If you walk into any sports bar in Missouri and ask how many World Series has St Louis Cardinals won, you’ll usually get a quick, proud answer. Eleven. It is a number that sits heavy in the record books. It’s the kind of number that makes fans of other National League teams a little bit salty.
Honestly, it’s a massive achievement. Eleven titles puts the Cardinals in a very exclusive club. Only the New York Yankees have more rings. While the Yankees are up there with 27, the Cardinals have firmly secured their spot as the kings of the National League. Nobody else in the NL even comes close to that double-digit mark.
Breaking Down the 11 World Series Titles
It wasn't just a lucky streak. These wins are spread across almost a century of baseball history. You’ve got the era of wool uniforms and train travel, and you’ve got the modern era of high-speed cameras and analytics.
The first one happened back in 1926. It was legendary. Rogers Hornsby was the player-manager, and they took down the mighty Yankees in seven games. Can you imagine? Beating Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig for your first-ever title? That’s basically the ultimate underdog story.
Then the 1930s rolled around. The "Gashouse Gang" arrived. They were dirty, they were loud, and they played hard. They picked up championships in 1931 and 1934. Dizzy Dean was the star of that 1934 squad, winning 30 games in a single season. Nobody does that anymore. Like, ever.
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The 1940s were arguably the most dominant decade for the franchise. They won three titles in five years (1942, 1944, and 1946). Interestingly, the 1944 series was played entirely in St. Louis because they were playing against the St. Louis Browns. It was called the "Streetcar Series." Fans just hopped on the trolley to get to the games, regardless of which team was "home."
- 1926: Defeated New York Yankees (4-3)
- 1931: Defeated Philadelphia Athletics (4-3)
- 1934: Defeated Detroit Tigers (4-3)
- 1942: Defeated New York Yankees (4-1)
- 1944: Defeated St. Louis Browns (4-2)
- 1946: Defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)
- 1964: Defeated New York Yankees (4-3)
- 1967: Defeated Boston Red Sox (4-3)
- 1982: Defeated Milwaukee Brewers (4-3)
- 2006: Defeated Detroit Tigers (4-1)
- 2011: Defeated Texas Rangers (4-3)
The Modern Era and the Magic of 2011
After a bit of a drought in the 50s, the 60s brought Bob Gibson. If you know baseball, you know Gibson was terrifying on the mound. He led them to rings in '64 and '67. Then came "Whiteyball" in the 80s with Whitey Herzog and Ozzie Smith. They won it all in 1982 by basically outrunning everyone else on the turf.
But for a lot of younger fans, when they think about how many World Series has St Louis Cardinals won, they immediately jump to 2011.
That year was pure chaos. They were 10.5 games out of the wild card in late August. They shouldn't have even been in the playoffs. Then came Game 6. David Freese. The triple. The home run. If you watch the highlights today, it still feels impossible. They were down to their last strike—twice. They ended up winning Game 7 the next night, clinching their 11th title.
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Why 11 Matters So Much
In the National League, the Cardinals are the benchmark. The Dodgers and Giants have had incredible runs lately, but they’re still chasing that 11th trophy. It’s about consistency. Every decade or so, the Cardinals find a way to reinvent themselves and get back to the mountaintop.
It’s not just about the wins, though. It’s the "Cardinal Way." It's a philosophy of drafting well, developing talent in the farm system (which Branch Rickey basically invented in St. Louis), and playing fundamentally sound ball.
What Most People Get Wrong
Sometimes people forget that the Cardinals have actually lost a fair share of World Series too. They've been to the Fall Classic 19 times. They lost in 2013 to the Red Sox and got swept in 2004. Being "second best" in terms of total wins is great, but the 8 losses show just how hard it is to actually close the deal.
Also, a lot of folks don't realize that before the modern World Series existed, the St. Louis Browns (who became the Cardinals) won a championship in 1886 in an early version of the series. If you count that, you could argue for 12, but MLB officially recognizes 11.
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What's Next for the Birds on the Bat?
Right now, the team is in a bit of a transition period. The era of Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina has ended. Chaim Bloom has stepped into the front office to help reshape the organization’s approach to player development. The goal is always the same: number 12.
If you're looking to dive deeper into this history, I'd suggest visiting the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum at Ballpark Village. It’s right across from Busch Stadium. Seeing the actual rings from 1926 or the 1940s puts that number—11—into a perspective that a screen just can't give you.
To stay truly up to date, keep an eye on the NL Central standings. The path to the World Series always starts with winning the division, and in St. Louis, anything less than a deep October run is usually considered a "down year." Check out the current roster moves on the official MLB site to see if they're building a squad capable of making it 12 in 2026.