The

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

1996 season was the team's 115th season in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

and the 105th season in the

National League The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team ...

. It was Tony La Russa's first season managing the club, after leaving the Oakland Athletics. 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 The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National League ...

division title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...

in the NLCS after being up 3–1. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from

Anheuser-Busch Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC is an American brewing company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 2008, it has been wholly owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV ( AB InBev), now the world's largest brewing company, which owns multiple ...

during the 1995-96 offseason.

Offseason

* December 23, 1995:

Ron Gant Ronald Edwin Gant (born March 2, 1965) is an American television news anchor and former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves (1987–1993), Cincinnati Reds (1995), St. Louis Cardinals ...

was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals * December 23, 1995:

Andy Benes Andrew Charles Benes (born August 20, 1967) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1989 to 2002, most prominently as a member of the San Diego Padres where he was na ...

was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals * December 15, 1995:

Willie McGee Willie Dean McGee (born November 2, 1958) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder who is an assistant coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for four teams, over 18 seasons. H ...

was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals. * January 9, 1996:

Todd Stottlemyre Todd Vernon Stottlemyre (born May 20, 1965) is an American former professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a starting pitcher from to , most notably as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays with whom he won t ...

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 Michael Anthony Gallego (born October 31, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an infielder from 1985 to 1997, most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics te ...

signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals. * February 13, 1996:

Dennis Eckersley Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), nicknamed "Eck", is an American professional baseball pitcher and former color commentator. Between 1975 and 1998, he pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, ...

was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery. * December 18, 1995:

Gary Gaetti Gary Joseph Gaetti (, ; born August 19, 1958), is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins (1981–1990), California Angels (1991–1993), Kansas City Royals (1993–1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996–1998) ...

signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ozzie Smith's final season

Legendary veteran shortstop

Ozzie Smith Osborne Earl Smith (born December 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "the Wizard of Oz", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National ...

, announced during the season that it would be his last season in the Major Leagues, while veteran outfielder

, was brought back to the Cards as a free agent. Though the tension between Smith and exciting youngster

Royce Clayton Royce Spencer Clayton (born January 2, 1970) is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Co ...

, 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

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

, - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 1 , , April 1 , , @

Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, , 6–7 , , Dipoto , , Fossas (0–1) , , Franco , , 42,060 , , 0–1 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 2 , , April 3 , , @

, , 5–3 , , Stottlemyre (1–0) , , Person , , Eckersley (1) , , 13,323 , , 1–1 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 3 , , April 4 , , @

, , 9–10 , , Franco , , Eckersley (0–1) , , — , , 15,507 , , 1–2 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 4 , , April 5 , , @ Braves , , 5–4 (14) , , Bailey (1–0) , , Bielecki , , Eckersley (2) , , 31,071 , , 2–2 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 5 , , April 6 , , @ Braves , , 3–2 (12) , , Parrett (1–0) , , Clontz , , — , , 34,649 , , 3–2 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 6 , , April 7 , , @ Braves , , 3–13 , , Schmidt , , Busby (0–1) , , — , , 28,498 , , 3–3 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 7 , , April 8 , ,

Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in t ...

, , 3–4 (10) , , Rojas , , Parrett (1–1) , , — , , 52,841 , , 3–4 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 8 , , April 10 , ,

, , 4–1 , , Benes (1–0) , , Paniagua , , — , , 27,734 , , 4–4 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 9 , , April 11 , ,

Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has been Citize ...

