(Updated May 14, 2018)
A rough beginning doesn’t always result in a losing season. Some of the Cardinals’ best years began poorly:
_ 2011: Under manager Tony La Russa, the Cardinals lost six of their first eight and their relief pitching was a mess. However, they finished strong, posting an 18-8 record in September and qualifying for the postseason playoffs. From there, the Cardinals won the National League pennant and the World Series championship.
_ 2005: The Cardinals opened with a 3-4 record. Included in that stretch were back-to-back 10-4 and 13-4 poundings by the Phillies that led to concerns about St. Louis’ starting pitching. Jeff Suppan gave up 10 hits and six runs in four innings and Chris Carpenter was torched for 10 hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings. Carpenter finished with 21 wins, Suppan had 16 wins and the Cardinals earned the National League Central championship with a 100-62 record.
_ 2004: St. Louis started 1-3 and was 6-7 on April 19. The Cardinals lost three of four at home to the Brewers and were swept at home in a three-game series by the Astros. St. Louis went on to a 105-67 regular-season record and won its first pennant since 1987.
_ 2001: The Cardinals opened with three losses at Colorado and were 8-10 on April 22. In four of those losses, St. Louis gave up 10, 11, 13 and 17 runs. The Cardinals ended up 93-69, tied for first place with Houston in the NL Central and qualified for the playoffs.
_ 1985: After a 2-6 start, St. Louis still was struggling at 14-17 on May 14. Print reports speculated Whitey Herzog might be the first manager fired that year. The Cardinals opened with four consecutive losses _ two in extra innings and another by one run. St. Louis finished 101-61 and won the pennant.
_ 1982: The Cardinals started 1-3. Trailing the Pirates 6-5 with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth, they were facing a fourth consecutive loss, but the Cardinals rallied to win 7-6, igniting a 12-game winning streak. The Cardinals finished 92-70 and won the World Series title.
_ 1942: With a 6-7 record on April 29, the Cardinals were struggling for runs. They were held to three runs or fewer in six of their seven defeats. The Cardinals finished 106-48 and were World Series champions.
_ 1934: St. Louis staggered to a 2-7 start. Dizzy Dean lost twice to the Cubs in that stretch. The Cardinals finished 95-58 and won the World Series championship.
_ 1930: The Cardinals dropped to 6-12 after losing a doubleheader to the Dodgers by scores of 2-1 in the opener and 11-10 in 13 innings in the second game. St. Louis went on to a 92-62 record and won the pennant.
[…] Pony In There Somewhere” And Mark at Retrosimba reminds us of the many, many years that our “Cards Turned Bad Starts Into Great Seasons.” Sure, one good game does not a rally make. But the Cardinals are not dead and buried. So […]