MLB Team Guide
St. Louis Cardinals: History, World Series & Facts
The Cardinals trace their roots to 1882 and joined the National League in 1892. Through the 2025 season they have won 11 World Series, the most of any National League team.
Listen to St. Louis Cardinals Daily, the daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast→St. Louis Cardinals right now
- Record
- –
- Standing
- –
- Next game
- –
- Head coach
- –
Updated live from ESPN.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1882 in the American Association; joined the NL in 1892 |
|---|---|
| Ballpark | Busch Stadium, St. Louis (opened 2006) |
| World Series titles | 11 through 2025 (1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011) |
| NL pennants | 19 through the 2025 season |
| Name history | Brown Stockings, Browns, Perfectos (1899), Cardinals (1900–) |
World Series history
St. Louis has won 11 World Series through the 2025 season. That is the most of any NL franchise and second in MLB to the Yankees.
- 1926 World Series: beat the New York Yankees 4–3
- 1931 World Series: beat the Philadelphia Athletics 4–3
- 1934 World Series: beat the Detroit Tigers 4–3
- 1942 World Series: beat the New York Yankees 4–1
- 1944 World Series: beat the St. Louis Browns 4–2
- 1946 World Series: beat the Boston Red Sox 4–3
- 1964 World Series: beat the New York Yankees 4–3
- 1967 World Series: beat the Boston Red Sox 4–3
- 1982 World Series: beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4–3
- 2006 World Series: beat the Detroit Tigers 4–1
- 2011 World Series: beat the Texas Rangers 4–3
Franchise history
- 1882: Began play as the Brown Stockings in the American Association.
- 1892: Joined the National League.
- 1900: Became the Cardinals.
- 1926: Won the franchise's first World Series, over the New York Yankees.
- 1966: Moved into Busch Memorial Stadium.
- 2006: Opened the new Busch Stadium and won the World Series in its first season.
Franchise record holders
| Hits | Stan Musial, 3,630 |
|---|---|
| Home runs | Stan Musial, 475 |
| Pitching wins | Bob Gibson, 251 |
Retired numbers
- 1Ozzie Smith
- 2Red Schoendienst
- 6Stan Musial
- 9Enos Slaughter
- 10Tony La Russa
- 14Ken Boyer
- 17Dizzy Dean
- 20Lou Brock
- 23Ted Simmons
- 24Whitey Herzog
- 42Bruce Sutter
- 42Jackie Robinson (retired across MLB)
- 45Bob Gibson
- 85August "Gussie" Busch
- —Rogers Hornsby (honored; no uniform number)
- —Jack Buck (broadcaster, honored)
Hall of Famers
Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Rogers Hornsby, Lou Brock, Ozzie Smith, Dizzy Dean, Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst, Bruce Sutter, Ted Simmons, Scott Rolen, Whitey Herzog, Billy Southworth.
Biggest rivalries
- Chicago Cubs: NL rivals since 1892, who beat St. Louis 3–1 in the 2015 NLDS.
- Kansas City Royals: the in-state rival that beat St. Louis 4–3 in the 1985 World Series.
- Boston Red Sox: four World Series meetings: 1946, 1967, 2004 and 2013.
Test your St. Louis Cardinals knowledge
Play today’s St. Louis Cardinals trivia on Fan Arch Games: Mystery Player, All-Time Greats and Higher or Lower. New games every day.
Play today’s game →Follow the St. Louis Cardinals every day
St. Louis Cardinals Daily is Fan Arch’s daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, with new episodes every day on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Go to St. Louis Cardinals Daily → All MLB Podcasts →St. Louis Cardinals FAQ
How many World Series have the Cardinals won?
Eleven through the 2025 season: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006 and 2011.
Who has the most hits in Cardinals history?
Stan Musial, with 3,630 from 1941 to 1963. He also leads the franchise in home runs with 475.
When did the Cardinals get their name?
In 1900. They were earlier called the Brown Stockings, Browns and, in 1899, the Perfectos.
Why is No. 42 retired twice in St. Louis?
The Cardinals retired it for Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter in 2006. It is also retired across MLB for Jackie Robinson.
What was the 1944 "Streetcar Series"?
A World Series between the Cardinals and the St. Louis Browns, who shared Sportsman's Park. The Cardinals won 4–2.
Sources
Facts checked September 23, 2026. Live figures above come from ESPN.