We have arrived at the regional finals in the All Time Cardinals Team Tournament.
The winner of this round advances to the Final Four, to be held at the official site of the United Cardinal Bloggers.
Following along with the finals can pay dividends. Enter now in the All Time Cardinals Team Tournament Contest and win a copy of A & E’s Complete World Series DVD Set. Details here.
Our bracket has worked all the way down to two teams from the sixteen we began with. While some of the lower seeds held on for just a while, it ultimately came down to the top two seeds in this region, the 1942 team vs the 1985 team. Who wins is entirely up to you.
You have read about the teams as we have went along, but here’s the tale of the tape in this regional championship match:
1942
1985
1
Seed
2
106
Wins
101
61
Losses
48
World Champs
Finished
Lost World Series
Enos Slaughter
.318/.412/.494
13/98/100
Best Hitter
Willie McGee
.353/.384/.503
10/82/114
Mort Cooper
22-7
1.78 ERA
Best Pitcher
John Tudor
21-8
1.93 ERA
Billy Southworth
Manager
Whitey Herzog
Now it’s up to you. Tell us who moves on by placing your vote below. Is it the I-70 Namesake from 1985 or the franchise’s most winning team from 1942. You decide.
Drop by our friends at Pitchers Hit Eighth, C70 At The Bat, and Aaron Miles’ Fastball to vote in the Musial, Smith, and Gibson Regions of the tournament. The turn out to this point has been outstanding and we move forward today with the opening of the second round of the tournament. I-70 is the home of the Buck Region, and the bracket now looks like this:
Which brings us to your participation.
Voting for this round closes Wednesday night at 8 p.m. Central Time.
It’s time to get the Buck Bracket down to four teams and we need your vote in the following four games:
The top seed in the bracket, the 1942 Cardinals, posted a shut-out in their opening match-up. It is important to note that this is the most successful team in Cardinal history. With 106 wins (most in franchise history) and a decisive 4 games to 1 victory over the mighty Yankees. The 1942 team was the beginning of one of the few dynasties in Cardinals history, which would see the team play in four of five World Series and bring home three titles. A young rookie named Stan Musial had joined the team and pitcher Mort Cooper would bring home a Most Valuable Player Award for his performance.
The 1957 Cardinals were the loan “upset” in our opening round in the Buck Region, knocking off the 1947 team placed just ahead of them in the seeding. The team that year would finish in second place, watching the Milwaukee Braves represent the National League in the World Series. A winning record of 87-67 would not be enough for an offensive heavy edition of the Birds-on-the-bat as Stan Musial would once again lead the team in production.
Round 2 Game 1
(1) 1942 (92%, 11 Votes)
(9) 1957 (8%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 12
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The fifth seed in our bracket, the 2005 Cardinals, breezed into the next round, and rightfully so. A great team at a low-seed, the 2005 edition produced 100 wins before losing in heart-breaking fashion to the Houston Astros in the National League Championship Series. That series produced memorable moments for many Cardinal fans despite ending prior to reaching the pinnacle of the game. The team was so dominant that they would bring home a Cy Young Award for Chris Carpenter and a Most Valuable Player Award for Albert Pujols.
Our number four seed, however, is part of the dynasty that we discussed with our number one seed in the tournament. If the 1942 Cardinals started the dynasty, the 1943 Cardinals were the only stumbling block. They won 105 games, second most in franchise history and Stan Musial would bring home the Most Valuable Player Award. They were dominant from wire to wire, until they reached the World Series. The only team in the 1940′s run to not win a World Series, the team was very successful otherwise. The match-up of two great teams that couldn’t win the World Series promises to be one of the best in this bracket.
Round 2 Game 2
(5) 2005 (58%, 7 Votes)
(4) 1943 (42%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 12
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The dynasty of the 1940′s continues with our fourth seed, the 1944 Cardinals. Matching their previous year, the team would win 105 games and, this time, would not disappoint in the Fall Classic. The second World Championship of the decade would find it’s way home to St. Louis as Stan Musial continued to become a household name. The World Series would never leave St. Louis that year as the Cardinals would defeat the Browns four games to two.
The 2009 Cardinals were expected to be a force when they reached the playoffs after winning 91 games during the season. Unfortunately, when they arrived at the National League Division Series, the team seemed over matched and out of place. The Los Angeles Dodgers sent them home quickly and brought a disappointing end to another strong season under Tony LaRussa.
Round 2 Game 3
(3) 1944 (83%, 10 Votes)
(6) 2009 (17%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 12
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Our final game pits our number seven seed, 1935, against the number two seed. The 1935 group is yet another promising team that did not play in the World Series. With 96 wins, the team fell four games back of the league winner that year, the hated Chicago Cubs. This team would see Dizzy Dean finish second for the Most Valuable Player Award, three spots in front of teammate Joe Medwick.
Our namesake here at i70baseball, the 1985 Cardinals, may be the emotional pick and one of the best, non-championship teams in our bracket. A team built on speed, defense, and fundamentals, the 85 crew was lead by Willie McGee and his .353 batting average and two hurlers that would finish in the top five of the Cy Young voting – Joaquin Andujar (4) and John Tudor (2).
Round 2 Game 4
(2) 1985 (100%, 12 Votes)
(7) 1935 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 12
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There you go, run and vote and share with all your friends. Visit the other sties above to cast your votes in their brackets and help us decide who the greatest Cardinal team of all time is.
A bit of a teaser from Nick at Pitchers Hit Eighth today: Also, stay tuned to the United Cardinal Bloggers website later today for a fun contest you can participate in along with the Tourney!
