World Series Champions!

It’s only fitting that the St. Louis Cardinals capped off one of the most improbable postseason runs in baseball history with a World Series Title. For the 11^th time in its storied history, this franchise is on top of the baseball world. Despite everything that this team has been through over the last eight months, they have overcome it all, and are they last team standing in the 2011 MLB season. The St. Louis Cardinals are World Champs! Oh how sweet it sounds to say those words.

With Friday’s 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in game seven, the Cardinals now boast their second World Series Title in the last six seasons. The Cards are second only to the New York Yankees, who have a total of 27 championships. At this point, I don’t think there is any doubt (if there ever was) that St. Louis is the greatest National League franchise in baseball history. While the Redbirds become the fifth Wild Card team ever to win it all (first since 2004 Red Sox), the Rangers become the third team in the Division era to lose back-to-back World Series (first since 1992 Braves).

The culmination of this magical season could all be felt in one moment when Allen Craig caught the final out of game seven. Mayhem ensued at Busch Stadium as a stadium-record crowd of 47,399 fans could hardly believe what had happened. The Cards persevered to finish the ultimate comeback, and they have reached the pinnacle of baseball success.

There really are no words to explain how the Cardinals were able to pull this off, but one thing is for sure: this season will never be forgotten. On the other hand, amidst you’re uncontrollable celebration, you have to feel for the Rangers a little bit. They came as close as you can possibly get to winning it all, and some of those players might never get this opportunity again in their career. With that said the Cardinals were the better team in the end and deserved this win. Both teams left it all out on the field.

Game seven was kind of anti-climactic in comparison to the rest of the series, but I don’t think you’ll hear any complaining from Cards fans. Chris Carpenter delivered on short rest and put the Cardinals in position to win. Meanwhile, Allen Craig and David Freese stepped up big time as they’ve done all postseason long. This was the first time since 1945 that both teams got on the scoreboard in the first inning of a winner-take-all World Series game. St. Louis is now 8-3 all time in World Series game sevens, which is more wins than any other team.

Here’s some postgame reaction:

Tony La Russa

"It was overwhelming. We were on the edge game after game after game. You might lose one, but as it got closer, elimination games, the character on this club is off the charts. And we are more talented I think than some people realize, especially as we got healthy. But you play with that urgency, it’s a little scary at times and it takes a lot out of you, but it’s really fun to compete that way."

John Mozeliak

"When you play in a city like this, where we have the greatest fans in the world, they come out every day and they allowed us to do what we did this year. So I thank all of them and all our employees, because without them, we’re not standing here. So thank you."

Lance Berkman

"We have character. We have tough, professional guys who don’t quit. We’re World Series champions, and nobody can take that away from us. What makes that even sweeter was the manner in which we won it. Hollywood would have a hard time scripting something like this. You hear that sometimes, but it’s true with this team. The reality of it is way better than anything you could make up about the team."

Albert Pujols

"You know what? I’m not even thinking about that [contract situation]. I’m thinking about, you know, we’re the world champions and I’m going to celebrate and whenever that time comes, you know, then we’ll deal with it."