1996 St. Louis Cardinals season

1996 St. Louis Cardinals
NL Central Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1892)
Central Division (since 1994)
Location
Busch Memorial Stadium (since 1966)
St. Louis, Missouri (since 1882)
Results
Record	88–74 (.543)
Divisional place	1st
Other information
Owner(s)	William DeWitt, Jr.
General manager(s)	Walt Jocketty
Manager(s)	Tony La Russa
Local television	KPLR Prime Sports Midwest (Al Hrabosky, Bob Carpenter, Joe Buck)
Local radio	KMOX (Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Joe Buck)
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The St. Louis Cardinals 1996 season was the team's 115th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 105th season in the National League. During the first year of the William DeWitt, Jr. era, the Cardinals went 88-74 during the season and won their first-ever National League Central division title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch during the 1995-96 offseason.

Offseason

December 15, 1995: Willie McGee was signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.^[1]
January 9, 1996: Todd Stottlemyre was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Allen Battle, Carl Dale, Jay Witasick, and Bret Wagner (minors).
January 11, 1996: Mike Gallego signed as a Free Agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.^[2]
February 13, 1996: Dennis Eckersley was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery.

The Makings of a 1996 Club

Ozzie Smith's Last Season

Legendary veteran shortstop Ozzie Smith, announced during the season that it would be his last season in the Major Leagues, and veteran outfielder Willie McGee, brought back to the Cards as a free agent. Though the tension between Smith, and exciting youngster Royce Clayton, acquired in a trade, grew thick and troublesome at times as they shared time at shortstop, both players had good seasons. McGee came off the bench and started when needed.

Regular season

Opening Day starters

Season standings

NL Central	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	88	74	0.543	—	48–33	40–41
Houston Astros	82	80	0.506	6	48–33	34–47
Cincinnati Reds	81	81	0.500	7	46–35	35–46
Chicago Cubs	76	86	0.469	12	43–38	33–48
Pittsburgh Pirates	73	89	0.451	15	36–44	37–45

Record vs. opponents

1996 National League Records Sources:
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LAD	MON	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	7–5	7–5	5–7	6–7	6–6	5–7	10–3	7–6	9–4	9–3	9–4	7–5	9–4
Chicago	5–7	—	5–8	5–7	6–6	5–8	8–5	6–6	7–5	7–6	4–9	6–6	7–5	5–8
Cincinnati	5–7	8–5	—	7–6	3–9	7–6	4–8	3–9	6–6	10–2	5–8	9–3	9–4	5–8
Colorado	7–5	7–5	6–7	—	5–8	8–5	6–7	3–9	7–5	6–6	7–5	8–5	5–8	8–4
Florida	7–6	6–6	9–3	8–5	—	7–5	6–7	5–8	7–6	6–7	5–7	3–9	5–7	6–6
Houston	6–6	8–5	6–7	5–8	5–7	—	6–6	4–9	8–4	10–2	8–5	6–6	8–4	2–11
Los Angeles	7–5	5–8	8–4	7–6	7–6	6–6	—	9–3	8–4	7–6	6–6	5–8	7–6	8–4
Montreal	3–10	6–6	9–3	9–3	8–5	9–4	3–9	—	7–6	6–7	7–5	4–8	9–4	8–4
New York	6–7	5–7	6–6	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–8	6–7	—	7–6	8–5	3–10	6–6	5–7
Philadelphia	4-9	6–7	2–10	6–6	7–6	2–10	6–7	7–6	6–7	—	7–5	4–8	6–6	4–8
Pittsburgh	3–9	9–4	8–5	5–7	7–5	5–8	6–6	5–7	5–8	5–7	—	4–9	8–4	3–10
San Diego	4–9	6–6	3–9	5–8	9–3	6–6	8–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	9–4	—	11–2	4–8
San Francisco	5–7	5–7	4–9	8–5	7–5	4–8	6–7	4–9	6–6	6–6	4–8	2–11	—	7–6
St. Louis	4–9	8–5	8–5	4–8	6–6	11-2	4–8	4–8	7–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	6–7	—

