Imagining an all-time St. Louis Cardinals alliteration team

ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 26: Jon Jay #19 and Skip Schumaker #55 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on August 26, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 26: Jon Jay #19 and Skip Schumaker #55 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on August 26, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) /
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1950’s: Portrait of American baseball player shortstop Marty Marion of the St. Louis Cardinals as he kneels on the grass in uniform with a bat, circa 1950. Marion played for the Cards from 1940-50. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
1950’s: Portrait of American baseball player shortstop Marty Marion of the St. Louis Cardinals as he kneels on the grass in uniform with a bat, circa 1950. Marion played for the Cards from 1940-50. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) /

Julian Javier and Marty Marion

Our second baseman holds the record for most games as a Cardinal at the position: Julian Javier. Javier won two World Series rings as the starting second baseman for the Cardinals through the 1960s and is a welcome addition to the team.

Over his twelve-year career with the team, Javier made the All-Star game two times. He was a crucial part for the 1967 World Series team in particular, finishing 9th in the MVP voting. During Game 7 in the World Series against the Red Sox, Javier hit a three-run home run to seal the victory. Javier’s consistent production and winning ways are a crucial inclusion for this team.

At shortstop is another Cardinal legend: Marty Marion. Marion played eleven seasons for the Cardinals, winning the NL MVP in 1944 and three of the club’s World Series titles in ‘42, ‘44, and ‘46. One of the greatest St. Louis shortstops, Marion is a huge part of the alliterative bunch.

Marty Marion’s 31.3 career WAR as a Cardinal is 19th on the all-time list. Known for his glove, Marion led NL shortstops in fielding percentage four times. “I’ve looked at a lot of shortstops,” said Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack in 1944, “but this fellow is the best I’ve ever seen.”

Marion was also a seven-time All-Star, and despite never hitting above .280, his leadership and defense established him was what established him as an all-time great. Just as he was for Stan Musial’s Cardinals, Marion is the anchor up the middle of the alliterative squad.