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List of St. Louis Cardinals seasons

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Summary

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The St. Louis Cardinals, a professional baseball franchise based in St. Louis, Missouri, compete in the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball (MLB). Founded in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association (AA), the team was originally named the Brown Stockings before it was shortened to Browns the next season. The team moved to the National League in 1892 when the AA folded. The club changed its name to the Perfectos for one season in 1899 and adopted the Cardinals name in 1900. The St. Louis Cardinals are tied with the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates as the third-oldest continuously operated baseball team. In that time, the team has won 19 National League pennants and 11 World Series championships (most in the National League and second only to the New York Yankees, who have won 27). They also won four American Association pennants and one pre-World Series championship that Major League Baseball does not consider official.

The Cardinals had six periods of continued success during their history. The first period occurred during the 1880s when the team won four consecutive American Association pennants from 1885–1888 while known as the Browns. The Cardinals next found success from 1926–1934 when they played in five World Series, winning three. During World War II the Cardinals won four NL pennants in five years from 1942–1946, including three World Series championships. During the 1960s the Cardinals won two World Series and played in another. In the 1980s the Cardinals played in three World Series, winning in 1982. Most recently, the Cardinals have made the playoffs nine times, winning seven NL Central titles and qualifying as a wild-card entrant in 2001, 2011 and 2012, winning the World Series in 2006 and 2011.

The only extended period of failure the Cardinals have experienced began when they joined the National League in 1892. The Cardinals played only five winning seasons in 30 years while finishing last seven times from their entrance to the NL until 1921. However, the Cardinals have remarkably avoided such failure since then as they have not finished in last place in the National League since 1918, by far the longest streak in the NL. Like the Yankees and Dodgers, the Cardinals have not lost 100 games in a season since World War I. The Cardinals failed to reach the World Series in the 1950s, 1970s, and 1990s, but were regularly a competitive team in each of these decades.

