Simply great. I love being a fan of St. Louis Cardinal baseball. The Cardinals franchise is one of, if not the greatest, franchise in all of baseball. I truly believe that statement, and not just because I’m a rabid fan of the team. The only other franchise in all of baseball that can legitimately stake a similar claim would be the New York Yankess. Let me break down what I think makes a great franchise.
First and foremost, winning. You must win and be productive on the field to be a great franchise. Sorry to all those Pittsburgh Pirates fans out there, but it’s just a fact. The only franchise to win more World Series titles than the St. Louis Cardinals? There is only one team and it is the New York Yankees. The Cardinals have won World Series titles in each of the following decades: 1920s(1), 1930s(2), 1940s(3), 1960s(2), 1980s(1), 2000s(1). We’ve also played and lost in 7 more World Series. Once Branch Rickey became President of the club in 1917, the team developed, and is continuing its winning ways. Knowing your team is a contender, year in and year out, is definitely a huge bonus as a Cardinals fan (something our rivals can’t always say!).
Second, a great ballpark and city atmosphere. Have you ever been in St. Louis when the Cardinals are playing? I have and it is a wonderful thing. You could go walk around Union Station down town or just be walking down the street, and everyone is talking about or asking about the game. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve been asked “are you going to the game today”, “are we going to win today”, etc. St. Louis is a large metropolitan area, but being right smack in the middle of the country you encounter some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. The night life after a Cardinals game is also a blast. You can hang out in down town on the patio at Mike Shannon’s or another nearby establishment; or jump on the metro and head to Laclede’s Landing to party the night away. I’ve done both and “that’s a winner” either way you choose.
Oh, and we haven’t even talked about “baseball heaven” yet. I’ll argue there is no better place to watch a baseball game than Busch Stadium (old or new Busch). Busch Stadium is and always has been a great place to watch a game. I’ve sat all around each ballpark and I don’t think there is a bad place to sit. The fans are respectful and knowledgeable about the game; which also makes it a treat to be in the stands.
Next, rivalries. I think a great franchise always has a great rivalry with another opponent. The Yankess have the Red Sox, Ohio State/Michigan, Duke/UNC, etc, etc. Many of the greatest franchises in sports history have a great rivalry as part of their history. The Cardinals are no different. The Cards/Cubs rivalry is one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. You have two mid-western teams who battle over fan base throughout the heart of the country. I live in the central part of IL and the Cards/Cubs debate is always a hot topic. Being in the middle of the state lends to a pretty nice mix of fans for either team, which always makes for an entertaining baseball season of poking fun at one another. I’ll give the Cubs their props, as of now, they do lead the overall head-to-head matchup 1082-1038 (a slim .510 win percentage). This small margin is also a lead that can and will quickly evaporate. However, that’s about as far as the props go, when we start talking world championships…only one thing needs asked…got rings?
I believe these are the three main ingredients to having the best franchise in all of sports. I may be bias in my opinion but I think the Cardinals are truly one of, if not the greatest, franchises in all of sports. One of the many reasons it is simply great to be a Cardinals fan!