If you walk into a bar in central Illinois wearing a blue hat, someone is going to mention it. If you’re wearing red, the guy at the other end of the counter is probably rolling his eyes. It’s been this way since the 1800s. The St Louis Cardinals and Cubs aren't just two baseball teams that happen to play in the NL Central. They are two different philosophies of life that have been crashing into each other for over a century. Honestly, the "Route 66 Series" or the "I-55 Rivalry" labels don't really do it justice. It’s deeper.
Most people think rivalries are about hate. Look at the Yankees and Red Sox. That’s pure, unadulterated vitriol. But the Cardinals and Cubs? It’s more like a family feud where nobody is talking to each other at Thanksgiving, but everyone still showed up for the turkey. It’s proximity. It’s the fact that fans in towns like Peoria or Springfield are split right down the middle, neighbor against neighbor. You can’t escape it.
The Weird History of the St Louis Cardinals and Cubs
Let’s get one thing straight: the records are lopsided. If you’re a Cardinals fan, you probably have the number 11 tattooed on your brain. Eleven World Series titles. The Cubs, famously, had that 108-year drought that ended in 2016. But if you think that makes the rivalry one-sided, you haven’t been paying attention to the actual games.
The whole thing kicked off back in 1892. Back then, the Cubs were the Chicago White Stockings and the Cardinals were the St. Louis Browns. It was rowdy. It was dirty. It was everything 19th-century baseball was supposed to be. But the real heat turned up in the mid-20th century. While the Cardinals were winning with guys like Stan Musial and Rogers Hornsby, the Cubs were building a different kind of identity around Wrigley Field and the "Loveable Losers" tag.
Did you know the Cubs actually lead the all-time head-to-head series record? It’s true. Even with all those St. Louis rings, Chicago has historically won more of the individual games they've played against each other. It’s a stat that drives St. Louis fans absolutely insane. They have the hardware; Chicago has the daily wins. It’s the ultimate "scoreboard" argument that never ends because both sides have a valid point.
The Brock-for-Broglio Heist
You can't talk about these teams without talking about Lou Brock. In 1964, the Cubs made what is widely considered one of the worst trades in the history of professional sports. They sent a young outfielder named Lou Brock to the Cardinals for pitcher Ernie Broglio. At the time, Broglio was a proven winner and Brock was struggling.
The result? Broglio’s arm basically fell off. Brock, meanwhile, turned into a Hall of Fame legend, a base-stealing wizard, and the engine that powered the Cardinals to multiple World Series. Every time a Cardinals fan wants to needle a Cubs fan, they just whisper the name "Lou Brock." It’s the gift that keeps on giving for the folks in Missouri.
Why the Geography Dictates the Vibe
Chicago is the big city. It’s the "Second City," the hub of the Midwest, massive and sprawling. St. Louis feels more like a giant small town. This cultural friction bleeds into the stands. When the Cardinals go to Wrigley, the "Best Fans in Baseball" (a self-appointed title that Cubs fans love to mock) show up in droves. When the Cubs go to Busch Stadium, the "Friendly Confines" energy follows them, often resulting in "Let's Go Cubs" chants drowning out the home crowd.
💡 You might also like: Anthony Davis USC Running Back: Why the Notre Dame Killer Still Matters
It’s about the commute. The five-hour drive between the two cities is a pilgrimage.
- Fans plan their entire summers around these weekend series.
- The ticket prices on the secondary market usually double the moment the schedule is released.
- Bars in the Wrigleyville area and Clark Avenue in St. Louis rely on these specific weekends to make their year-end margins.
I remember talking to a vendor outside Busch Stadium a few years ago. He said he sells more water and hot dogs during a Cubs series than during the playoffs. Why? Because the fans are more stressed. They’re pacing. They’re arguing. They’re invested in a way that goes beyond just winning a trophy. They want the bragging rights at the office on Monday morning.
The McGwire and Sosa Era: A Temporary Truce?
1998 changed everything. For a brief moment, the animosity between the St Louis Cardinals and Cubs was replaced by a shared national obsession. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing Roger Maris’s home run record.
It was surreal.
You had fans in both jerseys cheering for both players. Every time "Big Mac" hit a moonshot, Chicago took notice. Every time Sosa hopped after a blast, St. Louis watched. It was the "Summer of Love" for baseball, even if we now look back at that era with a lot of complicated feelings about PEDs. But in the moment? It elevated the rivalry to a global stage. It wasn't just a regional scrap anymore. It was the center of the sporting universe.