This tournament of 64 different Cardinal franchises will start today here on i70baseball and on Pitchers Hit Eighth.
The Buck Region belongs to us and our match-ups follow below. Please take the time to vote on the various games and help us determine who the best of the best really is.
Voting for this round will close on Saturday, March 17, at 8:00 p.m. Central Time
The 1942Cardinals hold the record for the most wins in franchise history (106). They won the World Series, only losing one game to the Yankees. Enos Slaughter was the team’s top performing player posting a 7.1 WAR.
The 1917 Cardinals finished 3rd in the National League with a 82-70 record. Rogers Hornsby led the team in WAR, posting a 9.2.
Round 1 Game
(1) 1942 (100%, 26 Votes)
(16) 1917 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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The 1947Cards posted a 89-65 record while finishing second in the National League. Whitey Kurowski was the best on the team, posting a 6.2 WAR.
The 1957 team was also a second place finisher, posting a 87-67 record. Stan Musial would lead the team with a 6.6 WAR.
Round 1 Game 2
(9) 1957 (69%, 18 Votes)
(8) 1947 (31%, 8 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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The 2005 team won 100 games, yet lost in the NLCS to the Houston Astros. Albert Pujols led the team with a 8.2 WAR.
The 2008 team would finish in 4th place while posting a 86-76 record. Albert Pujols would lead this team with a 9.6 WAR.
Round 1 Game 3
(5) 2005 (100%, 26 Votes)
(12) 2008 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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The 1943 team would win 105 games and lose the World Series to the New York Yankees. Stan Musial led the boys with a 8.9 WAR.
1977 was a sentimental pick. The year I was born, the Cards went 83-79 and finished 3rd in the National League East. Ted Simmons led the team with a 6.3 WAR.
Round 1 Game 4
(4) 1943 (92%, 24 Votes)
(13) 1977 (8%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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In 1944 Cardinals won a World Series title after winning a second consecutive 105 win season. Stan Musial would post a 9.1 WAR to lead the team.
The 14th seed is the 1914 club. They finished 81-72, 3rd in the league. Pitcher Harry “Slim” Sallee led the team with a 4.8 WAR.
Round 1 Game 5
(3) 1944 (96%, 25 Votes)
(14) 1914 (4%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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2009 would see the Cardinals finish at 91-71 and lose the NLDS to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Albert Pujols would led the team with a 8.8 WAR.
The 1991 Cardinals would finish in 2nd place, their highest finish under Joe Torre. Ozzie Smith would led the team with a 4.7 WAR.
Round 1 Game 6
(6) 2009 (65%, 17 Votes)
(11) 1991 (35%, 9 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
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The 1935 Cardinals would finish second in the league despite a 96-58 record. Dizzy Dean posted a 7.6 WAR.
1989 would give the Cardinals a 86-76 record, good enough to finish third. Ozzie Smith would lead the team with a 6.3 WAR.
Round 1 Game 7
(7) 1935 (88%, 22 Votes)
(10) 1989 (12%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 25
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The number two seed represents the site well, coming from 1985. The team won 101 games and lost the World Series to the Royals.
The 15th seed comes from the year prior, in 1984. They would finish 84-78 and third in the division. Bruce Sutter’s 4.5 WAR would lead the team.
Round 1 Game 8
(2) 1985 (100%, 24 Votes)
(15) 1984 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 24
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Please vote and share the brackets with your friends. The polls will close on Saturday and the winners will move on to next week’s rounds.
Happy Holidays everybody! No, this article isn’t a retread. It is indeed the last week of March and its OPENING DAY!
That’s the greatest holiday of the year. I cannot wait for March 31st! It’s the greatest day of the year. The minute college football ends, I begin to get ready for baseball and March Madness is the appetizer of the great summer feast! So I am always giddy for opening day and I wondered if it was as great for others and my twitter friends came to bat.
Clinton Corley (@clintoninc) had this to say:
@KCRoyalman perhaps the only day of yr where optimism is at its highest & u can feel it inside the stadium. A Fresh Start, Hope SPRINGS
Miles Prentice was turned away of course as David Glass bought the Royals. Since then Prentice has also had unsuccessful attempts to buy Brewers and Reds.
Shane England of @footballranch recalled
@KCRoyalman Oh, BEST memory. Obviously its Mendy Lopez. 8 drunken friends jumping up and down like game 7 of the WS. That's Royals baseball
For those of you who dont know Lopez, who was a career journeyman, hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer against the White Sox in the bottom of the 9th for a 9-7 win on opening day 2004. Those late rallies happened a couple of different opening days too.
For some, the memories aren’t being at the K but the strong memories of just being home such as Adam McGregor (@admcgregor3) recalls:
@KCRoyalman sitting in my living room before track practice in college and watching the #royals rally back in the 9th inning to win
Opening day should be a national holiday or at least a state holiday for a great baseball state like Missouri. March 31st marks the greatest day of the year and a day that everyone reading this blog is excited for, ready for and can not wait for the festivities.
Happy opening day everyone! If you are at the K shoot me a message on twitter @kcroyalman and I will stop by! I can’t wait to see you all on the greatest day of the year. May it turn out well for both the Cards and Royals and playoffs for both! Hey we can dream! Thats whats great about opening day!
KCRoyalman can be found Monday Nights with Bill Ivie here on I70baseball on the I70 Baseball Radio show from 10p-11p and Sundays from 7p-8p at the www.royalmanreport.com. Podcast Downloads available for both shows!
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