I was only 6yrs old in 1981 when I started paying attention to my beloved St.Louis Cardinals.....but then 1982 gave me Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee and Lonnie Smith winning the WS and making me a St.Louis Cardinals Fan for life.
I had forgotten how close the Cards came to making the playoffs in 1981 but did remember the split season because of the strike and having the best over-all division record just like the Reds missing the playoffs in the same manner. . I cannot imagine though losing out because of a half ame difference. Normally you would at least make up so there is nevr a half game difference, but it was all about the strike and scheduling playoff games at the end of the year. Only the season of COVID was more bizarre for Baseball.
I was 23 years old and a long time Cardinals' fan; I still am. Reds fans were more upset than Cardinals' fans. The Cardinals fell short and did not whine about it. They simply got to work and focused on 1982.
@@rockyhines5842 The Cards made some good trades but it was ironic that Ted Simmons finally made it to the world series but he played for the Brewers and not the Cards. He was a long time Cards catcher. The 1981 Cards had Garry Templeton at shortstop but Ozzie was the Wizard.
The Reds had the best record in the entire major leagues and they also didn't go to the playoffs. Had the season just been handled in the normal fashion, Cincinnati hosts the Cardinals in the NLCS. BUT StL played 6 less games than Mon and 5 less games than Phi. So Mon or Phi might have won the division anyway. The A's would have hosted Milwaukee although Bal played 4 less games than the Brew Crew and finished just 1 GB. The O's also won neither half. StL would get its revenge in 82 and Bal in 83.
@@MGAF688 The one problem with this is that it overlooks the fact that once the first half winners were told there wouldn't be a bye for winning the second half as well, NONE of them had any incentive to play all-out to end the season with the "best" overall record. So that's why the screaming about how the Reds and Cardinals were gypped really is misleading because it overlooks the fact the Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers and A's only had to sleepwalk their way through the second half.
I was only 6yrs old in 1981 when I started paying attention to my beloved St.Louis Cardinals.....but then 1982 gave me Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee and Lonnie Smith winning the WS and making me a St.Louis Cardinals Fan for life.
Thanks for posting. Enjoyed it!
enjoyed this thoroughly.
I had forgotten how close the Cards came to making the playoffs in 1981 but did remember the split season because of the strike and having the best over-all division record just like the Reds missing the playoffs in the same manner. . I cannot imagine though losing out because of a half ame difference. Normally you would at least make up so there is nevr a half game difference, but it was all about the strike and scheduling playoff games at the end of the year. Only the season of COVID was more bizarre for Baseball.
I was 23 years old and a long time Cardinals' fan; I still am. Reds fans were more upset than Cardinals' fans. The Cardinals fell short and did not whine about it. They simply got to work and focused on 1982.
@@rockyhines5842 The Cards made some good trades but it was ironic that Ted Simmons finally made it to the world series but he played for the Brewers and not the Cards. He was a long time Cards catcher. The 1981 Cards had Garry Templeton at shortstop but Ozzie was the Wizard.
RIP Oberkfell, Porter, Forsch, and Sutter.
Oberkfell is still alive
The homer by Gonzalez gave me chills.
GEORGE HENDRICK SILENT GEORGE MY HERO
Jack Buck wasn't wrong about 1982
The old Busch Stadium was the hardest to hit home runs out of.
You are right Ratbone. But, due to the strike and the resultant "split season" we were left out. Won it all the next year, though:)
25:30. Until the 91 world series
1:07
Best record in division if I remember correctly. And didn’t get to participate in playoffs. What a joke!
The Reds had the best record in the entire major leagues and they also didn't go to the playoffs. Had the season just been handled in the normal fashion, Cincinnati hosts the Cardinals in the NLCS. BUT StL played 6 less games than Mon and 5 less games than Phi. So Mon or Phi might have won the division anyway. The A's would have hosted Milwaukee although Bal played 4 less games than the Brew Crew and finished just 1 GB. The O's also won neither half. StL would get its revenge in 82 and Bal in 83.
If it wasn't for that damn strike that split 1981 into "2 seasons", I truly believe the Cardinals would have won the World Series.
@@MGAF688 The one problem with this is that it overlooks the fact that once the first half winners were told there wouldn't be a bye for winning the second half as well, NONE of them had any incentive to play all-out to end the season with the "best" overall record. So that's why the screaming about how the Reds and Cardinals were gypped really is misleading because it overlooks the fact the Yankees, Phillies, Dodgers and A's only had to sleepwalk their way through the second half.