(Updated Oct. 28, 2017)
In a 2011 World Series jammed with dramatic moments, the Cardinals’ championship was defined, in large part, by the home run.
_ Albert Pujols hit three home runs in Game 3.
_ David Freese hit a walkoff 11th-inning home run in Game 6.
_ Allen Craig hit three home runs, including a go-ahead shot in Game 7.
_ The eight home runs hit by the 2011 Cardinals established the franchise record for most in a World Series. The previous mark was set in 1968 when the Cardinals hit seven home runs in a World Series against the Tigers.
_ The nine home runs allowed by the 2011 Cardinals are tied for the second-most in the franchise’s World Series history. Only the Yankees, with 10 in 1964, hit more home runs against the Cardinals in a World Series.
_ The 17 total home runs by the Cardinals and Rangers are the most in a World Series involving the Cardinals. The previous high was 15 total home runs _ in the 1964 World Series between the Cardinals and the Yankees and again in the 1968 World Series between the Cardinals and the Tigers.
Here are the home run totals in World Series involving the Cardinals:
YEAR…….CARDINALS HRS…….OPPONENT HRS…….TOTAL HRS
1926………4………………………….4…………………………8
1928………1………………………….9…………………………10
1930……..2………………………….6………………………….8
1931……..2…………………………..3…………………………5
1934……..2………………………….2………………………….4
1942……..2………………………….3………………………….5
1943……..2………………………….2………………………….4
1944……..3………………………….1………………………….4
1946……..1………………………….4………………………….5
1964……..5………………………….10……………………….15
1967……..5…………………………8………………………….13
1968……..7…………………………8………………………….15
1982……..4…………………………5………………………….9
1985……..2…………………………2………………………….4
1987……..2…………………………7………………………….9
2004…….2…………………………4…………………………..6
2006…….2…………………………4…………………………..6
2011……..8…………………………9………………………….17
2013…….2………………………….4………………………….6
RetroSimba 
[…] Miles Fastball (One and Two) The Cardinal Virtue The McBrayer-Baseball Blog The Redbird Menace RetroSimba Stan Musial’s […]
[…] Power personifies 2011 World Series champions Like this:LikeBe the first to like this […]
Homeruns certainly played a big roll in the 2011 World Series. Still though, good defensive fundamentals and solid pitching, or a lack of, also played a big role. How many us remember that in the 6th inning of game 6 the Cardinals scored a precious run without hitting the ball past the infield? The same goes for the 5th inning of game seven. Without getting the ball past the infield the Cardinals scored two runs.
Thanks, Phillip. It goes to show that, like most everything in life, balance is best. It’s when extremes dominate that things often go haywire.
In the case of the Cardinals in the 2011 World Series, a balance of power, sound fundamentals and solid pitching produced a successful combination.