1996 St. Louis Cardinals season

The St. Louis Cardinals 1996 season was the team's 115th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 105th season in the National League. It was Tony La Russa's first season managing the club, after leaving the Oakland Athletics. During the first year of the William DeWitt, Jr. era, the Cardinals went 88–74 during the season and won their first-ever National League Central title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS after being up 3–1. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch during the 1995-96 offseason.

1996 St. Louis Cardinals
National League Central champions
League	National League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Busch Memorial Stadium
City	St. Louis, Missouri
Record	88–74 (.543)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	William DeWitt, Jr.
General managers	Walt Jocketty
Managers	Tony La Russa
Television	KPLR Prime Sports Midwest (Al Hrabosky, Bob Carpenter, Joe Buck)
Radio	KMOX (Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Joe Buck)
← 1995 Seasons 1997 →

Offseason

• October 23, 1995: The Cardinals hire Tony La Russa as team's manager
• December 23, 1995: Ron Gant was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
• December 23, 1995: Andy Benes was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
• December 15, 1995: Willie McGee was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.^[1]
• January 9, 1996: Todd Stottlemyre was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Allen Battle, Carl Dale, Jay Witasick, and Bret Wagner (minors).
• January 11, 1996: Mike Gallego signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.^[2]
• February 13, 1996: Dennis Eckersley was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery.
• December 18, 1995: Gary Gaetti signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ozzie Smith's final season

Legendary veteran shortstop Ozzie Smith announced during the season that it would be his last season in the Major Leagues, while veteran outfielder Willie McGee, was brought back to the Cards as a free agent. Though the tension between Smith and exciting youngster Royce Clayton, acquired in a trade, grew thick and troublesome at times as they shared time at shortstop, both players had good seasons. McGee came off the bench and started when needed.

Regular season

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

NL Central

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
St. Louis Cardinals	88	74	.543	—	48‍–‍33	40‍–‍41
Houston Astros	82	80	.506	6	48‍–‍33	34‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds	81	81	.500	7	46‍–‍35	35‍–‍46
Chicago Cubs	76	86	.469	12	43‍–‍38	33‍–‍48
Pittsburgh Pirates	73	89	.451	15	36‍–‍44	37‍–‍45

Record vs. opponents

1996 National League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 1996 v t e
Team	ATL	CHC	CIN	COL	FLA	HOU	LAD	MTL	NYM	PHI	PIT	SD	SF	STL
Atlanta	—	7–5	7–5	5–7	6–7	6–6	5–7	10–3	7–6	9–4	9–3	9–4	7–5	9–4
Chicago	5–7	—	5–8	5–7	6–6	5–8	8–5	6–6	7–5	7–6	4–9	6–6	7–5	5–8
Cincinnati	5–7	8–5	—	7–6	3–9	7–6	4–8	3–9	6–6	10–2	5–8	9–3	9–4	5–8
Colorado	7–5	7–5	6–7	—	5–8	8–5	6–7	3–9	7–5	6–6	7–5	8–5	5–8	8–4
Florida	7–6	6–6	9–3	8–5	—	7–5	6–7	5–8	7–6	6–7	5–7	3–9	5–7	6–6
Houston	6–6	8–5	6–7	5–8	5–7	—	6–6	4–9	8–4	10–2	8–5	6–6	8–4	2–11
Los Angeles	7–5	5–8	8–4	7–6	7–6	6–6	—	9–3	8–4	7–6	6–6	5–8	7–6	8–4
Montreal	3–10	6–6	9–3	9–3	8–5	9–4	3–9	—	7–6	6–7	7–5	4–8	9–4	8–4
New York	6–7	5–7	6–6	5–7	6–7	4–8	4–8	6–7	—	7–6	8–5	3–10	6–6	5–7
Philadelphia	4–9	6–7	2–10	6–6	7–6	2–10	6–7	7–6	6–7	—	7–5	4–8	6–6	4–8
Pittsburgh	3–9	9–4	8–5	5–7	7–5	5–8	6–6	5–7	5–8	5–7	—	4–9	8–4	3–10
San Diego	4–9	6–6	3–9	5–8	9–3	6–6	8–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	9–4	—	11–2	4–8
San Francisco	5–7	5–7	4–9	8–5	7–5	4–8	6–7	4–9	6–6	6–6	4–8	2–11	—	7–6
St. Louis	4–9	8–5	8–5	4–8	6–6	11–2	4–8	4–8	7–5	8–4	10–3	8–4	6–7	—