Roster

1996 St. Louis Cardinals

Roster

Pitchers

39 Cory Bailey

52 Brian Barber

44 Rich Batchelor

41 Alan Benes

40 Andy Benes

57 Mike Busby

43 Dennis Eckersley

48 Tony Fossas

32 Rick Honeycutt

29 Danny Jackson

54 Eric Ludwick

33 T. J. Mathews

36 Mike Morgan

31 Donovan Osborne

49 Jeff Parrett

46 Mark Petkovsek

30 Todd Stottlemyre

34 Tom Urbani

Catchers

38 Pat Borders

49 Mike DiFelice

19 Tom Pagnozzi

Infielders

18 Luis Alicea

27 David Bell

11 Royce Clayton

8 Gary Gaetti

22 Mike Gallego

68 Aaron Holbert

47 John Mabry

12 Danny Sheaffer

1 Ozzie Smith

24 Dmitri Young

Outfielders

55 Terry Bradshaw

5 Ron Gant

3 Brian Jordan

16 Ray Lankford

51 Willie McGee

35 Miguel Mejia

23 Mark Sweeney

Manager

10 Tony La Russa

Coaches

18 Dave Duncan (Pitching)

9 Mark DeJohn (Bullpen)

28 Ron Hassey (Bench)

25 George Hendrick (Hitting)

39 Dave McKay (First Base)

15 Tommie Reynolds (Third Base)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO

NLDS

Main article: 1996 National League Division Series

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

Game	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Date	Series
1	St. Louis	3	San Diego	1	October 1	1-0 (STL)
2	St. Louis	5	San Diego	4	October 3	2-0 (STL)
3	San Diego	5	St. Louis	7	October 5	3-0 (STL)

NLCS

Main article: 1996 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 9: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	X	4	9	0
WP: John Smoltz (1-0) LP: Mark Petkovsek (0-1) Sv: Mark Wohlers (1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 2

October 10: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	1	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	0	8	11	2
Atlanta	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	2
WP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-0) LP: Greg Maddux (0-1) Home runs: STL: Gary Gaetti (1) ATL: Marquis Grissom (1)

Game 3

October 12: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	1
St. Louis	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	3	7	0
WP: Donovan Osborne (1-0) LP: Tom Glavine (0-1) Sv: Dennis Eckersley (1) Home runs: ATL: None STL: Ron Gant 2 (2)

Game 4

October 13: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	9	1
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	X	4	5	0
WP: Dennis Eckersley (1-0) LP: Greg McMichael (0-1) Home runs: ATL: Mark Lemke (1), Ryan Klesko (1) STL: Brian Jordan (1)

Game 5

October 14: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	5	2	0	3	1	0	0	1	2	14	22	0
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
WP: John Smoltz (2-0) LP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-1) Home runs: ATL: Fred McGriff (1), Javy López (1), STL: None

Game 6

October 16: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	1
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	3	7	0
WP: Greg Maddux (1-1) LP: Alan Benes (0-1) Sv: Mark Wohlers (2) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 7

October 17: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Atlanta	6	0	0	4	0	3	2	0	X	15	17	0
WP: Tom Glavine (1-1) LP: Donovan Osborne (1-1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: Javy López (2), Andruw Jones (1), Fred McGriff (2)

Awards and honors

Tony La Russa, Associated Press Manager of the Year
Ozzie Smith, All Star Game

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Louisville Redbirds	American Association	Joe Pettini
AA	Arkansas Travelers	Texas League	Rick Mahler
A	St. Petersburg Cardinals	Florida State League	Chris Maloney
A	Peoria Chiefs	Midwest League	Roy Silver
A-Short Season	New Jersey Cardinals	New York–Penn League	Scott Melvin
Rookie	Johnson City Cardinals	Appalachian League	Steve Turco

References

↑ Willie McGee Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
↑ Mike Gallego Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com
↑ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

External links

National League Central champions

1996 MLB season by team

AL East	Baltimore Boston Detroit New York Toronto

AL Central	Chicago Cleveland Kansas City Milwaukee Minnesota

AL West	California Oakland Seattle Texas

NL East	Atlanta Florida Montréal New York Philadelphia

NL Central	Chicago Cincinnati Houston Pittsburgh St. Louis

NL West	Colorado Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco

St. Louis Cardinals

Based in St. Louis, Missouri

Franchise

History

Ballparks

Robison Field Sportsman's Park Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Stadium

Spring training	Whittington Park Herald Park West End Park McKechnie Field City Island Ball Park Al Lang Stadium Roger Dean Stadium

Culture

Lore

Rivalries

Key personnel

Owner: Bill DeWitt, Jr.
General Manager: John Mozeliak
Manager: Mike Matheny

Minors

AAA: Memphis Redbirds
AA: Springfield Cardinals
A Adv.: Palm Beach Cardinals
A: Peoria Chiefs
Short A: State College Spikes
Rookie Adv.: Johnson City Cardinals
Rookie: Gulf Coast League Cardinals; Dominican Summer League Cardinals

World Series
Championships

pre-MLB	1885 1886

MLB	1926 1931 1934 1942 1944 1946 1964 1967 1982 2006 2011

League pennants

American Association	1885 1886 1887 1888

National League	1926 1928 1930 1931 1934 1942 1943 1944 1946 1964 1967 1968 1982 1985 1987 2004 2006 2011 2013

Division titles

National League East: 1982; 1985; 1987
National League Central: 1996; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2004; 2005; 2006; 2009; 2013; 2014; 2015

Wild card titles

All Star Games hosted

Seasons (135)

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1910s	1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919

1920s	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929

1930s	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939

1940s	1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

1950s	1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

1960s	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

1970s	1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1980s	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

1990s	1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

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