The Cardinals of the National League in the late 1800’s an the first quarter century would be unrecognizable to modern fans, never finishing above third and often finishing neat the end of the standings.

That all changed in 1926, when the Cardinals won their first NL pennant and their first World Series. Pitcher Dizzy Dean and outfielder Joe Medwick were the cornerstones of a team that went on to win two World Series in the ‘30s, three NL pennants, and contend every year but 1938 for the NL crown.

The ‘40s ushered in a similar dominance, with four pennants and three World Series. I any player is recognizable form that era, it’s Stan Musial. Musial, also known as “The Man” won three MVP awards. His 22 years as a Cardinal ended with 475 career home runs, a .331 average, and 3,630 hits.

A lopsided trade allowed Lou Brock to replace Stan Musial in 1964 and reignited the Cardinals club. With Brock in the outfield and the incredibly hard throwing Bob Gibson on the mound, the club won three NL pennants and two more World Series victories. Gibson won both the Cy Young and the MVP in the 1968 season with his 1.12 ERA and three complete games in the ’68 World Series.

The decline of the ‘70s ended when the Cardinals won the NL pennant and the World Series in 1982. The club, behind acrobatic shortstop Ozzie Smith and strong pitching, won three pennants and a World Series during the decade.

The club wavered on respectability and bottom feeders in the early ‘90s, but broke out of the funk with Mark McGwire and his run at the single season home record in the latter part of the ‘90s. The team would only win one NL Central title and would not make it back to the World Series.

The 21st century is a different story. The Cardinal rode Albert Pujos, Scott Rolen, and Jim Edmonds to five post season appearances, and two NL Pennants, and a World Series victory in 2006.