, , 2–1 , , Benes (2–0) , , Mulholland , , Mathews (1) , , 23,412 , , 5–4 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 10 , , April 12 , ,

, , 6–1 , , Urbani (1–0) , , Williams , , — , , 26,753 , , 6–4 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 11 , , April 13 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Hunter , , Fossas (0–2) , , Bottalico , , 28,913 , , 6–5 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 12 , , April 14 , ,

, , 6–5 , , Mathews (1–0) , , Fernandez , , Eckersley (3) , , 27,545 , , 7–5 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 13 , , April 15 , , Pirates , , 6–4 , , Benes (3–0) , , Ericks , , Honeycutt (1) , , 18,731 , , 8–5 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 14 , , April 16 , , Pirates , , 3–13 , , Smith , , Benes (3–1) , , Lieber , , 21,349 , , 8–6 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 15 , , April 17 , , Pirates , , 6–1 , , Osborne (1–0) , , Darwin , , — , , 23,074 , , 9–6 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 16 , , April 18 , , Pirates , , 2–6 , , Wagner , , Stottlemyre (1–1) , , — , , 25,700 , , 9–7 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 17 , , April 19 , , @

, , 1–0 , , Bailey (2–0) , , Springer , , Eckersley (4) , , 25,614 , , 10–7 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 18 , , April 20 , , @

, , 1–0 , , Benes (4–1) , , Bottalico , , Eckersley (5) , , 23,630 , , 11–7 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 19 , , April 21 , , @

, , 2–4 , , Grace , , Benes (4–2) , , Bottalico , , 32,896 , , 11–8 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 20 , , April 22 , , @

, , 0–8 , , Cormier , , Osborne (1–1) , , — , , 9,778 , , 11–9 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 21 , , April 23 , , @

, , 11–12 , , Scott , , Mathews (1–1) , , — , , 8,352 , , 11–10 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 22 , , April 24 , ,

, , 9–4 , , Petkovsek (1–0) , , Harnisch , , — , , 23,189 , , 12–10 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 23 , , April 25 , ,

, , 3–9 , , Clark , , Benes (4–3) , , — , , 26,933 , , 12–11 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 24 , , April 26 , , Braves , , 1–6 , , Avery , , Benes (4–4) , , — , , 34,598 , , 12–12 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 25 , , April 27 , , Braves , , 2–7 , , Maddux , , Osborne (1–2) , , — , , 20,757 , , 12–13 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 26 , , April 29 , , Braves , , 1–4 , , Glavine , , Stottlemyre (1–2) , , Wohlers , , 25,452 , , 12–14 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 27 , , April 30 , , @ Cubs , , 6–7 , , Wendell , , Eckersley (0–2) , , — , , 20,771 , , 12–15 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 28 , , May 1 , , @ Cubs , , 3–9 , , Trachsel , , Benes (4–5) , , — , , 25,668 , , 12–16 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 29 , , May 3 , , @

Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL pennan ...

, , 3–1 , , Osborne (2–2) , , Ashby , , Eckersley (6) , , 21,335 , , 13–16 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 30 , , May 4 , , @

, , 4–3 , , Stottlemyre (2–2) , , Bergman , , Eckersley (7) , , 44,375 , , 14–16 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 31 , , May 5 , , @

, , 4–10 , , Hamilton , , Benes (4–6) , , — , , 27,435 , , 14–17 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 32 , , May 7 , ,

Giants A giant is a being of human appearance, sometimes of prodigious size and strength, common in folklore. Giant(s) or The Giant(s) may also refer to: Mythology and religion *Giants (Greek mythology) *Jötunn, a Germanic term often translated as 'gi ...

, , 2–4 , , Watson , , Fossas (0–3) , , Beck , , 23,492 , , 14–18 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 33 , , May 8 , ,

, , 7–10 , , Gardner , , Benes (4–7) , , Beck , , 22,517 , , 14–19 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 34 , , May 9 , ,

, , 16–8 , , Parrett (2–1) , , Dewey , , — , , 37,920 , , 15–19 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 35 , , May 10 , ,

Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...

, , 2–3 (12) , , Worrell , , Eckersley (0–3) , , — , , 36,821 , , 15–20 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 36 , , May 11 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Valdez , , Benes (4–8) , , Worrell , , 38,008 , , 15–21 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 37 , , May 12 , ,

, , 6–5 , , Petkovsek (2–0) , , Nomo , , Eckersley (8) , , 38,549 , , 16–21 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 38 , , May 13 , , @

Marlins The marlin is a large billfish sometimes also known as the ''spearfish.'' Marlin may also refer to: Places *Marlín, Castile-Leon, a village in Spain *Marlin, Texas, city in Falls County, Texas, United States Sports *Cincinnati Marlins, a swim t ...