That 1998 season actually saved baseball in a lot of ways following the '94 strike. And it was these two specific franchises that carried the weight. It’s a bit ironic, really. The two teams that usually want to ruin each other’s season ended up cooperating to save the entire league’s reputation.
The Modern Era: Changing of the Guard
Since the Cubs finally broke the curse in 2016, the dynamic has shifted. For decades, the Cardinals were the "big brother." They were the consistent winners, the organization that did things "the right way." The Cubs were the chaotic, cursed underdogs.
📖 Related: AC Milan vs Bologna: Why This Matchup Always Ruins the Script
But then Theo Epstein showed up in Chicago. He brought a modern, analytical approach that mirrored—and then surpassed—what the Cardinals were doing. Suddenly, the Cubs were the powerhouse. They were the ones with the young core of Bryant, Rizzo, and Baez. St. Louis had to play catch-up.
These days, it’s a dogfight. Both teams have massive payrolls. Both teams have fanbases that demand a postseason appearance every single year. There is no "rebuilding" in this rivalry. If you aren't competing, you're failing.
Realities of the "Best Fans in Baseball" Moniker
Let's address the elephant in the room: the "Best Fans in Baseball" (BFIB) label. Cardinals fans wear it like a badge of honor. They point to their high attendance numbers and their tendency to applaud opposing players for good plays.
Cubs fans? They think it’s the most pretentious thing in sports.
To a Cubs fan, the Cardinals' "Way" is just code for being smug. To a Cardinals fan, the Cubs' "Wait 'til Next Year" attitude was just code for accepting mediocrity. This personality clash is what keeps the rivalry fresh even when one team is 10 games out of first place. You aren't just rooting for a team; you're rooting for a worldview.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Travelers
If you are planning to experience this rivalry in person, there are a few things you actually need to know. Don't just show up and expect it to be like any other game.
1. The "Takeover" Factor
If you’re going to Busch Stadium when the Cubs are in town, be prepared for a sea of blue. Cubs fans travel better than almost any fan base in the world. Conversely, if you're at Wrigley, expect the "Cardinals Nest" in the bleachers to be loud. If you want a quiet game of baseball, this is not the series for you.
👉 See also: 49ers vs Chargers Super Bowl: What Most People Get Wrong
2. Logistics of the I-55 Corridor
Driving between the cities is straightforward, but the traffic in both Downtown St. Louis and the North Side of Chicago is a nightmare on game days.
- In St. Louis: Use the MetroLink. It drops you off right at the stadium gate.
- In Chicago: Do NOT try to park near Wrigley. Take the Red Line "L" train to Addison. It’s a rite of passage.
3. The Ticket Market
Buy early. Seriously. While you can usually find cheap seats for a Tuesday night game against the Marlins, the St Louis Cardinals and Cubs matchups are almost always sell-outs. Prices fluctuate wildly based on the pitching matchups. If it's a battle of aces, expect to pay a 40% premium.
4. Respect the Traditions
In St. Louis, people take the game seriously. They stay until the ninth inning, even in a blowout. In Chicago, it’s more about the experience—the ivy, the rooftops, the beer. If you’re a Cubs fan in St. Louis, don’t be obnoxious. If you’re a Cardinals fan at Wrigley, don’t complain about the narrow concourses. It’s part of the charm.
The Future of the Feud
We are entering a weird new phase. With the balanced schedule in MLB, these teams actually play each other less than they used to. It used to be 18 or 19 games a year. Now it’s fewer. Some people think this will dilute the rivalry.
They’re wrong.
If anything, the scarcity makes the games more important. Every win is magnified. Every loss feels like a punch in the gut. As both teams navigate the complexities of regional sports networks and shifting payrolls, their reliance on this rivalry for ticket sales and TV ratings has never been higher.
The St Louis Cardinals and Cubs rivalry is the heartbeat of Midwestern sports. It’s a story of winners and losers, of stolen legends and broken curses, and of two cities that are only 300 miles apart but feel like different planets. Whether it's a chilly April afternoon at Wrigley or a humid August night at Busch, the tension is the same. It’s not just baseball. It’s home.
To get the most out of the next series, keep an eye on the pitching rotations three days out, as the "managerial chess match" between these two clubs often starts long before the first pitch. Check the weather at Wrigley specifically; the wind blowing in versus blowing out can turn a home run derby into a pitcher's duel in a matter of minutes. Stay updated on the injury reports for the middle infielders, as this rivalry is often decided by a single double play turned—or missed—in the late innings.