| 2001 St. Louis Cardinals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National League Wild Card winners | ||||
 | ||||
| League | National League | |||
| Division | Central | |||
| Ballpark | Busch Memorial Stadium | |||
| City | St. Louis, Missouri | |||
| Record | 93–69 (.574) | |||
| Divisional place | 2nd | |||
| Owners | William DeWitt, Jr. | |||
| General managers | Walt Jocketty | |||
| Managers | Tony La Russa | |||
| Television | Fox Sports Midwest KPLR (Al Hrabosky,Bob Carpenter,Dan McLaughlin,Joe Buck) | |||
| Radio | KMOX (Jack Buck,Mike Shannon,Joe Buck,Dan McLaughlin) | |||
| ||||
The2001 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 120th season inSt. Louis, Missouri and the 110th season in theNational League. TheCardinals went 93–69 during the season and finished tied for first in theNational League Central with theHouston Astros. Because the Cardinals and Astros were best two teams in the National League, both from the Central, and both finished five games ahead of the third-placeChicago Cubs, the Astros were awarded the NL Central champion and the number 1 seed in the playoffs due to winning the season series 9–7, and the Cardinals were awarded the wild-card.[1]
In the playoffs the Cardinals lost to the eventualWorld Champion Arizona Diamondbacks 3 games to 2 in theNLDS.[2]
Third baseman/OutfielderAlbert Pujols won theRookie of the Year Award this year, batting .329, with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs. Second basemanFernando Viña and outfielderJim Edmonds wonGold Gloves in 2001.[3]
This was alsoJack Buck's final season as the team's broadcaster.[4]
Albert Pujols made his major league debut on April 2 against theColorado Rockies.[8] He appeared in three at-bats and collected one hit.[9]
On September 3,Bud Smith became the ninth Cardinal and eighteenth rookie tohurl a no-hitter.
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | 93 | 69 | .574 | — | 44–37 | 49–32 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 93 | 69 | .574 | — | 54–28 | 39–41 |
| Chicago Cubs | 88 | 74 | .543 | 5 | 48–33 | 40–41 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 68 | 94 | .420 | 25 | 36–45 | 32–49 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 66 | 96 | .407 | 27 | 27–54 | 39–42 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 62 | 100 | .383 | 31 | 38–43 | 24–57 |
Source:MLB Standings Grid – 2001 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | MON | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | AL |
| Arizona | — | 5–2 | 6–3 | 5–1 | 13–6 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 10–9 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 12–7 | 10–9 | 2–4 | 7–8 |
| Atlanta | 2–5 | — | 4–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 9–10 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 13–6 | 10–9 | 10–9 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 9–9 |
| Chicago | 3–6 | 2–4 | — | 13–4 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 8–9 | 4–2 | 8–9 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 10–6 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 9–6 |
| Cincinnati | 1–5 | 2–4 | 4–13 | — | 3–6 | 4–2 | 6–11 | 4–2 | 6–10 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 9–8 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 7–10 | 4–11 |
| Colorado | 6–13 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 6–3 | — | 4–2 | 2–4 | 8–11 | 5–1 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 9–10 | 9–10 | 6–3 | 2–10 |
| Florida | 2–4 | 10–9 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–5 | 4–2 | 12–7 | 7–12 | 5–14 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 12–6 |
| Houston | 4–2 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 11–6 | 4–2 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 12–5 | 6–0 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 3–6 | 3–3 | 9–7 | 9–6 |
| Los Angeles | 9–10 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 11–8 | 5–2 | 4–2 | — | 5–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 7–2 | 9–10 | 11–8 | 3–3 | 6–9 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 10–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 5–12 | 1–5 | — | 4–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–11 | 1–5 | 5–4 | 7–10 | 5–10 |
| Montreal | 3–3 | 6–13 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 7–12 | 0–6 | 4–2 | 2–4 | — | 8–11 | 9–10 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 2–4 | 8–10 |
| New York | 3–3 | 9–10 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 12–7 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 11–8 | — | 11–8 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 10–8 |