, , 2–5 , , Burkett , , Benes (4–9) , , Powell , , 19,227 , , 16–22 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 39 , , May 14 , , @

, , 5–11 , , Mathews , , Parrett (2–2) , , — , , 16,070 , , 16–23 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 40 , , May 15 , , @

, , 6–0 , , Stottlemyre (3–2) , , Rapp , , — , , 18,066 , , 17–23 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 41 , , May 17 , , @

Rockies The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

, , 11–12 , , Leskanic , , Bailey (2–1) , , Ruffin , , 48,074 , , 17–24 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 42 , , May 18 , , @

, , 8–9 , , Habyan , , Eckersley (0–4) , , — , , 48,103 , , 17–25 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 43 , , May 19 , , @

, , 3–10 , , Thompson , , Benes (4–10) , , — , , 48,075 , , 17–26 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 44 , , May 20 , , @

Astros The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...

, , 5–3 , , Osborne (3–2) , , Drabek , , — , , 14,547 , , 18–26 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 45 , , May 21 , , @

, , 8–2 , , Stottlemyre (4–2) , , Reynolds , , — , , 17,935 , , 19–26 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 46 , , May 22 , , @

, , 5–2 , , Benes (5–10) , , Kile , , Mathews (2) , , 15,353 , , 20–26 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 47 , , May 24 , , @

, , 4–2 , , Morgan (1–0) , , Burkett , , Mathews (3) , , 19,583 , , 21–26 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 48 , , May 25 , , @

, , 5–0 , , Benes (6–10) , , Rapp , , — , , 26,312 , , 22–26 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 49 , , May 26 , , @

, , 2–8 (7) , , Weathers , , Osborne (3–3) , , — , , 20,573 , , 22–27 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 50 , , May 27 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Ritz , , Stottlemyre (4–3) , , Ruffin , , 38,804 , , 22–28 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 51 , , May 28 , ,

, , 5–6 , , Painter , , Mathews (1–2) , , Holmes , , 26,913 , , 22–29 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 52 , , May 29 , ,

, , 6–5 , , Petkovsek (3–0) , , Leskanic , , Benes (1) , , 27,856 , , 23–29 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 53 , , May 31 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Osborne (4–3) , , Swindell , , Fossas (1) , , 37,625 , , 24–29 , - , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 54 , , June 1 , ,

, , 5–4 (10) , , Bailey (3–1) , , Hernandez , , — , , 34,958 , , 25–29 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 55 , , June 2 , ,

, , 2–0 , , Stottlemyre (5–3) , , Kile , , — , , 32,703 , , 26–29 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 56 , , June 3 , , @

, , 3–0 , , Benes (7–10) , , Tewksbury , , — , , 13,625 , , 27–29 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 57 , , June 4 , , @

, , 11–5 , , Petkovsek (4–0) , , Worrell , , — , , 13,427 , , 28–29 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 58 , , June 5 , , @

, , 4–6 , , Hoffman , , Fossas (0–4) , , — , , 12,216 , , 28–30 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 59 , , June 7 , , @

, , 9–4 , , Benes (8–10) , , Fernandez , , — , , 13,009 , , 29–30 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 60 , , June 8 , , @

, , 1–4 , , DeLucia , , Stottlemyre (5–4) , , Beck , , 20,401 , , 29–31 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 61 , , June 9 , , @

, , 0–9 , , Watson , , Benes (8–11) , , — , , 24,176 , , 29–32 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 62 , , June 10 , , @

, , 1–2 , , Park , , Morgan (1–1) , , Osuna , , 54,043 , , 29–33 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 63 , , June 11 , , @

, , 6–3 , , Osborne (5–3) , , Martinez , , Honeycutt (2) , , 29,096 , , 30–33 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 64 , , June 13 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Person , , Benes (8–12) , , Henry , , 30,697 , , 30–34 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 65 , , June 14 , ,

