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Cardinals win 11th World Series title

Eleventh heaven: Cardinals are Series champs

ST. LOUIS -- It was so improbable, so unthinkable, that it had to happen. Despite massive deficits in August and September, despite playing four elimination games in the postseason, despite twice being down to their last strike the night before, the St. Louis Cardinals are the World Series champions for 2011 after winning Game 7, 6-2, over the Texas Rangers on Friday.

The Cards won the first World Series Game 7 since 2002 and brought home the 11th World Series championship in franchise history. They are the fifth Wild Card team, and the first since 2004, to win the title. St. Louis triumphed behind six-plus impressive innings from ace Chris Carpenter, more big hits by David Freese and Allen Craig, and a return to form by a bullpen that had sprung some leaks lately.

A journey that started in the spring with a star pitcher's blown elbow and an unsuccessful contract negotiation ended with an enormous Friday night party in downtown St. Louis. More than eight months of work paid off in the best possible way, with a celebration deep into the evening on the field and in the clubhouse. Three hours after the game, club personnel remained on the field at Busch Stadium taking in the moment.

The Cardinals won their second World Series title in six seasons in front of a stadium-record announced crowd of 47,399 and plenty more stationed outside the park -- in Ballpark Village, in hotel rooms across the street, and even atop a nearby parking garage. As the game ended, fans poured into the stadium from outside to be a part of the festivities.

"When you play in a city like this, where we have the greatest fans in the world, they come out every day and they allowed us to do what we did this year," general manager John Mozeliak said. "So I thank all of them and all our employees, because without them, we're not standing here. So thank you."

[ From MLB.com ]