| OUT OF CHARACTER
After a string of harsh injuries, a series of losing streaks, and a grueling late-season slump to match, Manager Tony La Russa's St. Louis Cardinals had just 83 regular-season wins. Nobody could have predicted that the Redbirds would batter the New York Mets in seven games, winning their 17th National League Pennant and making their way to the World Series... But with the help of a stingy bullpen and tenacious batting, the Cardinals did just that.
Few gave the Cardinals much hope in the World Series, either, not up against the 2006 Coach of the Year, Jim Leyland, and his Detroit Tigers - a team that had already humiliated St. Louis in a three game sweep during the regular season. Criticism was taken in quiet stride, though, and the underdogs stunned the sports world by routing Detroit 4 games to 1. |