, , 13–4 , , Stottlemyre (6–4) , , Isringhausen , , — , , 38,556 , , 31–34 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 66 , , June 15 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Benes (9–12) , , Jones , , Eckersley (9) , , 50,635 , , 32–34 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 67 , , June 16 , ,

, , 5–4 , , Petkovsek (5–0) , , Henry , , Eckersley (10) , , 31,375 , , 33–34 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 68 , , June 18 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Osborne (6–3) , , Fernandez , , Eckersley (11) , , 31,311 , , 34–34 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 69 , , June 19 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Benes (10–12) , , Bottalico , , — , , 34,612 , , 35–34 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 70 , , June 20 , , @

, , 3–8 , , Rueter , , Stottlemyre (6–5) , , — , , 15,095 , , 35–35 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 71 , , June 21 , , @

, , 3–4 (12) , , Rojas , , Eckersley (0–5) , , — , , 16,136 , , 35–36 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 72 , , June 22 , , @

, , 9–4 , , Morgan (2–1) , , Urbina , , — , , 16,895 , , 36–36 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 73 , , June 23 , , @

, , 2–3 , , Fassero , , Osborne (6–4) , , Rojas , , 22,168 , , 36–37 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 74 , , June 24 , , @ Braves , , 9–2 , , Benes (11–12) , , Smoltz , , — , , 31,971 , , 37–37 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 75 , , June 25 , , @ Braves , , 3–4 , , Schmidt , , Stottlemyre (6–6) , , Wohlers , , 30,942 , , 37–38 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 76 , , June 26 , , @ Braves , , 11–7 , , Benes (12–12) , , Avery , , — , , 31,191 , , 38–38 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 77 , , June 27 , , @ Braves , , 0–3 , , Maddux , , Morgan (2–2) , , Wohlers , , 32,243 , , 38–39 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 78 , , June 28 , , Pirates , , 6–1 , , Osborne (7–4) , , Neagle , , — , , 34,490 , , 39–39 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 79 , , June 29 , , Pirates , , 6–5 , , Honeycutt (1–0) , , Miceli , , — , , 34,426 , , 40–39 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 80 , , June 30 , , Pirates , , 10–3 , , Stottlemyre (7–6) , , Smith , , — , , 38,901 , , 41–39 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 81 , , July 1 , ,

Reds Reds may refer to: General * Red (political adjective), supporters of Communism or socialism * Reds (January Uprising), a faction of the Polish insurrectionists during the January Uprising in 1863 * USSR (or, to a lesser extent, China) during th ...

, , 5–8 , , Carrasco , , Benes (12–13) , , Brantley , , 27,221 , , 41–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 82 , , July 2 , ,

, , 4–3 , , Honeycutt (2–0) , , Smith , , Eckersley (12) , , 29,074 , , 42–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 83 , , July 3 , ,

, , 4–0 , , Osborne (8–4) , , Smiley , , — , , 32,658 , , 43–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 84 , , July 4 , , @ Pirates , , 7–1 , , Benes (13–13) , , Dessens , , — , , 23,321 , , 44–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 85 , , July 5 , , @ Pirates , , 7–4 , , Stottlemyre (8–6) , , Smith , , Fossas (2) , , 18,759 , , 45–40 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 86 , , July 6 , , @ Pirates , , 9–5 , , Benes (14–13) , , Darwin , , — , , 19,144 , , 46–40 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 87 , , July 7 , , @ Pirates , , 2–8 , , Lieber , , Morgan (2–3) , , — , , 16,255 , , 46–41 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 88 , , July 11 , , @ Cubs , , 0–6 , , Navarro , , Osborne (8–5) , , — , , 38,802 , , 46–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 89 , , July 12 , , @ Cubs , , 13–3 , , Benes (15–13) , , Trachsel , , — , , 38,918 , , 47–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 90 , , July 13 , , @ Cubs , , 10–5 , , Stottlemyre (9–6) , , Bullinger , , Eckersley (13) , , 39,254 , , 48–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 91 , , July 14 , , @ Cubs , , 7–6 , , Benes (16–13) , , Adams , , Eckersley (14) , , 38,638 , , 49–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 92 , , July 15 , , @