| Philadelphia | 4–3 | 9–10 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 14–5 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 10–9 | 8–11 | — | 5–1 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 7–11 |
| Pittsburgh | 2–4 | 1–5 | 6–10 | 8–9 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 8–9 | 2–7 | 11–6 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–5 | — | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–14 | 8–7 |
| San Diego | 7–12 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 10–9 | 4–3 | 6–3 | 10–9 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 4–2 | — | 5–14 | 1–5 | 6–9 |
| San Francisco | 9–10 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 10–9 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 8–11 | 4–5 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 14–5 | — | 4–2 | 10–5 |
| St. Louis | 4–2 | 3–3 | 8–9 | 10–7 | 3–6 | 3–3 | 7–9 | 3–3 | 10–7 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 14–3 | 5–1 | 2–4 | — | 8–7 |
| 2001 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
| Catchers Infielders | Outfielders
Other batters | Manager Coaches | ||||||
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Mike Matheny | 121 | 381 | 83 | .218 | 7 | 42 |
| 1B | Mark McGwire | 97 | 299 | 56 | .187 | 29 | 64 |
| 2B | Fernando Viña | 154 | 631 | 191 | .303 | 9 | 56 |
| SS | Édgar Rentería | 141 | 493 | 128 | .260 | 10 | 57 |
| 3B | Plácido Polanco | 144 | 564 | 173 | .307 | 3 | 38 |
| LF | Ray Lankford | 91 | 264 | 62 | .235 | 15 | 39 |
| CF | Jim Edmonds | 150 | 500 | 152 | .304 | 30 | 110 |
| RF | J.D. Drew | 109 | 375 | 121 | .323 | 27 | 73 |
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albert Pujols | 161 | 590 | 194 | .329 | 37 | 130 |
| Craig Paquette | 123 | 340 | 96 | .282 | 15 | 64 |
| Eli Marrero | 86 | 203 | 54 | .266 | 6 | 23 |
| Kerry Robinson | 114 | 186 | 53 | .285 | 1 | 15 |
| Bobby Bonilla | 93 | 174 | 37 | .213 | 5 | 21 |
| Larry Sutton | 33 | 42 | 5 | .119 | 1 | 3 |
| Miguel Cairo | 27 | 33 | 11 | .333 | 1 | 7 |
| Stubby Clapp | 23 | 25 | 5 | .200 | 0 | 1 |
| John Mabry | 5 | 7 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Luis Saturria | 13 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 0 | 1 |
| Bill Ortega | 5 | 5 | 1 | .200 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith McDonald | 2 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darryl Kile | 34 | 227.1 | 16 | 11 | 3.09 | 179 |
| Matt Morris | 34 | 216.1 | 22 | 8 | 3.16 | 185 |
| Dustin Hermanson | 33 | 192.1 | 14 | 13 | 4.45 | 123 |
| Bud Smith | 16 | 84.2 | 6 | 3 | 3.83 | 59 |
| Woody Williams | 11 | 75.0 | 7 | 1 | 2.28 | 52 |
| Rick Ankiel | 6 | 24.0 | 1 | 2 | 7.13 | 27 |
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Benes | 27 | 107.1 | 7 | 7 | 7.38 | 78 |
| Mike Matthews | 51 | 89.0 | 3 | 4 | 3.24 | 72 |
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave Veres | 71 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 3.70 | 61 |
| Steve Kline | 89 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 1.80 | 54 |
| Mike Timlin | 67 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4.09 | 47 |
| Gene Stechschulte | 67 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3.86 | 51 |
| Mike James | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5.21 | 26 |
| Luther Hackman | 35 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4.29 | 24 |
| Jason Christiansen | 30 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4.66 | 19 |
| T.J. Mathews | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.07 | 10 |
| Alan Benes | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7.36 | 10 |
| Jeff Tabaka | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.36 | 3 |
| Jason Karnuth | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.80 | 1 |
| Chad Hutchinson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.75 | 2 |
| Bobby Bonilla | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.00 | 0 |
Arizona wins the series, 3–2
| Game | Home | Score | Visitor | Score | Date | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 1 | St. Louis | 0 | October 9 | 1–0 (AZ) |
| 2 | Arizona | 1 | St. Louis | 4 | October 10 | 1–1 |
| 3 | St. Louis | 3 | Arizona | 5 | October 12 | 2–1 (AZ) |
| 4 | St. Louis | 4 | Arizona | 1 | October 13 | 2–2 |
| 5 | Arizona | 2 | St. Louis | 1 | October 14 | 3–2 (AZ) |
There may be another reason for La Russa's stance. St. Louis finished tied with Houston in 2001, but the Astros won the division based on head-to-head record while the Cardinals won the wild-card berth. Still, St. Louis tried to claim it was division co-champion, a position the commissioner's office rejected.
