2004 St. Louis Cardinals | ||
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National League Champions National League Central champions | ||
League | National League | |
Division | Central | |
Ballpark | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
City | St. Louis, Missouri | |
Record | 105–57 (.644) | |
Divisional place | 1st | |
Owners | William DeWitt, Jr. | |
General managers | Walt Jocketty | |
Managers | Tony La Russa | |
Television | Fox Sports Midwest (Joe Buck, Dan McLaughlin, Al Hrabosky) KPLR (Ricky Horton, Bob Carpenter, Rich Gould) | |
Radio | KMOX (Mike Shannon, Wayne Hagin, Bob Ramsey) | |
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The 2004 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 123rd season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 113th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 39th in Busch Memorial Stadium.
The Cardinals went 105–57 during the season, the most wins of any team in baseball that year, the most wins by any Cardinals team since 1944, and the first Cardinal team to win 100 or more games since 1985, and won the National League Central by 13 games over the NL Wild-Card Champion Houston Astros. In the playoffs the Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3 games to 1 in the NLDS and the Astros 4 games to 3 in the NLCS to reach their first World Series since 1987. In the World Series the Cardinals faced the Boston Red Sox and were swept 4 games to 0. It was the final World Series played at Busch Memorial Stadium. Because the American League had home-field advantage as a result of winning the All-Star Game, Busch Memorial Stadium was where the Curse of the Bambino died. [1]
Catcher Mike Matheny, third baseman Scott Rolen, and outfielder Jim Edmonds won Gold Gloves this year.
The 2004 St. Louis Cardinals were the first team to lose the World Series to a "Moneyball" style team roster on the side of the Red Sox.
4 | Tony Womack | 2B |
12 | Ray Lankford | LF |
5 | Albert Pujols | 1B |
15 | Jim Edmonds | CF |
27 | Scott Rolen | 3B |
3 | Édgar Rentería | SS |
16 | Reggie Sanders | RF |
22 | Mike Matheny | C |
35 | Matt Morris | P |
Acquired via trade from the Colorado Rockies on August 6, 2004, Larry Walker, customarily the Rockies' number three hitter, became the Cardinals' number two hitter. [6] The Cardinals already had Edmonds, Pujols and Rolen in the 3 through 5 spots. [7] Walker made his Cardinals debut on August 7, playing the New York Mets, and appeared as a pinch-hitter and struck out in the seventh inning. He drew a walk from Mike Stanton in the ninth inning and scored the game-winning run on a Yadier Molina single. [8]
Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
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St. Louis Cardinals | 105 | 57 | .648 | — | 53–28 | 52–29 |
Houston Astros | 92 | 70 | .568 | 13 | 48–33 | 44–37 |
Chicago Cubs | 89 | 73 | .549 | 16 | 45–37 | 44–36 |
Cincinnati Reds | 76 | 86 | .469 | 29 | 40–41 | 36–45 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 72 | 89 | .447 | 32½ | 39–41 | 33–48 |
Milwaukee Brewers | 67 | 94 | .416 | 37½ | 36–45 | 31–49 |
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Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LA | MIL | MTL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | AL |
Arizona | — | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 6–13 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 3–16 | 3–3 | 0–6 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 7–12 | 5–14 | 1–5 | 6–12 |
Atlanta | 4–2 | — | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 14–5 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 4–2 | 15–4 | 12–7 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 8–10 |
Chicago | 2–4 | 3–3 | — | 9–8 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 10–9 | 2–4 | 10–7 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 13–5 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 8–11 | 8–4 |
Cincinnati | 3–3 | 4–2 | 8–9 | — | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–11 | 4–2 | 10–8 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 9–10 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–14 | 5-7 |
Colorado | 13–6 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 1–5 | 1–5 | 8–11 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 5–3 | 2–4 | 10–9 | 8–11 | 1–5 | 8–10 |
Florida | 4–3 | 5–14 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 5–1 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 11–8 | 15–4 | 12–7 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 7–11 |
Houston | 4–2 | 3–3 | 9–10 | 11–6 | 5–1 | 3-3 | — | 1–5 | 13–6 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 6–0 | 12–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 10–8 | 7–5 |
Los Angeles | 16–3 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 11–8 | 3–3 | 5–1 | — | 3–3 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 6–0 | 10–9 | 10–9 | 2–4 | 10–8 |