Year by year

AA Champions
(1882–1892) *Pre-World Series Champions
(1884–1891) †World Series Champions
(1903–present) ‡NL Champions
(1892–present) **Division Champions
(1969–present) ^Wild Card Berth
(1994–present) ¤
SeasonLevelLeagueDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPostseasonAwards188218831884188518861887188818891890189118921893189418951896189718981899190019011902190319041905190619071908190919101911191219131914191519161917191819191920192119221923192419251926192719281929193019311932193319341935193619371938193919401941194219431944194519461947194819491950195119521953195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
St. Louis Brown Stockings
MLBAA5th3743.46318
St. Louis Browns
MLBAA2nd6533.6631
MLBAA4th6740.6268
MLBAA *1st7933.705—Tied World Series (White Stockings) 3–3–1 *
MLB †AA *1st9346.669—Won World Series (White Stockings) 4–2 †
MLBAA *1st9540.704—Lost World Series (Wolverines) 10–5 *Tip O'Neill
(TC)
MLBAA *1st9243.681—Lost World Series (Giants) 6–4 *
MLBAA2nd9045.6672
MLBAA3rd7858.57412
MLBAA2nd8551.6258½
MLBNL11th5694.37346
MLBNL10th5775.43230½
MLBNL9th5676.42434
MLBNL11th3992.29848½
MLBNL11th4090.30850½
MLBNL12th29102.22163½
MLBNL12th39111.26063½
St. Louis Perfectos
MLBNL5th8467.55618½
St. Louis Cardinalsborder=2}};"St. Louis Cardinals
MLBNL5th6575.46419
MLBNL4th7664.54314½
MLBNL6th5678.41844½
MLBNL8th4394.31446½
MLBNL5th7579.48731½
MLBNL6th5896.37747
MLBNL7th5298.34763
MLBNL8th52101.34055½
MLBNL8th49105.31850
MLBNL7th5498.35556
MLBNL7th6390.41240½
MLBNL5th7574.50322
MLBNL6th6390.41241
MLBNL8th5199.34049
MLBNL3rd8172.52913
MLBNL6th7281.47118½
MLBNL7th6093.39233½
MLBNL3rd8270.53915
MLBNL8th5178.39533
MLBNL7th5483.39440½
MLBNL5th7579.48718
MLBNL3rd8766.5697
MLBNL3rd8569.5528Rogers Hornsby
(TC)
MLBNL5th7974.51616
MLBNL6th6589.42228½
MLBNL4th7776.50318Rogers Hornsby (MVP, TC)
MLB ‡NL **1st8965.578—Won World Series (Yankees) 4–3 ‡Bob O'Farrell (MVP)
MLBNL2nd9261.6011½
MLBNL **1st9559.617—Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0 **Jim Bottomley (MVP)
MLBNL4th7874.51320
MLBNL **1st9262.597—Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–2 **
MLB ‡NL **1st10153.656—Won World Series (Athletics) 4–3 ‡Frankie Frisch (MVP)
MLBNL6th7282.46818
MLBNL5th8271.5369½
MLB ‡NL **1st9558.621—Won World Series (Tigers) 4–3 ‡Dizzy Dean (MVP)
MLBNL2nd9658.6234
MLBNL2nd8767.5655
MLBNL4th8173.52615Joe Medwick (MVP, TC)
MLBNL6th7180.47017½
MLBNL2nd9261.6014½
MLBNL3rd8469.54916
MLBNL2nd9756.6342½
MLB ‡NL **1st10648.688—Won World Series (Yankees) 4–1 ‡Mort Cooper (MVP)
MLBNL **1st10549.682—Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–1 **Stan Musial (MVP)
MLB ‡NL **1st10549.682—Won World Series (Browns) 4–2 ‡Marty Marion (MVP)
MLBNL2nd9559.6173
MLB ‡NL **1st9858.628—Won World Series (Red Sox) 4–3 ‡Stan Musial (MVP)
MLBNL2nd8965.5785
MLBNL2nd8569.5526½Stan Musial (MVP)
MLBNL2nd9658.6231
MLBNL5th7875.51012½
MLBNL3rd8173.52615½
MLBNL3rd8866.5718½
MLBNL4th8371.53922
MLBNL6th7282.46825Wally Moon (ROY)
MLBNL7th6886.44230½Bill Virdon (ROY)
MLBNL4th7678.49417
MLBNL2nd8767.5658
MLBNL5th7282.46820
MLBNL7th7183.46116
MLBNL3rd8668.5589
MLBNL5th8074.51913
MLBNL6th8478.51917½
MLBNL2nd9369.5746
MLB ‡NL **1st9369.574—Won World Series (Yankees) 4–3 ‡Ken Boyer (MVP)
Bob Gibson (WS MVP)
MLBNL7th8081.49716½
MLBNL6th8379.51212
