The definitive St. Louis Cardinals all-time postseason team

First Base: Albert Pujols

Out of all the positions, this was probably the easiest choice. We all know how absurd the numbers Pujols put up in St.Louis were, but he was arguably even more productive in the postseason.

Across 88 career playoff games (76 with the Cardinals), he slashed .319/.422/.572 with 19 home runs (18 with the Cardinals ) and 54 RBI, he also had more walks than K's (50 walks to 46 strikeouts). He won the 2004 NLCS MVP against the Astros after he went 14 for 28 with four home runs in that epic seven-game series.

He had several huge swings in Cardinal red in October, to name one in particular his home run off Brad Lidge in the 2005 NLCS while the Cardinals were down to their final out was his first real clutch moment in the postseason.

In Game 3 of the 2011 World Series in Arlington, Texas Pujols became just the third player in MLB history to have a three-home run game in the World Series, joining Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson.

Honorable mentions: Will Clark, Paul Goldschmidt, Jack Clark

Second Base: Fernando Vina

This was probably the weakest position when it comes to postseason performers for the Cardinals, but that does not make Vina a slouch by any stretch of the imagination.

The former All-Star and two-time gold glove winner also played for the Mariners, Brewers, and Tigers during his 12-year career, but all 21 of his playoff appearances were with the Cardinals, and he shined at the plate. He hit .333 with two home runs and nine RBI in 93 ABs serving as the leadoff hitter.

In the 2002 NLDS, Vina went 9 for 15 at the plate to help take down the defending champion Diamondbacks in a three-game sweep.

Honorable mentions: Julian Javier, Emil Verban

Shortstop: David Eckstein

This is the first player on this list who helped themselves by having a successful postseason with not only the Cardinals. Before Eckstein signed with the Cardinals in free agency in 2005, he played four years in the big leagues with the Anaheim Angels.

In 2002, Eckstein played a big role on the Angels team that won their first and only World Series title. Eckstein hit .300 in 19 playoff games with the Angels. After scuffling at the plate in the 2006 NLDS and NLCS, Eckstein got hot in the World Series against the Tigers hitting .364 with four RBI in the five games. He helped the Cardinals win their first title in 24 years, and he was awarded the World Series MVP.

Honorable mentions: Tommy Thevenow, Edgar Renteria, Charlie Gelbert

Third Base: David Freese

Is anyone surprised by this? You shouldn't be. What Freese accomplished in 2011 alone puts him on this list.

The Cardinals simply would not of won the World Series in 2011 if it wasn't for the sensational play of David Freese. After not making the postseason roster in his rookie season in 2009, Freese was expected to be a key role player for the Cards in 2011, and he was way more than that.

In game 4 of the NLDS against the 102-win Phillies and facing elimination, Freese drove in four of the team's five runs, a two-run double to give them the lead in the fourth, and a two-run home run in the sixth off Roy Oswalt to ice the game and force a Game 5 in Philadelphia. Thanks to a first-inning run and a complete game shutout by Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals headed to the NLCS.

Facing the division rival Brewers in the NLCS, Freese torched Milwaukee's pitching staff, hitting .545 with three home runs and nine RBI in six games, those numbers earned him the NLCS MVP award.

And everyone remembers his heroics in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. Down to their final strike, Freese struck a triple to the opposite field to tie the game, he then proceeded to hit the walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to win Game 6 and force a Game 7.

Freese also came through in a big way in Game 7 after the Cardinals fell behind 2-0 early. With two outs and two strikes on him in the bottom of the 1st, he hit a double off Matt Harrison to tie the game, giving him 21 RBI in that postseason, which was an MLB record at the time. When the Cardinals were facing elimination that postseason (4 games), Freese was 6 for 13 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Several years later, Freese had solid postseason numbers for the Dodgers in 18 playoff games hitting .400 with two HR and six RBI in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Honorable mentions: Pepper Martin, Mark DeRosa, Scott Speizio

We now head to the outfield, going left to right.