Fansided

Ranking every World Series winners in history

By Staff

UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 05: Brooklyn Dodgers president Walter O'Malley and his manager, Walter Alston, exchange hugs and grins after bringing Brooklyn its first World Series championship in history. Flock did it the hard way, winning the final game in Yankee Stadium. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) /
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BRONX, NY – OCTOBER, 1926: An unidentified player for the St. Louis Cardinals scores as catcher Hank Severeid of the New York Yankees follows the play during the 1926 World Series circa October, 1926 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
BRONX, NY – OCTOBER, 1926: An unidentified player for the St. Louis Cardinals scores as catcher Hank Severeid of the New York Yankees follows the play during the 1926 World Series circa October, 1926 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) /

96. 1926 St. Louis Cardinals

89-65, NL Champions, Won World Series 4-3 Over New York

Baseball was a very different game in 1926. The St. Louis Cardinals – winners of the National League by two games with an 89-65 regular season record – had the most explosive offense in the National League that season, having led the NL in runs (817), hits (1,541), home runs (90), walks (478), and slugging percentage (.415).

Catcher Bob O’Farrell was voted NL MVP after hitting .293/.371/.433 with seven home runs and 68 RBI, though Hall of Fame teammates Rogers Hornsby (.317/.388/.463, 11 HR, 93 RBI) and Jim Bottomley (.299/.364/.506, 19 HR, 120 RBI) and third baseman Les Bell (.325/.383/.518, 17 HR, 100 RBI) had largely better offensive numbers.

The Cardinals’ pitching staff was very good, though far from dominant. St. Louis had the third-best ERA in the league (3.67), though Flint Rhem (20-7, 3.21), Bill Sherdel (16-12, 3.49) and Hall of Famer Pete Alexander (9-7, 2.91) were the strength of a hard-working group that led the NL with 90 complete games.

St. Louis beat the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7 of the World Series when Babe Ruth was thrown out trying to steal second base, which gave the Cardinals the first World Championship in franchise history.

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