons offensively, including Vince Coleman (third straight season with 100 SB), Jack Clark (35 HR and 106 RBI), Ozzie Smith (.300 BA for first time in his career), Terry Pendleton (.286 BA and 96 RBI), Willie McGee (105 RBI). The Redbirds had four starters with 10 or more victories (John Tudor, Bob Forsch, Greg Mathews and Danny Cox) while rookie Joe Magrane showed much promise in his initial season. In the bullpen, Todd Worrell followed up his impressive rookie season with 33 saves and Ken Dayley overcame serious elbow surgery to post nine wins in relief. 1987 was a fantastic year at the gate as well, as the Cardinals drew a Major League leading 3,072,122 fans, becoming just the third club in M.L. history to surpass the three million mark in attendance.

1988

After acquiring Tom Brunansky from Minnesota in April, the defending N.L. champions climbed within six games of first on June 12, but injuries to Bob Horner and Terry Pendleton crippled the offense. By the end of July, the Cardinals were 19 games out of first. Newcomer Jose DeLeon became the first Cards pitcher since 1972 to record 200 strikeouts. Sophomore hurler Joe Magrane won the N.L. ERA title with a 2.18 mark, despite winning just five games. Todd Worrell posted his third-straight 30-save season, and Vince Coleman led the league in stolen bases for the fourth consecutive year. Jose Oquendo became the first N.L. player since 1918 to play all nine positions in a season. Trades that brought Pedro Guerrero, Denny Walling and Brunansky to St. Louis also ended long-time affiliations with departing players Tom Herr, Bob Forsch and John Tudor. Despite finishing fifth, the club drew nearly 2.9 million fans to Busch.

1989

Although the outlook was bleak when injuries crippled the pitching staff in spring training, the Cardinals remained in the race until the final week of the season. The Redbirds pulled within a half-game of the division-leading Chicago Cubs with a dramatic come-from-behind win on Sept. 9, but a six-game losing streak followed and the Cards sunk to third place on the final day of the season. Pedro Guerrero was spectacular in the clutch, batting .406 with runners in scoring position and leading the club with 117 RBI and a .311 batting average. Vince Coleman again led the league in stolen bases and set a major league record by stealing 50 consecutive bases without being caught, a streak begun in 1988. Despite the early concern over the pitching staff, Joe Magrane (18 wins) and Jose DeLeon (16) spearheaded the patched-up starting unit. The Cardinals set a club attendance record, attracting 3,080,980 fans during a season that ended on a sad note when long-time club president August A. Busch Jr. died at age 90.

1990

Considered by many to be a contender following the spring training "lockout," the Cardinals never lived up to expectations and finished in last place for the first time since 1918. On July 5, Manager Whitey Herzog resigned after more than 10 years as the Cards' skipper. Interim manager Red Schoendienst took over until Aug. 2, when Joe Torre was named manager. Willie McGee won the league batting title (.335), despite being traded to Oakland in late August as the team made room for younger players. One of those was rookie catcher Todd Zeile, who led the team with 15 homers. John Tudor returned to the club and posted a team-high 12 wins but announced his retirement following the season. Vince Coleman led the league in steals for the sixth straight year, tying Maury Wills' N.L. record, and batted a career-high .292. Starting pitchers Jose DeLeon (a league-high 19 losses) and Joe Magrane (17 losses) were disappointments. Reliever Lee Smith was a steady closer following his acquisition in May, saving 27 games. Jose Oquendo set a major league record for fewest errors by a second baseman (three).

1991

Coming off a last-place finish, the Cardinals were one of baseball's biggest surprises in 1991, moving up to second place in the N.L. East. Manager Joe Torre, in his first full season at the Cardinals' helm, opened the year with several unproven players at key positions. Among the young standouts were outfielders Ray Lankford and Felix Jose. Lankford led the majors with 15 triples and had a team-high 44 steals. Nine Cardinals stole 10 or more bases, the first time since 1917 that a team had done so. Former Athletic Jose, playing his first full season in the National League, led the Cardinals in batting (.305) and plugged Busch Stadium's spacious gaps with 40 doubles. Sophomore Todd Zeile made a fine transition from catcher to third base, leading the club with 11 homers and 81 RBI. Catcher Tom Pagnozzi, seeing his first full-time duty, earned a Gold Glove award. The season also was a good one for Cardinals named Smith. Lee Smith set an N.L. record with 47 saves and became only the fifth pitcher to record 300 career saves. Ozzie Smith set an N.L. record for fewest errors by a shortstop (eight) en route to winning his 12th Gold Glove. Bryn Smith's 12 wins paced the pitching staff, which was without Joe Magrane, Frank DiPino and Todd Worrell due to injuries. Young starters Ken Hill (11 wins) and Omar Olivares (11 wins), and reliever Cris Carpenter (10 wins) helped fill the void.

1992

Though injuries took a toll in the Cardinals' centennial season, the team actually led the N.L. East by one game on June 1, despite losing three players in the first week of the season. Injuries or illnesses continued to mount, however, as the team lost shortstop Ozzie Smith to chicken pox for two weeks in late June and Omar Olivares and Rheal Cormier from the starting rotation. At second base, seven players were used. Ray Lankford, moved from first to third in the order, became the first Cardinal since Lou Brock in 1967 to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases. Ozzie Smith tied Felix Jose for the club lead in batting (.295) and stole a team-high 43 bases. The "Wizard" also collected his 2,000th career hit and 500th stolen base, besides earning his 12th All-Star Game berth and 13th Gold Glove. Bob Tewksbury emerged as the No. 1 starter, winning 16 games and ranking second in the majors with a 2.16 ERA. He joined Smith on the N.L. All-Star squad, as did catcher Tom Pagnozzi, who tied a league mark with a .999 fielding average, and reliever Lee Smith, who led the league in saves (43) for the second straight season. Smith received help in the bullpen from Todd Worrell, who, after missing the last two seasons to injury, moved into the top spot on the Cards' all-time saves list. The team's major league record 16-game errorless streak in August helped establish a club record for fielding (.985). On the down side, the Redbirds set records for most strikeouts and caught stealing in a season. Moving the fences in proved beneficial. The Cards set a Busch Stadium season high while out-homering opponents, 55-52.

1993

Helped by a 20-7 mark in June (a club record for the month) and a potent offense, the Cardinals closed to within three games of the front-running Philadelphia Phillies in mid-July, only to fall 10 games back by the end of August. Midseason injuries to relievers Mike Perez, Les Lancaster and Paul Kilgus put the pitching staff on the skids. Offensively, several players enjoyed banner seasons, reflected by the team's 118 home runs, the most in 30 years. Newcomer Gregg Jefferies finished third in the N.L. batting race at .342 and swiped 46 bases, the most ever by a Cardinal first baseman. Mark Whiten cracked a team-high 25 home runs, including four in the second game of a September 7 double-header at Cincinnati, thus becoming only the 12th player to accomplish the feat. His 12 RBI in the game tied former Cardinal Jim Bottomley's major league record. For the season, Whiten finished with 99 RBI. Todd Zeile drove in 60 after the All-Star break, finishing with a team-high 103 RBI as he settled into the cleanup spot. Bernard Gilkey enjoyed a breakthrough season, leading the club in hits, extra-base hits and runs scored. Ozzie Smith recorded his 16th-straight 20-steal season and passed Larry Bowa to become the all-time N.L. leader in games played at shortstop. Gerald Perry tied a club record with 24 pinch-hits. Though the pitching was largely inconsistent, Bob Tewksbury led the staff with a career-best 17 wins and walked only 20 batters for the second straight season. Cuban rookie Rene Arocha ranked second on the staff with 11 wins, despite missing nearly a month with a broken finger. Reliever Lee Smith became the majors' career saves leader in April and set a club record for career saves (160) before being traded to the New York Yankees in late August. The Cards slipped defensively, committing 159 errors and failing to place a member on the Rawlings' Gold Glove team for the first time since 1977.

1994

The season started with a bang when Ray Lankford homered in the first at-bat of the schedule, but a players' strike in mid-August forced the cancellation of the remainder of the season and the World Series, ending the year in tragic fashion. When play was suspended on August 12, the Redbirds were 53-61 and tied with Pittsburgh for third place in the newly formed N.L. Central Division. The club's 5.14 ERA was its worst since 1897, and the opposition outscored the Cards by nearly 100 runs. A seven-game winning streak by Bob Tewksbury and a consecutive-game homer streak of 12 games highlighted the early portion of the schedule, helping the club stay within five games of first place through July 2. The Cardinals were involved in 14 shutouts and, despite inconsistent pitching, won seven of them. They tied an N.L. record by using six pitchers in a shutout (2-0) win at Pittsburgh on May 17. On May 24 against Philadelphia, they established a record for most runners left on base (16) in a shutout loss. The Cardinals blasted 108 home runs, exceeding the 100-homer plateau for just the second time since 1980, and were on pace to hit their most round-trippers since 1963. They hit a Busch Stadium-record five home runs in a July 1 win vs. Colorado. An 8-20 record in July included two of the team's lowest moments: On July 16 at Colorado, Cardinal pitchers walked a team-record 16 batters, one short of the N.L. record, and on July 18, the team tied an N.L. mark by losing an 11-run lead in its 15-12 loss at Houston. Ozzie Smith passed Luis Aparicio on July 14 to become baseball's all-time assist leader at shortstop. On September 1, Mark Lamping was appointed president, replacing the retiring Stuart Meyer. Lamping named Walt Jocketty general manager in October, replacing Dal Maxvill, who had held the title since 1985. Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Lou Brock were named to manager Joe Torre's coaching staff for 1995.

1995

The season was disappointing in most respects, with the Cardinals posting a 62-81 mark and their worst winning percentage (.434) since 1990. The schedule was reduced to 144 games due to the players' strike that continued into the first week of April. Once play began on April 26, the Cardinals never challenged for the NL Central lead. On June 16, Manager Joe Torre was fired and replaced by Mike Jorgensen. Although the team languished near the Central Division basement, there were a number of individual highlights. Reliever Tom Henke saved 36 of 38 opportunities, including a team-record 22 straight to begin the season, and won his first Rolaids Relief title. He also notched his 300th career save, becoming the seventh pitcher to reach that plateau. Henke headlined a bullpen that led the NL with a 2.71 ERA and a .225 opponents' batting mark. Rich DeLucia topped the team with eight wins (the lowest-ever total to lead the club), all in relief. While starters Danny Jackson and Ken Hill failed to fulfill expectations, Mike Morgan, who was acquired in a June trade for Todd Zeile, gave the Busch Stadium crowd a night to remember on July 3 when he held Montreal hitless for 8.1 innings.On offense, the Cardinals' outfield trio of Bernard Gilkey (a team-high .298 BA), Ray Lankford (25 HRs, 82 RBIs) and Brian Jordan (22 HRs, 81 RBIs) led the way. Lankford's team-high 25 homers were the most ever by a Cards center fielder, and he tied Jordan for the team lead with 24 steals, thus becoming only the fifth Cardinal and the first since 1948 to lead the team in both home runs and steals. Jordan and Lankford also formed the Redbirds' first 20-homer tandem since 1980. First baseman/outfielder John Mabry (.307) narrowly missed qualifying for the NL Top 10 in batting, but his average topped all NL rookies and earned him a spot on the Topps All-Rookie team. Ozzie Smith, who was slowed by a shoulder injury, added to his collection of fielding records on Sept. 15 when he turned his 1,554th double play, an all-time high among shortstops. He also became the first big-league shortstop since 1950 to play at the age of 40 and the first Cardinal shortstop to do so since 1918. Off the bench, veteran Gerald Perry became the club's all-time pinch-hit leader (70), rookie Mark Sweeney hit in seven straight pinch at-bats (one short of the major league record) and Danny Sheaffer hit the Cards' first pinch grand slam in nearly 10 years. The Cardinals took part in two bizarre games at Dodger Stadium: on May 12 they committed seven errors, their highest single-game total since 1940, and on Aug. 10 they recorded a 2-1 forfeit win, the first forfeited game in the majors since 1979. A busy off-season included the hiring of Tony La Russa as manager and the announced sale of the club to a group of long-time Cardinals fans led by Fred Hanser, William DeWitt Jr. and Andrew Baur. The Busch playing surface was changed from artificial turf to natural grass prior to the '96 season.

1996

With new ownership, new Manager Tony LaRussa and a variety of new players in

place, the Cardinals made their first postseason appearance since 1987. The year also marked the end of an era, as shortstop Ozzie Smith completed his 19th, and final, major league campaign. The Cardinals began their climb to their first N.L. Central Division title after falling nine games below .500 following a series sweep by Colorado in mid-May. They rebounded with a sweep of the division-rival Astros in Houston, went on to record a 17-10 mark in June and reached the All-Star break tied for the division lead. The race remained close until Labor Day weekend, when the Redbirds swept three games from the first-place Astros to take over the division lead for good. Right fielder Brian Jordan led the league with a .422 batting average with runners in scoring position and teamed with center fielder Ray Lankford, the N.L. fielding leader, to provide dazzling outfield defense. New left fielder Ron Gant led the team with 30 homers despite missing over a month to injury. Brothers Andy (18-10) and Alan Benes (13-10) combined for 31 wins, and newcomer Todd Stottlemyre fashioned 14 victories in his first N.L. season. Lefthander Donovan Osborne won a career-high 13 games. The bullpen was anchored by former Oakland relief ace Dennis Eckersley, who saved 30 games in 34 tries. Fan-favorite Willie McGee returned to the club after five years with San Francisco and Boston and batted .307, including .350 in the pinch. The season also featured many record-setting achievements: The Cardinals tied a 56-year-old club record with a seven-homer game (July 12 at Chicago); the pitching staff recorded a team-record 1,050 strikeouts; and Willie McGee's five-RBI inning tied Chick Hafey's 1930 mark. The Cardinals retired the uniform numbers of Red Schoendienst (2), Enos Slaughter (9) and Ozzie Smith (1). In their first postseason appearance in nine years, the Cardinals swept a best-of-five Division Series from San Diego. After taking a 3-1 lead over defending World Series champion Atlanta in the NLCS, the Cardinals lost three straight.

1997

After beginning the season with a six-game losing streak, the Cardinals never climbed above .500 and finished in fourth place with a 73-89 record, 11 games behind division-winner Houston. The Redbirds did manage to take sole possession of first place for two days (July 2-3), and their high-water mark for the season was an even .500 (41-41). But after trailing first-place Pittsburgh by only two games at the All-Star break, the Cardinals dropped to 711/42 back by the end of July. During the course of the season, the Cardinals set several club records. They used a record 51 players (including 24 pitchers), swatted a franchise-record 144 round-trippers (one more than their 1955 total of 143), and established team highs in strikeouts - at the plate (1,191) and on the mound (1,130). Ray Lankford, who missed the first two weeks of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery, emerged as a star-caliber player, leading the team with a career-high 31 homers (the most ever by a Cards center fielder) and career-best 98 RBIs. He finished only percentage points behind team batting leader Delino DeShields (.2954 to .2946). Slugger Mark McGwire arrived July 31 and belted 24 home runs as a Cardinal, including 15 in September (a club record for one month). He finished with 58 homers, tying the major league record for righthanded hitters. McGwire became just the fifth player to hit as many as 58 home runs and only the second, next to Babe Ruth, to record 50 or more in consecutive seasons. "Big Mac's" total of 110 homers in 1996 and '97 are the most ever back-to-back by a righty. He finished the year by homering in 12 consecutive series, but none of those blasts matched the flair of the 517-foot shot he launched above the left-field scoreboard in his first at-bat on Sept. 16, the day he announced he'd signed a multiyear contract with the club. Pitcher Matt Morris displayed much promise in his first season, leading N.L. rookie pitchers in wins (12), ERA (3.19), complete games (three), strikeouts (149), opponents' batting average (.258) and innings pitched (217). He topped the staff in victories and starts (33). DeShields led the team in batting (.295), hits (169), triples (14), sacrifice flies (six) and stolen bases (55). He was the first Cardinal since Lankford in 1991 to lead the league in triples. The Cardinals posted an 8-7 record against A.L. opponents in their first year of interleague play. They swept a three-game series from Minnesota but lost three at Milwaukee. The team drew 2,634,014 fans, the fifth-highest total in club history. Before the season, the Cardinals added a hand-operated scoreboard in center field and moved the visitors' bullpen to right field.

1998

While Mark McGwire slugged his way to a record-setting season, the Cardinals finished

in third place for the fifth time in the last decade, 19 games behind Central Division champion Houston. The 83-79 Cardinals jumped out of the gate strong, as McGwire began his march toward 70 home runs by going deep in each of the first four games, helping the Redbirds to a 16-11 record through April. As injuries took their toll, the Cardinals labored into the All-Star recess in fourth place, 12 1/2 games out of first, with a 40-46 record. The team wound up closing the season with a 43-33 record after the break, including an 18-7 mark in September, the franchise's best record in that month since moving into Busch Stadium in 1966. McGwire remained the center of attention throughout the year, captivating a national audience as he marched toward Roger Maris' 1961 single-season record of 61 homers. Big Mac eclipsed the record with his 62nd homer at 8:18 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The record-breaking homer came with two outs in the fourth inning, a solo shot to left field off Cubs' righthander Steve Trachsel (hear the audio). McGwire set a bevy of records during his home run tour de force. He walked 162 times to set a new N.L. standard, averaged one home run every 7.27 at-bats to break his 1996 major league record of one homer every 8.13 at-bats, hit an N.L.-record 38 home runs at home and became the first player to hit at least 50 homers in three consecutive seasons. McGwire also set a club record for most home runs in one month when he hit 16 in May, became the first Cardinal to hit a grand slam on Opening Day, hit the longest home run in Busch Stadium history (an estimated 545 feet on May 16) and became the oldest player (34 years, 324 days) in major league history to hit as many as 50 homers in a season. Home run records weren't McGwire's exclusive domain, however, as the team collectively set a single-season club mark with 223 homers, most in the National League and second-most in N.L. history. The Cardinals hit 10 homers in the pinch, also a team record, and homered in a team-record 17 straight games (34 homers total) from May 7 to May 25. The Cardinals' lineup featured four players with at least 20 homers for the first time ever, with McGwire and the outfield trio of Ray Lankford (31 homers), Ron Gant (26) and Brian Jordan (25) making history. McGwire and Lankford combined for 101 home runs, becoming just the third pair of teammates in big-league history to top the century mark in one year. Lankford wound up with a career-high 105 RBIs and became the all-time Busch Stadium home run leader, reaching 87 in his career. Outfielder J.D. Drew, the Cards' first selection (fifth overall) in the June amateur draft, signed a major league contract July 3 and made his big-league debut Sept. 8. On the pitching staff, 15 hurlers drew starting assignments, though the staff became more solidified in the second half as players returned from injuries. Righthander Matt Morris was activated from the disabled list on July 10 and led the staff after the All-Star break with seven wins and a 2.48 ERA. Cardinals fans turned out in record numbers, setting club home (3,194,092) and road (2,766,984) attendance marks. The club sold out its final 14 home games (the entire September home schedule).

1999

The Cardinals concluded the 1900s almost exactly the way they began them - their .466 winning percentage (75-86) in '99 was nearly identical to their .464 mark in 1900, and they finished 21 1/2 games out of first place, slightly off their 19-game deficit 99 years earlier. Mark McGwire followed his record-setting 70-homer season of 1998 with a 65-homer campaign in 1999 and led the league with 147 RBIs. While extending his record string of consecutive 50-homer seasons to four, McGwire climbed 10 spots on the all-time home run list, moving into 10th place with 522 career blasts. He hit No. 500 on Aug. 5 off San Diego's Andy Ashby, reaching the plateau in the fewest at-bats (5,487) in big-league history. Third baseman Fernando Tatis enjoyed a banner offensive season that included a .298 batting average, 34 home runs and 107 RBIs. He also stole 21 bases to become just the fourth player (and first infielder) in Cardinals history to have a 20-homer/20-steal season. Tatis led the league with a .692 batting average (9-for-13) with the bases loaded, and on April 23 he became the first player to hit two grand slams in the same inning, connecting for both off the Dodgers' Chan Ho Park. Tatis' three grand slams during the year tied a club record, and his 34 homers were the most ever by a Redbirds third sacker. Joe McEwing's 25-game hitting streak from June 8 through July 4 established a club mark for rookies, ranking as the fifth-longest by a rookie in major league history. Shortstop Edgar Renteria led the team in games (154), at-bats (585), hits (161), doubles (36), and stolen bases (37). Pitcher Kent Bottenfield matched his career victory total by posting an 18-7 record. Bottenfield, who took a 14-3 record into his first career All-Star Game appearance, led the staff in wins, ERA (3.97), strikeouts (124) and starts (31). Rookie Jose Jimenez provided one of the season's other pitching success stories on June 25, when he no-hit Arizona, winning a 1-0 duel over the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson. Jimenez became the 23rd rookie to toss a no-hitter and just the second Cardinals rookie to do so, after Paul Dean in 1934. Fan-favorite Willie McGee announced his retirement after the season, ending an 18-year major league career that included an N.L. MVP Award, two batting titles and 2,254 hits. Cardinals fans again passed through the turnstiles at a record clip, breaking the team home (3,225,334) and road (2,820,564) attendance marks for the second consecutive season.

2000

Following a disappointing finish in 1999, General Manager Walt Jocketty immediately went to work and bolstered the team’s pitching staff by trading for starters Darryl Kile and Pat Hentgen, and closer Dave Veres. He followed up those moves by dealing for second baseman Fernando Viña and by signing free-agent pitcher Andy Benes, who had departed St. Louis just two years earlier. Mid-way through spring training, Jocketty pulled off perhaps the year’s biggest acquisition by trading pitcher Kent Bottenfield and second baseman Adam Kennedy to Anaheim in exchange for All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds. The 2000 squad opened the season with a 7-1 win over rival Chicago on Opening Day and remained in first place for all but three days. By the All-Star break, the club held an eight-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds and ended the season as National League Central Division Champions, 10 games ahead of their closest pursuer. With a 95-67 record, the team became the 23rd in franchise history, and first since 1987, to reach the 90-win mark. The Cardinals packed a powerful punch in the season’s early stages, smacking home runs at a record rate. Twenty-one different players homered for the Redbirds as they posted a team-record 235 homers on the year. Despite bouts with back and leg injuries, Mark McGwire began the season strong and was hitting .303 with 30 home runs by the All-Star break. A severe case of tendonitis in his right knee caused McGwire to remove himself from the game on July 6 and he never fully recovered the rest of the season. He finished the year with 554 career home runs, ranking seventh on baseball’s all-time home run list. Edmonds took over as the team’s offensive leader, batting .295 with 42 homers and 108 RBIs while also drawing strong MVP consideration. He also turned heads with his spectacular defensive play, earning his third Rawlings Gold Glove award. A spark plug at the top of the lineup, Viña was everything Jocketty and Manager Tony La Russa hoped he would be, despite a couple of trips to the disabled list. While his .300 batting average led the team, Viña was hit by pitch a Major League-leading 28 times, the most by a Cardinal since 1910, when Steve Evans was hit a franchise-record 31 times. A trading deadline deal brought Will “The Thrill” Clark to St. Louis, and Clark, who announced his retirement following the season, sparked an offense that was sagging. He finished the season batting .345 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs in 51 games as a Redbird. Starting pitching was one of the strengths of the club as the Cardinals used only five starters through their first 122 games (August 19). Kile led the team w