Milwaukee | 3–3 | 2–4 | 7–10 | 8–10 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 6–13 | 3–3 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 6–12 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 8–9 | 8–4 |
Montreal | 6–0 | 4–15 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 8-11 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | — | 9–10 | 7–12 | 4–2 | 1–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 7–11 |
New York | 4–3 | 7–12 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 4–15 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 10–9 | — | 8–11 | 1–5 | 1–6 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 10–8 |
Philadelphia | 5-1 | 9–10 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–5 | 7–12 | 0–6 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 12–7 | 11–8 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 9–9 |
Pittsburgh | 4–2 | 2–4 | 5–13 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–12 | 0–6 | 12–6 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–3 | — | 3–3 | 5–1 | 5–12 | 2–10 |
San Diego | 12–7 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 9–10 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 9–10 | 4–2 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 1–5 | 3–3 | — | 12–7 | 2–4 | 8–10 |
San Francisco | 14–5 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 11–8 | 5–2 | 4–2 | 9–10 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 7–12 | — | 3–3 | 11–7 |
St. Louis | 5–1 | 4–2 | 11–8 | 14–5 | 5–1 | 4-2 | 8–10 | 4–2 | 9–8 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 12–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 11–1 |
2004 St. Louis Cardinals Game Log (105–57) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April: (12–11)
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May: (15–12)
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June: (19–9)
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July: (20–5)
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August: (21–7)
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September: (16–12)
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October: (2–1)
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2004 St. Louis Cardinals Postseason Game Log (7–8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NLCS: (4–3)
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World Series: (0–4) |
2004 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
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Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
| Catchers
Infielders
| Outfielders
| Manager Coaches
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Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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C | Mike Matheny | 122 | 385 | 95 | .247 | 5 | 50 |
1B | Albert Pujols | 154 | 592 | 196 | .331 | 46 | 123 |
2B | Tony Womack | 145 | 553 | 170 | .307 | 5 | 38 |
SS | Édgar Rentería | 149 | 586 | 168 | .287 | 10 | 72 |
3B | Scott Rolen | 142 | 500 | 157 | .314 | 34 | 124 |
LF | Ray Lankford | 92 | 200 | 51 | .255 | 6 | 22 |
CF | Jim Edmonds | 153 | 498 | 150 | .301 | 42 | 111 |
RF | Reggie Sanders | 135 | 446 | 116 | .260 | 22 | 67 |
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
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Marlon Anderson | 113 | 253 | 60 | .237 | 8 | 28 |
John Mabry | 87 | 240 | 71 | .296 | 13 | 40 |
Roger Cedeño | 95 | 200 | 53 | .265 | 3 | 23 |
So Taguchi | 109 | 179 | 52 | .291 | 3 | 25 |
Héctor Luna | 83 | 173 | 43 | .249 | 3 | 22 |
Larry Walker | 44 | 150 | 42 | .280 | 11 | 27 |
Yadier Molina | 51 | 135 | 36 | .267 | 2 | 15 |
Cody McKay | 35 | 74 | 17 | .230 | 0 | 6 |
Colin Porter | 23 | 35 | 11 | .314 | 1 | 2 |
Bo Hart | 11 | 13 | 2 | .154 | 0 | 2 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Matt Morris | 32 | 202.0 | 15 | 10 | 4.72 | 131 |
Jason Marquis | 32 | 201.1 | 15 | 7 | 3.71 | 138 |
Woody Williams | 31 | 189.2 | 11 | 8 | 4.18 | 131 |
Jeff Suppan | 31 | 188.0 | 16 | 9 | 4.16 | 110 |
Chris Carpenter | 28 | 182.0 | 15 | 5 | 3.46 | 152 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Dan Haren | 14 | 46.0 | 3 | 3 | 4.50 | 32 |
Randy Flores | 9 | 14.0 | 1 | 0 | 1.93 | 7 |
Al Reyes | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.75 | 11 |
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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Jason Isringhausen | 74 | 4 | 2 | 47 | 2.87 | 71 |
Ray King | 86 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2.61 | 40 |
Julián Tavárez | 77 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2.38 | 48 |
Steve Kline | 67 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1.79 | 35 |
Cal Eldred | 52 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3.76 | 54 |
Kiko Calero | 41 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2.78 | 47 |
Mike Lincoln | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5.19 | 14 |
Jason Simontacchi | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.28 | 3 |