Game log

1996 Game Log: 88–74 (Home: 48–33; Away: 40–41)
April: 12–15 (Home: 7–8; Away: 5–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 1 April 1 @ Mets 6–7 Dipoto Fossas (0–1) Franco 42,060 0–1 2 April 3 @ Mets 5–3 Stottlemyre (1–0) Person Eckersley (1) 13,323 1–1 3 April 4 @ Mets 9–10 Franco Eckersley (0–1) — 15,507 1–2 4 April 5 @ Braves 5–4 (14) Bailey (1–0) Bielecki Eckersley (2) 31,071 2–2 5 April 6 @ Braves 3–2 (12) Parrett (1–0) Clontz — 34,649 3–2 6 April 7 @ Braves 3–13 Schmidt Busby (0–1) — 28,498 3–3 7 April 8 Expos 3–4 (10) Rojas Parrett (1–1) — 52,841 3–4 8 April 10 Expos 4–1 Benes (1–0) Paniagua — 27,734 4–4 9 April 11 Phillies 2–1 Benes (2–0) Mulholland Mathews (1) 23,412 5–4 10 April 12 Phillies 6–1 Urbani (1–0) Williams — 26,753 6–4 11 April 13 Phillies 2–4 Hunter Fossas (0–2) Bottalico 28,913 6–5 12 April 14 Phillies 6–5 Mathews (1–0) Fernandez Eckersley (3) 27,545 7–5 13 April 15 Pirates 6–4 Benes (3–0) Ericks Honeycutt (1) 18,731 8–5 14 April 16 Pirates 3–13 Smith Benes (3–1) Lieber 21,349 8–6 15 April 17 Pirates 6–1 Osborne (1–0) Darwin — 23,074 9–6 16 April 18 Pirates 2–6 Wagner Stottlemyre (1–1) — 25,700 9–7 17 April 19 @ Phillies 1–0 Bailey (2–0) Springer Eckersley (4) 25,614 10–7 18 April 20 @ Phillies 1–0 Benes (4–1) Bottalico Eckersley (5) 23,630 11–7 19 April 21 @ Phillies 2–4 Grace Benes (4–2) Bottalico 32,896 11–8 20 April 22 @ Expos 0–8 Cormier Osborne (1–1) — 9,778 11–9 21 April 23 @ Expos 11–12 Scott Mathews (1–1) — 8,352 11–10 22 April 24 Mets 9–4 Petkovsek (1–0) Harnisch — 23,189 12–10 23 April 25 Mets 3–9 Clark Benes (4–3) — 26,933 12–11 24 April 26 Braves 1–6 Avery Benes (4–4) — 34,598 12–12 25 April 27 Braves 2–7 Maddux Osborne (1–2) — 20,757 12–13 26 April 29 Braves 1–4 Glavine Stottlemyre (1–2) Wohlers 25,452 12–14 27 April 30 @ Cubs 6–7 Wendell Eckersley (0–2) — 20,771 12–15
May: 12–14 (Home: 4–6; Away: 8–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 28 May 1 @ Cubs 3–9 Trachsel Benes (4–5) — 25,668 12–16 29 May 3 @ Padres 3–1 Osborne (2–2) Ashby Eckersley (6) 21,335 13–16 30 May 4 @ Padres 4–3 Stottlemyre (2–2) Bergman Eckersley (7) 44,375 14–16 31 May 5 @ Padres 4–10 Hamilton Benes (4–6) — 27,435 14–17 32 May 7 Giants 2–4 Watson Fossas (0–3) Beck 23,492 14–18 33 May 8 Giants 7–10 Gardner Benes (4–7) Beck 22,517 14–19 34 May 9 Giants 16–8 Parrett (2–1) Dewey — 37,920 15–19 35 May 10 Dodgers 2–3 (12) Worrell Eckersley (0–3) — 36,821 15–20 36 May 11 Dodgers 2–4 Valdez Benes (4–8) Worrell 38,008 15–21 37 May 12 Dodgers 6–5 Petkovsek (2–0) Nomo Eckersley (8) 38,549 16–21 38 May 13 @ Marlins 2–5 Burkett Benes (4–9) Powell 19,227 16–22 39 May 14 @ Marlins 5–11 Mathews Parrett (2–2) — 16,070 16–23 