, , 8–3 , , Morgan (3–3) , , Salkeld , , — , , 38,450 , , 50–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 93 , , July 16 , , @

, , 5–4 , , Osborne (9–5) , , Shaw , , Eckersley (15) , , 23,370 , , 51–42 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 94 , , July 17 , , @

, , 6–4 , , Benes (17–13) , , Portugal , , Eckersley (16) , , 28,879 , , 52–42 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 95 , , July 18 , , Cubs , , 5–6 , , Bottenfield , , Petkovsek (5–1) , , Wendell , , 38,983 , , 52–43 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 96 , , July 19 , , Cubs , , 9–1 , , Benes (18–13) , , Castillo , , — , , 45,336 , , 53–43 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 97 , , July 20 , , Cubs , , 0–3 , , Trachsel , , Morgan (3–4) , , Wendell , , 50,418 , , 53–44 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 98 , , July 21 , , Cubs , , 6–5 (10) , , Petkovsek (6–1) , , Wendell , , — , , 42,257 , , 54–44 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 99 , , July 22 , , Braves , , 6–8 , , McMichael , , Mathews (1–3) , , Wohlers , , 36,215 , , 54–45 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 100 , , July 23 , , Braves , , 2–3 , , Smoltz , , Stottlemyre (9–7) , , Wohlers , , 35,520 , , 54–46 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 101 , , July 24 , , Braves , , 1–4 , , Wade , , Benes (18–14) , , McMichael , , 35,411 , , 54–47 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 102 , , July 25 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Urbina , , Petkovsek (6–2) , , Rojas , , 34,271 , , 54–48 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 103 , , July 26 , ,

, , 1–5 , , Fassero , , Osborne (9–6) , , — , , 30,048 , , 54–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 104 , , July 27 , ,

, , 6–3 , , Benes (19–14) , , Dyer , , Eckersley (17) , , 44,269 , , 55–49 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 105 , , July 28 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Petkovsek (7–2) , , Martinez , , Mathews (4) , , 31,226 , , 56–49 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 106 , , July 30 , , @

, , 7–8 , , Ryan , , Mathews (1–4) , , — , , 20,166 , , 56–50 , - , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 107 , , August 1 , , @

, , 1–2 , , Springer , , Osborne (9–7) , , Ryan , , — , , 56–51 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 108 , , August 1 , , @

, , 7–1 , , Benes (20–14) , , Mimbs , , — , , 22,934 , , 57–51 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 109 , , August 2 , , @

, , 4–3 , , Stottlemyre (10–7) , , Jones , , Honeycutt (3) , , 34,091 , , 58–51 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 110 , , August 3 , , @

, , 4–5 , , Harnisch , , Benes (20–15) , , Franco , , 28,594 , , 58–52 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 111 , , August 4 , , @

, , 4–2 , , Morgan (4–4) , , Isringhausen , , Eckersley (18) , , 24,595 , , 59–52 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 112 , , August 5 , ,

, , 8–2 , , Benes (21–15) , , Tewksbury , , — , , 28,653 , , 60–52 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 113 , , August 6 , ,

, , 0–1 , , Worrell , , Osborne (9–8) , , Hoffman , , 25,782 , , 60–53 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 114 , , August 7 , ,

, , 1–0 , , Petkovsek (8–2) , , Bochtler , , — , , 24,823 , , 61–53 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 115 , , August 8 , ,

, , 3–5 (10) , , Poole , , Honeycutt (2–1) , , Beck , , 34,844 , , 61–54 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 116 , , August 9 , ,

, , 6–8 , , Fernandez , , Morgan (4–5) , , Beck , , 30,118 , , 61–55 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 117 , , August 10 , ,

, , 7–1 , , Benes (22–15) , , VanLandingham , , — , , 49,344 , , 62–55 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 118 , , August 11 , ,