Carmen Cali | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.59 | 8 |
Rick Ankiel | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 9 |
Josh Pearce | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.86 | 0 |
Cody McKay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
In three playoff rounds in 2004, Walker combined to hit .293/.379/.707 with a pair of home runs in each tournament, [10] setting a franchise record for home runs hit by a left-handed batter in one postseason. [11] Walker made his playoff debut with the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS versus the Dodgers, homering twice and scoring four runs in an 8−3 Cardinals win. [12] He became the first Cardinal with a multi-home run game in LDS play. [13]
St. Louis wins series, 3-1
Game | Score | Date |
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1 | St. Louis 8, Los Angeles 3 | October 5 |
2 | St. Louis 8, Los Angeles 3 | October 7 |
3 | Los Angeles 2, St. Louis 0 | October 9 |
4 | St. Louis 6, Los Angeles 2 | October 10 |
In Game of the 1 National League Championship Series (NLCS) versus the Houston Astros, Walker was a home run short of hitting for the cycle. [13] The Cardinals proceeded to take a 2–0 Series lead before losing three straight in Houston. Returning home for Game 6, the Cardinals took a 4–3 lead into the ninth inning, but Houston tied it up. Jim Edmonds hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 12th to win the game. The next night, Albert Pujols helped St. Louis win Game 7 to clinch the series with a game tying hit. Scott Rolen brought him home on a two-run home run. Pujols was named the series MVP.
Game | Score | Date |
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1 | St. Louis 10, Houston 7 | October 13 |
2 | St. Louis 6, Houston 4 | October 14 |
3 | Houston 5, St. Louis 2 | October 16 |
4 | Houston 6, St. Louis 5 | October 17 |
5 | Houston 3, St. Louis 0 | October 18 |
6 | St. Louis 6, Houston 4 | October 20 |
7 | St. Louis 5, Houston 2 | October 21 |
When the Cardinals reached the World Series, Tony La Russa became the sixth manager to win pennants in both leagues, following Joe McCarthy, Yogi Berra, Alvin Dark, and the managers in the 1984 World Series, Sparky Anderson and Dick Williams. [14] La Russa had managed the Oakland Athletics to three straight pennants between 1988 and 1990 and winning the 1989 World Series. [14] La Russa would try to join Anderson as the only men to have managed teams to World Series championships in both leagues. [14] La Russa wore number 10 in tribute to Anderson (who wore 10 while manager of the Cincinnati Reds) and to indicate he was trying to win the team's tenth championship. [15]
The Cardinals met a what was a potent Red Sox squad fresh off four straight victories over the Yankees following an 0–3 deficit in the ALCS. A comeback in this fashion in any North American major sports league had previously occurred only in the NHL. This was the third time the two teams have faced each other in the Fall Classic, with the Cardinals winning the previous two in 1946 and 1967. The Cardinals were again without a key player for the World Series: ace pitcher Chris Carpenter, who, after going 15–5, tweaked his shoulder in September and missed the entire post-season.
Making his World Series debut in Game 1, Walker collected four hits in five at bats with a home run and two doubles. [16] His four-hit outing tied a Cardinals World Series record, becoming the seventh overall and first to so since Lou Brock in 1967, also against Boston. [13]
The Cardinals were swept by the Red Sox in four games and struggled to hit, never taking a lead at any point in the series. Pujols, Rolen, and Edmonds, the normally fearsome 3-4-5 hitters for the Cardinals, were 6-for-45 with one RBI. The club batted .190 with a .562 OPS overall. Walker was one of very few exceptions, batting .357 with a 1.366 OPS. His two home runs accounted for the only two hit by the entire Cardinals team. [17] In the 2004 postseason, Walker scored 21 percent (14 of 68) of Cardinals runs scored. [13]
Game | Score | Date |
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1 | Boston 11, St. Louis 9 | October 23 |
2 | Boston 6, St. Louis 2 | October 24 |
3 | Boston 4, St. Louis 1 | October 26 |
4 | Boston 3, St. Louis 0 | October 27 |
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara is a Dominican-American professional baseball manager and former first baseman and designated hitter who is the manager of the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League. He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "the Machine", Pujols is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
The 2004 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 13 to 21 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals and the wild-card qualifying Houston Astros. This marked the first time in either Major League that two teams from the Central Division met in a Championship Series.
