Wednesday, January 22, 2025

St. Louis Cardinals History Explained

Brian Flaspohler is a baseball historian who claims that the first professional game in St. Louis took place on May 4, 1875. Louis lost, but won. The St. Louis Brown Stockings defeated the St. Louis Red Stockings 15 to 9. 

Brian Flaspohler’s book Baseball History: A Guide is now available. It traces Lou’s rich history. Each chapter corresponds with a specific location in the town.

The original professional game took place in the stadium at South Compton Avenue. Harris State University’s ball diamond is exactly where the first Negro League baseball park was built. Legend has it that Babe Ruth was attracted by Forest Park Avenue’s brothel.

In the mid-twentieth Century, St. Louis had two major league teams: the Cardinals and Browns. Each team had its own manager, and they shared an apartment in Lindell Towers (now Coronado Place and Towers At Grand Center span> ). This arrangement worked well because one team was always there when another was not.

It worked up to the World Series, when the two teams met.

Flaspohler claims that the Cardinals manager sent an email to the Browns manager, in which he stated, “You can have my apartment for the World Series.” “I believe he did his karma right. The Cardinals won the World Series despite him having to give up his apartment. 

History of St. Louis Baseball The following article contains information about the nine major St. Louis baseball teams.

Many are familiar with the Kansas City Monarchs and Negro League. Flaspohler says that the history of this league is “a fascinating, but untold story.” The St. Louis Giants formed the original six league teams in 1920. They were later renamed Stars in 1930. In 1928, 1930 and 1931, the Stars won pennants.

He said, “The Stars are an incredible story that many people don’t know much about.” It is amazing that baseball can still take place in the exact same stadium it used to be.

Flaspohler stated, “Every generation in St. Louis had a champion team to root against,” referring to fact that the Cardinals are one the few teams that has never won the World Series after a season.

However, he has a beef with historians.

The Cardinals were founded in 1882 and became the team we know today. Although they were around for more than a decade, they joined the National League in 1892.

Flaspohler believes there’s a reason. Flaspohler thinks someone in the Cardinals organization realized that they missed the 100-year celebration and decided to retroactively declare 1892 the year they were “established.” 

Flaspohler lauds the efforts of Cardinals’ family members, the DeWitts to preserve the game’s past.

He said, “Their family has an extensive history of baseball and they have done an incredible job keeping that history alive.” “But they won’t alter their T-shirts from 1882 to 1883. I would be very happy if they did.