Champions–The St. Louis Cardinals’ David Freese holds up paper headlining the Cardinals World Series win. The Cardinals came back from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Rangers 6-2 in game seven of the World Series Friday night. (Eileen Blass/USA Today)
Oct. 29, 2011
Cardinals win 2011 World Series
People counted the St. Louis Cardinals out when they were 10.5 games back on Aug. 25. The media had them out of playoff contention seven games back with 20 games remaining. The improbable turned to the nearly impossible when the Cardinals were three games back of the wild card with five games remaining.
Yet somehow, someway, the Cardinals made it to the playoffs. To many that would have sufficed. But for a club that rewrote the definition of resiliency, the journey to the promised land was a Journey-themed song: “Don’t Stop Believing.”
Counted out against the highly-favored Philadelphia Phillies, the Cardinals eliminated the very team that helped them make the postseason on the last day of the regular season.
Trailing two games to one against the Central Division champs and division rival Milwaukee Brewers, the Cardinals gave their season another lifeline.
A 7.03 ERA during the NLCS, the Cardinals were bailed out by their bullpen. Only one win from the starting rotation, the Cardinals found three ways to win without them.
And down to their final out, final strike, not once, but twice, what made this situation any different? All while facing Rangers closer Neftali Feliz, who was a perfect six out of six on save opportunities.
The swagger never died, the Cardinals never faltered. David Freese, St. Louis native and new hometown hero, drove a pitch to right field, out of the outstretched glove of Nelson Cruz, and the Cardinals once again defied the odds.
In the tenth, a Josh Hamilton home run created another hurdle bigger than the Gateway Arch.
Final out, final strike. Rangers well on their way to the team’s first championship in franchise history. Not quite. Lance Berkman hits a jam shot into center field, and the game is tied yet again at nine.
And fittingly, hometown glory put the icing on the cake of resiliency, as Freese drove a pitch into dead center for the game six walk-off.
The “Miracle” Mets needed Bill Buckner to gaff a ground ball. The Cardinals did it all by themselves.
Like the 1986 Mets, game seven might as well be forgotten. Because the Cardinals no longer defied the odds. The improbable practically became a guarantee.
Trip to the playoffs: win 23 out of last 32 games of the regular season to erase 10.5-game wild card deficit.
The first team in World Series history to come back from two runs down in the eighth inning or later twice: force a game seven.
Have a home-grown kid (David Freese) win the ALCS and World Series MVP: priceless.
For everyone else, don’t stop believing.