{"id":122794,"date":"2026-05-28T17:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T21:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=122794"},"modified":"2026-05-28T11:49:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T15:49:44","slug":"cardinals-cubs-rivalry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/05\/28\/cardinals-cubs-rivalry\/","title":{"rendered":"A History of the Cardinals\/Cubs Rivalry"},"content":{"rendered":"
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs renew their legendary rivalry this weekend in St. Louis. It is not of the caliber of the New York Yankees\/Boston Red Sox rivalry, but it is still one of baseball’s historic rivalries. As the new chapter begins this weekend, let’s take a look back at the history of the Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry.<\/span><\/div>\n
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History of the Cardinals\/Cubs Rivalry<\/span><\/h2>\n

First Meetings: 1885 and 1886 World Series<\/span><\/h3>\n
Before they were the Cardinals and the Cubs, engaged in a Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry, they were the Browns and the White Stockings. The two teams met in the 1885 World Series. The series ended in a 3-3-1 controversial finish<\/a>, with the Browns forfeiting Game 2 when manager Charles Comiskey pulled his team from the field in protest of a call made by umpire Dave Sullivan. The Browns later claimed that Game 2 did not count as a White Stockings victory and attempted to claim the championship. The teams split the $1,000 prize.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The teams met the next season in the World Series. The time, the Browns won the series in six games. The clinching win featured the “$15,000 Slide,” when Curt Welch<\/a> scored the winning run on a wild pitch in extra innings. The Browns won $15,000 by winning the series. <\/span><\/div>\n

1900-1946<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cubs Win First Titles<\/span><\/h3>\n
In 1900, the Browns became the Cardinals and joined the National League. The White Stockings would become the Cubs in 1903.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
The early years of the official Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry saw the Cubbies succeed. The Cubs won three straight pennants from 1906 to 1908, including two World Series championships in 1907 and 1908. The Cardinals, on the other hand, struggled to find success early.<\/span><\/div>\n

1926: The Cardinals Turn Things Around<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Cardinals would win their first pennant in 1926 and would go on to win their first World Series, defeating the New York Yankees in seven games. Babe Ruth<\/a> was famously thrown out trying to steal second base to end the final game, while Cardinals’ pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander<\/a> was forced to pitch the final innings of Game 7 with an alleged hangover, as he did not believe he would be pitching after starting Game 6.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The Cardinals’ 1926 championship turned the tide in the Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry. The Cardinals would win the World Series again in 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, and 1946. While the Cubs would win five pennants during that time, they were unable to win their third championship. Furthermore, their appearance in the 1945 World Series (when the “Curse of the Billy Goat” started) was their last pennant until 2016.<\/span><\/div>\n
After a strong start, the tide of the Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry turned in St. Louis’s favor, and the Cardinals quickly became one of the most successful franchises in the National League.<\/span><\/div>\n

Hack Takes a Hack at a Fan<\/span><\/h3>\n
During a 1928 game, Cubs’ slugger Hack Wilson<\/a>, tired of heckling by a Cardinals’ fan seated near the field, jumped into the seats to confront the heckler. Surrounding fans began to get involved, and the scuffle leaked onto the field. Police had to be called in to restore order.<\/span><\/div>\n

1980-Present<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Sandberg Game<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry got put on the national stage during a 1984 game broadcast on NBC’s “Game of the Week.” The Cardinals were leading, 9-8, in the bottom of the ninth. Bruce Sutter<\/a>, one of the game’s best closers<\/a>, came on to shut the door on the Cubs. Ryne Sandberg<\/a>, not yet known for his power, tied the game with a home run to left field. After the Cardinals regained the lead with two runs in the top of the tenth, Sandberg came up against Sutter again with a man on base. Just like in the ninth, Sandberg tied the game with a home run. The Cubs would go on to win the game in 11 innings.<\/span><\/div>\n
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CHICAGO,IL – CIRCA 1986: Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs bats at Wrigley Field circa 1986 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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The game would become known as “The Sandberg Game<\/a>.” Sandberg’s heroics overshadowed Willie McGee<\/a>, who hit for the cycle.<\/span><\/div>\n