MLB ‡NL **1st10160.627—Won World Series (Red Sox) 4–3 ‡Orlando Cepeda (MVP)
Bob Gibson (WS MVP)
MLBNL **1st9765.599—Lost World Series (Tigers) 4–3 **Bob Gibson (MVP, CYA)
MLBNLEast4th8775.53713
MLBNLEast4th7686.46913Bob Gibson (CYA)
MLBNLEast2nd9072.5567Joe Torre (MVP)
MLBNLEast4th7581.48121½
MLBNLEast2nd8181.5001½
MLBNLEast2nd8675.5341½Bake McBride (ROY)
MLBNLEast4th8280.50610½
MLBNLEast5th7290.44429
MLBNLEast3rd8379.51218
MLBNLEast5th6993.42621
MLBNLEast3rd8676.53112Keith Hernandez (MVP)
MLBNLEast4th7488.45717
MLBNLEast2nd3020.6001½
2nd2923.558½
MLB ‡NL **East ^1st9270.568—Won NLCS (Braves) 3–0
Won World Series (Brewers) 4–3 ‡Darrell Porter (WS MVP)
MLBNLEast4th7983.48811
MLBNLEast3rd8478.51912½
MLBNL **East ^1st10161.623—Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Royals) 4–3 **Willie McGee (MVP)
Vince Coleman (ROY)
Whitey Herzog (MOY)
MLBNLEast3rd7982.49128½Todd Worrell (ROY)
MLBNL **East ^1st9567.586—Won NLCS (Giants) 4–3
Lost World Series (Twins) 4–3 **
MLBNLEast5th7686.46925
MLBNLEast3rd8676.5317
MLBNLEast6th7092.43225
MLBNLEast2nd8478.51914
MLBNLEast3rd8379.51213
MLBNLEast3rd8775.53710
MLBNLCentral3rd5361.46513Playoffs cancelled
MLBNLCentral4th6281.43422½
MLBNLCentral ^1st8874.543—Won NLDS (Padres) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Braves) 4–3
MLBNLCentral4th7389.45111
MLBNLCentral3rd8379.51219
MLBNLCentral4th7586.46621½
MLBNLCentral ^1st9567.586—Won NLDS (Braves) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Mets) 4–1
MLBNLCentral1st ¤9369.574—Lost NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–2Albert Pujols (ROY)
MLBNLCentral ^1st9765.599—Won NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1Tony La Russa (MOY)
MLBNLCentral3rd8577.5253
MLBNL **Central ^1st10557.648—Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
Won NLCS (Astros) 4–3
Lost World Series (Red Sox) 4–0 **
MLBNLCentral ^1st10062.617—Won NLDS (Padres) 3–0
Lost NLCS (Astros) 4–2Albert Pujols (MVP)
Chris Carpenter (CYA)
MLB ‡NL **Central ^1st8378.516—Won NLDS (Padres) 3–1
Won NLCS (Mets) 4–3
Won World Series (Tigers) 4–1 ‡David Eckstein (WS MVP)
MLBNLCentral3rd7884.4817
MLBNLCentral4th8676.53111½Albert Pujols (MVP)
MLBNLCentral ^1st9171.562—Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0Albert Pujols (MVP)
MLBNLCentral2nd8676.5316
MLB ‡NL **Central2nd ¤9072.5566Won NLDS (Phillies) 3–2
Won NLCS (Brewers) 4–2
Won World Series (Rangers) 4–3 ‡David Freese (WS MVP)
MLBNLCentral2nd ¤8874.5439Won NLWC (Braves)
Won NLDS (Nationals) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–3
MLBNL **Central ^1st9765.599—Won NLDS (Pirates) 3–2
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Lost World Series (Red Sox) 4–2 **
MLBNLCentral ^1st9072.556—Won NLDS (Dodgers) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1
MLBNLCentral ^1st10062.617—Lost NLDS (Cubs) 3–1
MLBNLCentral2nd8676.53117½
MLBNLCentral3rd8379.5129
MLBNLCentral3rd8874.5437½
MLBNLCentral ^1st9171.562—Won NLDS (Braves) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Nationals) 4–0
Mike Shildt (MOY)
MLBNLCentral2nd ¤3028.5173Lost NLWC (Padres) 2–1
MLBNLCentral2nd ¤9072.5565Lost NLWC (Dodgers)
MLBNLCentral ^1st9369.574—Lost NLWC (Phillies) 2–0Paul Goldschmidt (MVP)
MLBNLCentral5th7191.43821
MLBNLCentral2nd8379.51210
MLBNLCentral4th7884.48119