, , 5–3 , , Osborne (10–8) , , Watson , , Eckersley (19) , , 30,139 , , 63–55 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 119 , , August 13 , ,

, , 4–8 , , Candiotti , , Stottlemyre (10–8) , , — , , 30,761 , , 63–56 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 120 , , August 14 , ,

, , 6–1 , , Benes (23–15) , , Valdez , , — , , 26,945 , , 64–56 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 121 , , August 15 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Nomo , , Morgan (4–6) , , Worrell , , 32,930 , , 64–57 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 122 , , August 16 , ,

, , 6–2 , , Benes (24–15) , , Rapp , , — , , 30,507 , , 65–57 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 123 , , August 17 , ,

, , 4–3 , , Mathews (2–4) , , Powell , , Eckersley (20) , , 30,792 , , 66–57 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 124 , , August 18 , ,

, , 5–3 , , Stottlemyre (11–8) , , Leiter , , Eckersley (21) , , 34,564 , , 67–57 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 125 , , August 20 , , @

, , 4–5 (13) , , Munoz , , Mathews (2–5) , , — , , 48,126 , , 67–58 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 126 , , August 21 , , @

, , 2–10 , , Reynoso , , Benes (24–16) , , — , , 48,045 , , 67–59 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 127 , , August 22 , , @

, , 5–10 , , Bailey , , Morgan (4–7) , , — , , 48,086 , , 67–60 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 128 , , August 23 , , @

, , 1–0 , , Osborne (11–8) , , Kile , , Eckersley (22) , , 35,554 , , 68–60 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 129 , , August 24 , , @

, , 1–3 , , Reynolds , , Stottlemyre (11–9) , , — , , 43,258 , , 68–61 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 130 , , August 25 , , @

, , 1–4 , , Wall , , Benes (24–17) , , Hernandez , , 31,609 , , 68–62 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 131 , , August 26 , , @

, , 3–2 , , Benes (25–17) , , Hampton , , Eckersley (23) , , 21,624 , , 69–62 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 132 , , August 27 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Hutton , , Morgan (4–8) , , Nen , , 24,784 , , 69–63 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 133 , , August 28 , ,

, , 2–3 (10) , , Hammond , , Bailey (3–2) , , Nen , , 21,767 , , 69–64 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 134 , , August 29 , ,

, , 9–10 , , Leiter , , Stottlemyre (11–10) , , Nen , , 23,105 , , 69–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 135 , , August 30 , ,

, , 7–4 , , Benes (26–17) , , Wright , , Eckersley (24) , , 25,530 , , 70–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 136 , , August 31 , ,

, , 2–1 , , Benes (27–17) , , Bailey , , Eckersley (25) , , 35,804 , , 71–65 , - , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 137 , , September 1 , ,

, , 15–6 , , Petkovsek (9–2) , , Rekar , , — , , 28,552 , , 72–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 138 , , September 2 , ,

, , 8–7 (10) , , Benes (28–17) , , Brocail , , — , , 32,955 , , 73–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 139 , , September 3 , ,

, , 12–3 , , Stottlemyre (12–10) , , Reynolds , , — , , 23,955 , , 74–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 140 , , September 4 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Benes (29–17) , , Wall , , Eckersley (26) , , 34,891 , , 75–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 141 , , September 6 , ,

, , 8–3 , , Petkovsek (10–2) , , Tewksbury , , — , , 28,116 , , 76–65 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 142 , , September 7 , ,

, , 8–3 , , Osborne (12–8) , , Ashby , , — , , 42,846 , , 77–65 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 143 , , September 8 , ,

, , 4–5 , , Valenzuela , , Stottlemyre (12–11) , , Hoffman , , 30,897 , , 77–66 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 144 , , September 9 , , @

, , 6–2 , , Benes (30–17) , , Gardner , , — , , 10,307 , , 78–66 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 145 , , September 10 , , @

, , 1–0 , , Petkovsek (11–2) , , Rueter , , Eckersley (27) , , 8,770 , , 79–66 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 146 , , September 11 , , @