The Home Run Chase<\/span><\/h3>\n
This is perhaps the most iconic moment of the Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry. The home run chase between Mark McGwire<\/a> and Sammy Sosa<\/a> is believed by many to have saved baseball<\/a> following the 1994 strike.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The 1998 season started with many wondering if McGwire or Ken Griffey Jr.<\/a> would break Roger Maris<\/a>‘ single-season home run record. Sosa, however, would pick up the pace in the race with 13 home runs in June. Griffey would slowly fall out of the race, but McGwire and Sosa continued to chase 61 home runs. On September 8th, McGwire, against Sosa and the Cubs, hit his 62nd home run of the season, passing Maris on the single-season list. Sosa ran in from right field and embraced McGwire on his history-making home run.<\/span><\/div>\n
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On this date in 1998, Mark McGwire hit HR #62 to become single-season Home Run King \ud83d\udc51 pic.twitter.com\/p8ewSZpnpe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 8, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

McGwire would finish the season as the new “Home Run King<\/a>,” with 70 home runs. Sosa finished closely behind him with 66 home runs. The Cubs would get the last laugh in the playoff race, however, as they won the Central Division and made the playoffs, while the Cardinals failed to qualify. Sosa, who had a better batting average and more RBIs than McGwire, would be awarded the National League MVP.<\/span><\/div>\n

Somber Moments<\/span><\/h3>\n
The Cardinals\/Cubs rivalry has sometimes gone beyond baseball. On June 22, 2002, Cardinals’ pitcher Darryl Kile<\/a> died of a heart attack in his hotel room. As a result, the Cardinals\/Cubs game that day was postponed. Cubs’ catcher Joe Girardi<\/a> addressed the fans at Wrigley<\/a>, choking up as he announced the reason for the postponement.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Five years later, in 2007, another game between the two teams would be postponed due to the death of a player. Cardinals’ pitcher Josh Hancock<\/a> died in a car accident on April 27th, 2007.<\/span><\/div>\n

Pujols, Walk-Offs, and a Playoff Chase in 2011<\/span><\/h3>\n
On June 4th and 5th of 2011, Albert Pujols<\/a> won back-to-back games against the Cubs by hitting a walk-off home run. The latter of the two wins came following the Cardinals tying the game down to their last strike in the ninth inning, when former Cub Ryan Theriot<\/a> hit a RBI double.<\/span><\/div>\n
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ST LOUIS, MO – AUGUST 18: Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals his congratulated by teammates after hitting a grand slam against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning at Busch Stadium on August 18, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Another crucial moment happened during the final weekend of the regular season. The Cardinals entered Saturday against the Cubs three games out of the Wild Card spot in the NL with five games left. However, the Cubs, looking to play spoiler, led the Cardinals, 1-0, in the bottom of the ninth. Carlos Marmol<\/a> entered the game looking to close the game and possibly end the Cardinals’ season. Just like in June, Theriot came up with the game on the line and the bases loaded. Theriot did not take the bat off his shoulders, drawing a walk on a 3-2 pitch to tie the game. The Cardinals win the game a few pitches later when Marmol threw a wild pitch, allowing Adron Chambers<\/a> to score the winning run.<\/span><\/div>\n
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The next day, late-inning home runs by Yadier Molina<\/a> and Rafael Furcal<\/a> propelled the Cardinals to another victory. The team made the playoffs and went on an improbable run to the World Series championship<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n

2015 NLDS<\/span><\/h3>\n
For the first time since 1886, the two organizations met in the playoffs. The 100-win Cardinals faced the 98-win Cubs in the National League Division Series. The Cardinals won the first game, 4-0, behind a strong performance by John Lackey<\/a>. However, the Cubs won the next three games, winning the series and advancing to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2003.<\/span><\/div>\n