All-time records

TotalsWinsLossesWin %10,58310,054National League regular season record (1892–2025)11,51410,635All-time regular and post-season record (1882–2025)
781432American Association regular season record (1882–1891)
1621American Association post-season record (1882–1891)
134128MLB post-season record (1892–2025)
11,36410,486All-time regular season record (1882–2025)
150149All-time post-season record (1882–2025)

Record by decade

The following table describes the Cardinals' regular season MLB win–loss record by decade.

St. Louis Cardinalsborder=2}};"Decadestyle="text-align:center; ;"Winsstyle="text-align:center; ;"Lossesstyle="text-align:center; ;"PctSt. Louis Cardinalsborder=2}};"All-timestyle="text-align:center; ;"11,364style="text-align:center; ;"10,486style="text-align:center; ;"
1880s618
1890s563
1900s580
1910s652
1920s822
1930s869
1940s960
1950s776
1960s884
1970s800
1980s825
1990s758
2000s913
2010s899
2020s445

These statistics are from Baseball-Reference.com's St. Louis Cardinals History & Encyclopedia, and are current through the 2025 season.

Footnotes

  • The current variations of the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates all began playing in 1882. The two older clubs are the Atlanta Braves, who were founded in 1871 in Boston, and the Chicago Cubs, who have played continuously since 1874.
  • The Cardinals did finish in last place of the NL East in 1990. However, the Atlanta Braves of the NL West had a worse record. The next longest streak is by the Cincinnati Reds, who most recently finished in last place of the NL in 1982. The similar streak in the American League is held by the Boston Red Sox, who last finished in last place of the AL in 1932.
  • For lists of all National League pennant winners see National League pennant winners 1876–1900, National League pennant winners 1901-68, and National League Championship Series.
  • The Finish, Wins, and Losses columns list regular season results and exclude any postseason play. Regular and postseason records are combined only at the bottom of the list.
  • The GB column lists "Games Back" from the team that finished in first place that season. It is determined by finding the difference in wins plus the difference in losses divided by two.
  • The dispute in 1885 concerned Game 2, which was forfeited by St. Louis when they pulled their team off the field protesting an umpiring decision. The managers, Cap Anson and Charles Comiskey, initially agreed to disregard the game. When St. Louis won the final game and an apparent 3–2 Series championship, Chicago White Stockings owner Albert Spalding overruled his manager and declared that he wanted the forfeit counted. The result of a tied Series was that neither team got the prize money that had been posted by the owners before the Series (and was returned to them after they both agreed it was a tie).
  • The Cardinals moved from their original home, Sportsman's Park, to a new field called New Sportsman's Park where they played until 1920. The ballpark would later be named League Park and then Robision Field under different Cardinals ownership.
  • During the season the Cardinals moved from Robison Field, where they had played since 1893, to become tenants of the St. Louis Browns at Sportsman's Park. The Cardinals had originally played at Sportsman's Park from 1882 to 1892.
  • The 1944 World Series was nicknamed the "Streetcar Series" and featured the NL Cardinals against the AL St. Louis Browns. Every game during the series was played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis.
  • The Cardinals finished the 1946 regular season tied for first place in the National League with the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, the Cardinals claimed the pennant by winning the first two games in a best-of-three playoff series.
  • The 1946 World Series is best remembered for Enos Slaughter's Mad Dash to score the go-ahead run in the 8th inning of Game 7.
  • In 1953 the Cardinals were bought by Anheuser-Busch and Gussie Busch became team president, which he would remain until his death in 1989. Busch then purchased Sportsman's Park from the rival St. Louis Browns and renamed it Busch Stadium. The Browns would leave St. Louis after the season for Baltimore, Maryland.
  • In 1962 the National League increased the schedule from 154 games, which had been established since 1904, to 162 games, where it remains today.
  • During the season the Cardinals moved from Busch Stadium I, where they had played since 1920 to Busch Memorial Stadium.
  • In 1969 MLB expanded by 4 teams to 12 in each league and split each league into an East and West division, the Cardinals were placed in the National League East.
  • The 1972 Major League Baseball strike forced the cancellation of the first seven games (thirteen game-days) of the season.
  • The 1981 season was shortened by a player's strike. MLB decided to split the season into two halves with the division winner of each half playing in a Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Cardinals finished with the best overall record in the NL East at 59–43, but they finished in second place in both halves of the season and did not make the playoffs.
  • The 1985 World Series, nicknamed the "Show-Me Series" or "I-70 Series" because it featured two Missouri teams in St. Louis and the Kansas City Royals, is most remembered for The Call in Game 6. With the Cardinals leading the series 3–2 and Game 6 1–0, they took the field in the 9th inning to claim the championship. Pitcher Todd Worrell faced the Royals Jorge Orta first, Orta hit a slow ground ball to first baseman Jack Clark, who flipped the ball to Worrell at first for the apparent out. However, umpire Don Denkinger called Orta safe and the Cardinals unraveled to lose Game 6 and got blown out in Game 7.
  • The 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike ended the season on August 11 and caused the entire postseason to be cancelled.
  • In 1994 MLB split each league into 3 divisions. The Cardinals were placed in the newly created National League Central.
  • In 2001 the Cardinals and the Houston Astros tied for first place in the NL Central. Since both teams were assured of a place in the playoffs, MLB declared it a shared championship. Houston was granted the NL Central's position in the playoff bracket by way of a better head-to-head record and St. Louis was given the Wild Card spot.
  • The Cardinals began play in the new Busch Stadium in 2006 after 40 years at Busch Memorial Stadium. They became the first team since the 1923 New York Yankees to win the World Series in their first season in a ballpark.
  • Major League Baseball considers this to be the Cardinals' official all-time record. MLB does not count the years played in the American Association or post-season games towards the official record.

References

General

Citations

References

  1. "Tip O'Neill stats". Baseball Reference.
  2. "Triple Crown winners". Major League Baseball Official Website.
  3. "MVP winners". Major League Baseball Official Website.
  4. "Rookie of the Year winners". Major League Baseball Official Website.
  5. "Cy Young winners". Major League Baseball Official Website.
  6. "Manager of the Year winners". Major League Baseball Official Website.
  7. "St. Louis Cardinals History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  8. "National League season-by-season". Baseball-Reference.
  9. Jon David Cash, ''Before They Were Cardinals: Major League Baseball in Nineteenth-Century St. Louis.'' University of Missouri Press 2002
  10. Morgan, Joe. (August 21, 2002). "Strike is no longer necessary". ESPN.
  11. "Year in Review – 1981". Baseball Almanac..
  12. "1985 World Series". Baseball Almanac.
  13. Zirin, David. (August 18, 2004). "The MLB Strike – 25 Years in the Making". Buzzle editorials..
  14. "1994 National League". Baseball Reference.
  15. "2001 St. Louis Cardinals". St. Louis Cardinals Official Website.
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