Champion Cardinals

Saturday, October 29, 2011

The St. Louis Cardinals, the team that wasn't even supposed to be here, won a most remarkable World Series Friday night. A day after twice being down to their last strike, the Cardinals became champions by beating the Texas Rangers, 6-2, in Game 7, boosted by another key hit from hometown MVP David Freese and six gutty innings by Chris Carpenter.

The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Texas Rangers' David Murphy flies out to end Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Texas Rangers' David Murphy flies out to end Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols holds up a newspaper after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Nike employee and St. Louis Cardinals fan Brad Mace shows off the Nike Cardinals' World Series 2011 T-Shirt at Frankie's Sports Bar and Grill as Texas Rangers played the Cardinals during Game 7 of the World Series baseball game on Friday, Oct. 27, 2011, in Dallas. Mace had brought a car load of Rangers World Series T-shirts to give to bar patrons, but must destroy them. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Patrick T. Fallon)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina celebrates after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
St. Louis Cardinals' Gerald Laird celebrates on the field after his team beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 at Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols celebrates with fans after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
St. Louis Cardinals' Allen Craig catches a fly ball off the bat of Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz during the sixth inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols reacts after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese catches a foul ball hit by Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton during the fifth inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols holds up a squirrel after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
St. Louis Cardinals' Lance Berkman is congratulated in the dugout after scoring during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
St. Louis Cardinals' Jason Motte sprays Champagne after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Fans celebrate after Game 7 of baseball's World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The St. Louis Cardinals spray Champagne after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina leaps in the arms of Jason Motte after Texas Rangers' David Murphy flies out to end Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese celebrates with fans after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter is congratulated by catcher Yadier Molina before being taken out of the game during the seventh inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
St. Louis Cardinals' Rafael Furcal runs the field after his team beat the Texas Rangers 6-2 at Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals win the series 4-3. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Cardinals fans celebrate on the statue of former Cardinals' Stan Musial after the Cardinals won Major League Baseballs's World Series over the Texas Rangers, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)
St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina hits a RBI single in the seventh inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
A fan holds up a sign during the seventh inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Texas Rangers fans Amber Willis, right, and Nick Sanchez, second from right, react after seeing a broadcast of St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina single to center scoring Lance Berkman to make it 6-2 in the seventh inning of Game 7 of the World Series between the Rangers and the Cardinals at the Pluckers Wing Bar, Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in Dallas. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Tom Fox)
St. Louis Cardinals' Tony La Russa holds up the Commissioner's Trophy after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte reacts after the Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers, 6-2, to win Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)