, , 2–4 , , Scott , , Benes (30–18) , , Beck , , 9,673 , , 79–67 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 147 , , September 12 , , @

, , 1–4 , , Nomo , , Osborne (12–9) , , Osuna , , 34,191 , , 79–68 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 148 , , September 13 , , @

, , 2–0 , , Batchelor (1–0) , , Guthrie , , Eckersley (28) , , 36,657 , , 80–68 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 149 , , September 14 , , @

, , 5–9 , , Martinez , , Benes (30–19) , , — , , 44,548 , , 80–69 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 150 , , September 15 , , @

, , 5–6 , , Radinsky , , Eckersley (0–6) , , Worrell , , 35,803 , , 80–70 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 151 , , September 17 , , Cubs , , 5–3 , , Osborne (13–9) , , Patterson , , Mathews (5) , , 29,612 , , 81–70 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 152 , , September 18 , , Cubs , , 5–3 , , Stottlemyre (13–11) , , Trachsel , , Eckersley (29) , , 32,843 , , 82–70 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 153 , , September 19 , , Cubs , , 5–4 (13) , , Bailey (4–2) , , Campbell , , — , , 34,923 , , 83–70 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 154 , , September 20 , , @

, , 2–4 , , Burba , , Benes (30–20) , , Brantley , , 23,496 , , 83–71 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 155 , , September 22 , , @

, , 3–6 , , Shaw , , Mathews (2–6) , , Brantley , , — , , 83–72 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 156 , , September 22 , , @

, , 0–6 , , Smiley , , Jackson (0–1) , , — , , 38,225 , , 83–73 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 157 , , September 23 , , @

, , 3–2 , , Stottlemyre (14–11) , , Morgan , , Eckersley (30) , , 17,313 , , 84–73 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 158 , , September 24 , , @ Pirates , , 7–1 , , Benes (31–20) , , Loaiza , , — , , 8,611 , , 85–73 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 159 , , September 25 , , @ Pirates , , 8–7 (11) , , Bailey (5–2) , , Miceli , , Mathews (6) , , 20,022 , , 86–73 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 160 , , September 27 , ,

, , 2–1 (11) , , Batchelor (2–0) , , Shaw , , — , , 39,730 , , 87–73 , - bgcolor="ccffcc" , 161 , , September 28 , ,

, , 5–2 , , Jackson (1–1) , , Morgan , , Honeycutt (4) , , 52,876 , , 88–73 , - bgcolor="ffbbbb" , 162 , , September 29 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Lyons , , Ludwick (0–1) , , Brantley , , 51,379 , , 88–74 , - , - , ''Legend: = Win = Loss
Bold = Cardinals team member''

Detailed records

Opening Day starters

* Luis Alicea *

Ray Lankford Raymond Lewis Lankford (born June 5, 1967) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres from 1990 to 2004. He was known for his combination of power, speed, and defensive prowess ...

John Mabry John Steven Mabry (born October 17, 1970) is an American former professional baseball player, broadcaster, and coach. He is a coach for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He had 898 career hits in 3,409 at-bats (for a battin ...

* Pat Borders *

Roster

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''

Other batters

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

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

NLDS

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

NLCS

Game 1

October 9:

Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, often referred to as Fulton County Stadium and originally named Atlanta Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium in the southeastern United States, located in Atlanta. The stadium was home of the Atlanta Braves of th ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

Game 2

October 10:

Game 3

October 12:

Busch Stadium Busch Stadium (also referred to informally as "New Busch Stadium" or "Busch Stadium III") is a baseball stadium located in St. Louis, Missouri. The stadium serves as the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, the city's Major League Baseball (M ...

Game 4

October 13:

Game 5

October 14:

Game 6

October 16:

Game 7

October 17:

Awards and honors

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

Farm system

Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007

References

External links

1996 St. Louis Cardinals at Baseball Reference1996 St. Louis Cardinals team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1996 St. Louis Cardinals Season St. Louis Cardinals seasons National League Central champion seasons

Saint Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...

St Lou