Aug

29

Why I have Faith

August 29, 2007 | 2 Comments

Have I mentioned I became a Cardinals fan in 1982 after they won the world series? Have I mentioned that I am a FOURTH generation fan (my dad’s Grandfather became a fan when the team started in St. Louis)?

After that World series when the Cardinals played and I hoped that they would do well I saw two patterns. One pattern was, never pay attention to their record before the all Star Break. In the 80s (and I believe the 90s) no matter how well they did before the All Star break they would fall apart after. From what I recall (and I could be wrong) in 1987 they did poorly before the break but did well after the break. The second pattern was if they were behind in a game they probably weren’t coming back to win it. This may have just been my pessimism but I had resigned that my team was a team that had to be ahead the whole time to win it.

Well, one of those patterns changed with the turn of the century. I started to question whether they had to be ahead when Albert Pujols hit his winning Home Run against Houston in 2005. I was watching the game with my 3 year old daughter (who I was getting into baseball). I was so SICK of hearing about the destiny of the Houston Astros; of how Roger Clemens mom had told him they would win the World Series on her deathbed; of how it was destiny. I think I’ve written before of how recently the Cardinals get no respect but this particular example was just insulting.

As Albert Pujols came up to the plate I prayed. I prayed that even if the Cardinals didn’t go to the World Series (and with Oswalt pitching the next game I didn’t see how they could win the next one) that at least Pujols would hit a homerun and shut up the announcers. Then it happened. He did it. I’ll never forget it. With the exception of the Cardinals winning the World Series in 1982 it was (and may still be) my most favorite moment watching baseball. I leaped up in the air, fell to my knees and started crying. My daughter asked “what’s wrong?” and said “it’s ok daddy”. I had to explain to her that I was happy. I called my dad and he was crying too. Both of us were overjoyed at such a monumental comeback. As I expected they lost the next game at Home against what I thought was a really good if not great pitcher at the time, Roy Oswalt. But it was OK……Pujols had shut up the announcers.

Last year I didn’t think they could win the World Series. They just weren’t magical and had dominated their division the entire season. But during the first playoff series I started to wonder. After they did ok and looked like they might be able to win it I told my dad, “I think they might be able to get to the World Series if they can win this playoff series.” “No way” was his reply. “There is no way they can beat the Mets this year.” I can’t remember why I thought they could beat the Mets. I DO remember that during the series with the Mets and the Tigers were sitting around waiting for the winner telling my dad “I think the Cardinals MIGHT be able to win the World Series against the Tigers.” Again, “No way”. I told him how the Tigers were such a favorite and how the they are just sitting around that they might be getting “out of the grove” so to speak.

And then the magic happened. They won the world Series. Nobody expected them to. No one gave them a chance. Event one of the Fox broadcasters said something to Tony La Russa after it was over about “Usually the best team in baseball wins the world series. . . .” and Tony’s reply was “The team that wins the World Series is the best team.”

And that is why I still have faith in the Cardinals (that and after last post-season I’ve decided that Tony La Russa is a baseball managing GENIUS).

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