The 2004 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2004 season. The 100th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Boston Red Sox and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals; the Red Sox swept the Cardinals in four games. The series was played from October 23 to 27, 2004, at Fenway Park and Busch Memorial Stadium, broadcast on Fox, and watched by an average of just under 25.5 million viewers. The Red Sox's World Series championship was their first since 1918, ending the Curse of the Bambino.
Anthony La Russa Jr. is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager. His MLB career has spanned from 1963 to 2022, in several roles. He is the former manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakland Athletics, and Chicago White Sox. In 33 years as a manager, La Russa guided his teams to three World Series titles, six league championships, and 13 division titles. His managerial total of 2,884 MLB wins is second only to Connie Mack's.
The 2005 National League Championship Series (NLCS), the second round of the 2005 National League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion and defending league champion St. Louis Cardinals against the wild card qualifier Houston Astros, a rematch of the 2004 NLCS. The Cardinals, by virtue of having the best record in the NL during the 2005 season, had the home-field advantage. The Astros won the series four games to two, and became the National League champions; they faced the American League champion Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series, where the Astros lost to the White Sox in a sweep in four games.
The 2002 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 9 to 14 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals and the wild-card qualifying San Francisco Giants. It was a rematch of the 1987 NLCS, in which the Cardinals defeated the Giants in seven games. The Cardinals, by virtue of being a division winner, had the home field advantage.
The 2006 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2006 season. The 102nd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Detroit Tigers and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals; the Cardinals won the series in five games to win their tenth World Series championship. This was the third World Series meeting between the Tigers and the Cardinals, the first in 38 years. The Cardinals won the first in 1934, and the Tigers won the second in 1968; each went the full seven games.
The 2006 National League Championship Series (NLCS), the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the heavily favored New York Mets in seven games to advance to the 2006 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.
The 2007 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 126th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 116th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 2nd at Busch Stadium III.
The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 125th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 115th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 1st at Busch Stadium III.
The 2005 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 124th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 114th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 40th and final in Busch Memorial Stadium as they moved to the Busch Stadium III the next year.
The 2003 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 122nd season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 112th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 38th in Busch Memorial Stadium.
The St. Louis Cardinals 2002 season was the team's 121st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 111th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 97–65 during the season and won the National League Central by 13 games over the Houston Astros. In the playoffs, the Cardinals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 3 games to 0 in the NLDS but lost to the San Francisco Giants 4 games to 1 in the NLCS.
The St. Louis Cardinals 2001 season was the team's 120th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 110th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93–69 during the season and finished tied for first in the National League Central with the Houston Astros. Because the Cardinals and Astros were best two teams in the National League, both from the Central, and both finished five games ahead of the third-place Chicago Cubs, the Astros were awarded the NL Central champion and the number 1 seed in the playoffs due to winning the season series 9–7, and the Cardinals were awarded the wild-card.
The 2008 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 127th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 117th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 3rd at Busch Stadium III.
The 2010 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 129th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 119th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 5th at Busch Stadium III.
The 2011 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2011 season. The 107th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the National League (NL) champion St. Louis Cardinals; the Cardinals defeated the Rangers in seven games to win their 11th World Series championship and their second in six seasons.
The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 130th season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 120th season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 6th at Busch Stadium III.
The St. Louis Cardinals, a professional baseball franchise based in St. Louis, Missouri, compete in the National League (NL) of Major League Baseball (MLB). Brewing magnate Gussie Busch's 37-year-long ownership of the club ended with his death in 1989, and his brewery, Anheuser-Busch (AB) took over. In 1995, an investment group led by Drew Baur and William DeWitt, Jr., purchased the team and have owned the club since. Shortstop Ozzie Smith – nicknamed "The Wizard" – collected a staggering array of defensive records and awards while performing acrobatic spectacles such as somersaults and flips that mesmerized Cardinal and non-Cardinal fans alike. In 1998, Mark McGwire and the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa collocated national attention with their chase of Roger Maris' single-season home run record of 61. In addition, McGwire also set numerous team home run records. For the 1990s, the Cardinals captured one division title and finished above .500 five times for a .488 winning percentage
The 2004 Major League Baseball postseason was the playoff tournament of Major League Baseball for the 2004 season. The winners of the League Division Series would move on to the League Championship Series to determine the pennant winners that face each other in the World Series.