The Peoria Chronicle congratulates the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals on winning their 10th World Series Championship. GO CARDINALS!
Picture credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
I was 12 years old the last time the Cardinals won the World Series. I watched them lose in ’85, and again in ’87. Then the long, grueling wait through the ’90s, aka “the Atlanta years.” Then two years ago, I was convinced they were going to go all the way. 105 wins — the best in all of Major League Baseball that year — and their first trip to the World Series in 17 years. It seemed like their destiny to win. Instead, they were swept by the suddenly curse-free Boston Red Sox. To add insult to injury for me, the Red Sox were the wildcard that year, and I have hated the wildcard since it was instituted.
I got to hate the wildcard again last year. After winning 100 games — 11 more than Houston — the Cardinals had to play Houston again in the League Championship Series because Houston was the wildcard team. What a farce. So the Cardinals were denied back-to-back World Series trips thanks to a system that allows second-place teams a second-chance.
So this year was sweet revenge. They only won 83 games this season, but still won their division. They got in by the skin of their teeth, but they were just getting started. They beat San Diego. They beat New York. And tonight, they beat the Detroit Tigers. Finally, no more hearing about how the Cardinals have gone up three games to one only to lose the series — twice. No more hearing about how the Cardinals “backed into” the postseason. And to make the victory even sweeter — they beat the AL wildcard team.
No doubt there will be a lot of talk on the sports shows and ink spilled about all the Tigers errors that helped out St. Louis. Whatever. Bottom line: the Cardinals played better baseball. They made the fundamental plays. Their pitchers could field the ball better. Their fielders (except for Chris Duncan, who needs to be sent back to the single-A minors) could run in the outfield without falling down and make routine catches. Their offense got the clutch hits. And, most importantly, their pitchers shut down the Tigers bats.
Best of all, now when anyone talks about the Cardinals for the next year, I can say, “you mean the World Champion Cardinals?” Ah, music to my ears!
What a great season! I never doubted – I have proof – picked them to win it all on a national site. I will admit I missed the Tigers though – picked those ugly Yanks to lose the final game of the season.
The best part for me, aside from the Cardinals winning, was that they beat the Mets to do it. AND the Yankees lost, too. Hehehehehe … you can hear the collective whine from NYC.
A sweet ending, especially after the postseason frustrations from the past two years. The Cardinals pitching in these playoffs was incredible.
Ummm Go Cubbies?
It’s inevitable that the Cubs will win sometime in the next three years. We had Boston, then the White Sox both break their “curses.” This year the Cardinals broke their “curse” of sorts (the blown call by the first-base umpire in the 1985 World Series). The Cubbies have a new manager (again). I think a World Series win is certainly within reach for you guys.