40 May 15 @ Marlins 6–0 Stottlemyre (3–2) Rapp — 18,066 17–23 41 May 17 @ Rockies 11–12 Leskanic Bailey (2–1) Ruffin 48,074 17–24 42 May 18 @ Rockies 8–9 Habyan Eckersley (0–4) — 48,103 17–25 43 May 19 @ Rockies 3–10 Thompson Benes (4–10) — 48,075 17–26 44 May 20 @ Astros 5–3 Osborne (3–2) Drabek — 14,547 18–26 45 May 21 @ Astros 8–2 Stottlemyre (4–2) Reynolds — 17,935 19–26 46 May 22 @ Astros 5–2 Benes (5–10) Kile Mathews (2) 15,353 20–26 47 May 24 @ Marlins 4–2 Morgan (1–0) Burkett Mathews (3) 19,583 21–26 48 May 25 @ Marlins 5–0 Benes (6–10) Rapp — 26,312 22–26 49 May 26 @ Marlins 2–8 (7) Weathers Osborne (3–3) — 20,573 22–27 50 May 27 Rockies 2–5 Ritz Stottlemyre (4–3) Ruffin 38,804 22–28 51 May 28 Rockies 5–6 Painter Mathews (1–2) Holmes 26,913 22–29 52 May 29 Rockies 6–5 Petkovsek (3–0) Leskanic Benes (1) 27,856 23–29 53 May 31 Astros 6–4 Osborne (4–3) Swindell Fossas (1) 37,625 24–29
June: 17–10 (Home: 10–1; Away: 7–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 54 June 1 Astros 5–4 (10) Bailey (3–1) Hernandez — 34,958 25–29 55 June 2 Astros 2–0 Stottlemyre (5–3) Kile — 32,703 26–29 56 June 3 @ Padres 3–0 Benes (7–10) Tewksbury — 13,625 27–29 57 June 4 @ Padres 11–5 Petkovsek (4–0) Worrell — 13,427 28–29 58 June 5 @ Padres 4–6 Hoffman Fossas (0–4) — 12,216 28–30 59 June 7 @ Giants 9–4 Benes (8–10) Fernandez — 13,009 29–30 60 June 8 @ Giants 1–4 DeLucia Stottlemyre (5–4) Beck 20,401 29–31 61 June 9 @ Giants 0–9 Watson Benes (8–11) — 24,176 29–32 62 June 10 @ Dodgers 1–2 Park Morgan (1–1) Osuna 54,043 29–33 63 June 11 @ Dodgers 6–3 Osborne (5–3) Martinez Honeycutt (2) 29,096 30–33 64 June 13 Mets 1–2 Person Benes (8–12) Henry 30,697 30–34 65 June 14 Mets 13–4 Stottlemyre (6–4) Isringhausen — 38,556 31–34 66 June 15 Mets 4–2 Benes (9–12) Jones Eckersley (9) 50,635 32–34 67 June 16 Mets 5–4 Petkovsek (5–0) Henry Eckersley (10) 31,375 33–34 68 June 18 Phillies 3–2 Osborne (6–3) Fernandez Eckersley (11) 31,311 34–34 69 June 19 Phillies 3–2 Benes (10–12) Bottalico — 34,612 35–34 70 June 20 @ Expos 3–8 Rueter Stottlemyre (6–5) — 15,095 35–35 71 June 21 @ Expos 3–4 (12) Rojas Eckersley (0–5) — 16,136 35–36 72 June 22 @ Expos 9–4 Morgan (2–1) Urbina — 16,895 36–36 73 June 23 @ Expos 2–3 Fassero Osborne (6–4) Rojas 22,168 36–37 74 June 24 @ Braves 9–2 Benes (11–12) Smoltz — 31,971 37–37 75 June 25 @ Braves 3–4 Schmidt Stottlemyre (6–6) Wohlers 30,942 37–38 76 June 26 @ Braves 11–7 Benes (12–12) Avery — 31,191 38–38 77 June 27 @ Braves 0–3 Maddux Morgan (2–2) Wohlers 32,243 38–39 78 June 28 Pirates 6–1 Osborne (7–4) Neagle — 34,490 39–39 79 June 29 Pirates 6–5 Honeycutt (1–0) Miceli — 34,426 40–39 80 June 30 Pirates 10–3 Stottlemyre (7–6) Smith — 38,901 41–39
July: 15–11 (Home: 6–8; Away: 9–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 81 July 1 Reds 5–8 Carrasco Benes (12–13) Brantley 27,221 41–40 82 July 2 Reds 4–3 Honeycutt (2–0) Smith Eckersley (12) 29,074 42–40 83 July 3 Reds 4–0 Osborne (8–4) Smiley — 32,658 43–40 84 July 4 @ Pirates 7–1 Benes (13–13) Dessens — 23,321 44–40 85 July 5 @ Pirates 7–4 Stottlemyre (8–6) Smith Fossas (2) 18,759 45–40 86 July 6 @ Pirates 9–5 Benes (14–13) Darwin — 19,144 46–40 87 July 7 @ Pirates 2–8 Lieber Morgan (2–3) — 16,255 46–41 88 July 11 @ Cubs 0–6 Navarro Osborne (8–5) — 38,802 46–42 89 July 12 @ Cubs 13–3 Benes (15–13) Trachsel — 38,918 47–42 90 July 13 @ Cubs 10–5 Stottlemyre (9–6) Bullinger Eckersley (13) 39,254 48–42 91 July 14 @ Cubs 7–6 Benes (16–13) Adams Eckersley (14) 38,638 49–42 92 July 15 @ Reds 8–3 Morgan (3–3) Salkeld — 38,450 50–42 93 July 16 @ Reds 5–4 Osborne (9–5) Shaw Eckersley (15) 23,370 51–42 94 July 17 @ Reds 6–4 Benes (17–13) Portugal Eckersley (16) 28,879 52–42 95 July 18 Cubs 5–6 Bottenfield Petkovsek (5–1) Wendell 38,983 52–43 96 July 19 Cubs 9–1 Benes (18–13) Castillo — 45,336 53–43 97 July 20 Cubs 0–3 Trachsel Morgan (3–4) Wendell 50,418 53–44 98 July 21 Cubs 6–5 (10) Petkovsek (6–1) Wendell — 42,257 54–44 99 July 22 Braves 6–8 McMichael Mathews (1–3) Wohlers 36,215 54–45 100 July 23 Braves 2–3 Smoltz Stottlemyre (9–7) Wohlers 35,520 54–46 101 July 24 Braves 1–4 Wade Benes (18–14) McMichael 35,411 54–47 102 July 25 Expos 2–4 Urbina Petkovsek (6–2) Rojas 34,271 54–48 103 July 26 Expos 1–5 Fassero Osborne (9–6) — 30,048 54–49 104 July 27 Expos 6–3 Benes (19–14) Dyer Eckersley (17) 44,269 55–49 105 July 28 Expos 6–4 Petkovsek (7–2) Martinez Mathews (4) 31,226 56–49 106 July 30 @ Phillies 7–8 Ryan Mathews (1–4) — 20,166 56–50
August: 15–15 (Home: 10–8; Away: 5–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 107 August 1 @ Phillies 1–2 Springer Osborne (9–7) Ryan — 56–51 108 August 1 @ Phillies 7–1 Benes (20–14) Mimbs — 22,934 57–51 109 August 2 @ Mets 4–3 Stottlemyre (10–7) Jones Honeycutt (3) 34,091 58–51 110 August 3 @ Mets 4–5 Harnisch Benes (20–15) Franco 28,594 58–52 111 August 4 @ Mets 4–2 Morgan (4–4) Isringhausen Eckersley (18) 24,595 59–52 112 August 5 Padres 8–2 Benes (21–15) Tewksbury — 28,653 60–52 113 August 6 Padres 0–1 Worrell Osborne (9–8) Hoffman 25,782 60–53 114 August 7 Padres 1–0 Petkovsek (8–2) Bochtler — 24,823 61–53 115 August 8 Giants 3–5 (10) Poole Honeycutt (2–1) Beck 34,844 61–54 116 August 9 Giants 6–8 Fernandez Morgan (4–5) Beck 30,118 61–55 117 August 10 Giants 7–1 Benes (22–15) VanLandingham — 49,344 62–55 118 August 11 Giants 5–3 Osborne (10–8) Watson Eckersley (19) 30,139 63–55 119 August 13 Dodgers 4–8 Candiotti Stottlemyre (10–8) — 30,761 63–56 120 August 14 Dodgers 6–1 Benes (23–15) Valdez — 26,945 64–56 121 August 15 Dodgers 2–5 Nomo Morgan (4–6) Worrell 32,930 64–57 122 August 16 Marlins 6–2 Benes (24–15) Rapp — 30,507 65–57 123 August 17 Marlins 4–3 Mathews (2–4) Powell Eckersley (20) 30,792 66–57 124 August 18 Marlins 5–3 Stottlemyre (11–8) Leiter Eckersley (21) 34,564 67–57 125 August 20 @ Rockies 4–5 (13) Munoz Mathews (2–5) — 48,126 67–58 126 August 21 @ Rockies 2–10 Reynoso Benes (24–16) — 48,045 67–59 127 August 22 @ Rockies 5–10 Bailey Morgan (4–7) — 48,086 67–60 128 August 23 @ Astros 1–0 Osborne (11–8) Kile Eckersley (22) 35,554 68–60 129 August 24 @ Astros 1–3 Reynolds Stottlemyre (11–9) — 43,258 68–61 130 August 25 @ Astros 1–4 Wall Benes (24–17) Hernandez 31,609 68–62 131 August 26 @ Astros 3–2 Benes (25–17) Hampton Eckersley (23) 21,624 69–62 132 August 27 Marlins 3–6 Hutton Morgan (4–8) Nen 24,784 69–63 133 August 28 Marlins 2–3 (10) Hammond Bailey (3–2) Nen 21,767 69–64 134 August 29 Marlins 9–10 Leiter Stottlemyre (11–10) Nen 23,105 69–65 135 August 30 Rockies 7–4 Benes (26–17) Wright Eckersley (24) 25,530 70–65 136 August 31 Rockies 2–1 Benes (27–17) Bailey Eckersley (25) 35,804 71–65
September: 17–9 (Home: 11–2; Away: 6–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record 137 September 1 Rockies 15–6 Petkovsek (9–2) Rekar — 28,552 72–65 138 September 2 Astros 8–7 (10) Benes (28–17) Brocail — 32,955 73–65 139 September 3 Astros 12–3 Stottlemyre (12–10) Reynolds — 23,955 74–65 140 September 4 Astros 6–4 Benes (29–17) Wall Eckersley (26) 34,891 75–65 141 September 6 Padres 8–3 Petkovsek (10–2) Tewksbury — 28,116 76–65 142 September 7 Padres 8–3 Osborne (12–8) Ashby — 42,846 77–65 143 September 8 Padres 4–5 Valenzuela Stottlemyre (12–11) Hoffman 30,897 77–66 144 September 9 @ Giants 6–2 Benes (30–17) Gardner — 10,307 78–66 145 September 10 @ Giants 1–0 Petkovsek (11–2) Rueter Eckersley (27) 8,770 79–66 146 September 11 @ Giants 2–4 Scott Benes (30–18) Beck 9,673 79–67 147 September 12 @ Dodgers 1–4 Nomo Osborne (12–9) Osuna 34,191 79–68 148 September 13 @ Dodgers 2–0 Batchelor (1–0) Guthrie Eckersley (28) 36,657 80–68 149 September 14 @ Dodgers 5–9 Martinez Benes (30–19) — 44,548 80–69 150 September 15 @ Dodgers 5–6 Radinsky Eckersley (0–6) Worrell 35,803 80–70 151 September 17 Cubs 5–3 Osborne (13–9) Patterson Mathews (5) 29,612 81–70 152 September 18 Cubs 5–3 Stottlemyre (13–11) Trachsel Eckersley (29) 32,843 82–70 153 September 19 Cubs 5–4 (13) Bailey (4–2) Campbell — 34,923 83–70 154 September 20 @ Reds 2–4 Burba Benes (30–20) Brantley 23,496 83–71 155 September 22 @ Reds 3–6 Shaw Mathews (2–6) