Even the mighty New York Yankees haven't been able to do what the St. Louis Cardinals did when they beat the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 22. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Cardinals became the first defending champions to win the first six series of the following season since the 1922 New York Giants.
The great Yankees teams of the early 1950s didn't do that. The Cardinals were able to do something for the first time in 90 years without legendary manager Tony La Russa and without Albert Pujols.
It's just the first three weeks of the season, but the Cardinals are doing better than they did this time last year. Pitchers have stepped up. Kyle Lohse is 3-0 in four starts. He's second in the National League with an ERA of 0.99. Jake Westbrook is sixth with a 1.31 ERA. Lance Lynn is ninth with a 1.42. The three pitchers have just one loss among them. The Cardinals are the only National League club with three pitchers in the top 10 in ERA.
No one expected St. Louis to do this well. The Cardinals have had their bumps. But this time last year the Cardinals were 8-9. Now they are 11-6 and in first place. There was no post-World Series sell-off. The franchise's soul wasn't sold in a one-night stand just for one year of glory.
The success of 2012 is indicative of upper management's philosophy of long-term. I was skeptical of not keeping Pujols. With his lack of power so far this season, I don't miss him one bit. I'd rather have wins than Pujols.
It's just the beginning of the season. A lot can happen over 162 games. But it's nice to think that the annals of baseball history recognize what Cardinals fans already know: There is something special in the gateway city.
In any given year the Cardinals are competitive. With the second-most World Series titles in baseball, St. Louis has been a top-rate franchise for decades. I'd take a constant winner over a sporadic champion any day.
The 1922 New York Giants went on to win back-to-back World Series over the Yankees. If the pattern stays true in 2012, another thrilling Cardinals-Texas Rangers Fall Classic is in the works. Both Texas and St. Louis are in front of their respective divisions, so history could indeed repeat itself.
The city of St. Louis can't argue with the area's love of their baseball team. Now MLB history can't argue with the greatness of the franchise that has accomplished something no other team has done for nine decades.
William Browning was born in St. Louis and is a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan. He currently resides in Branson, Mo.
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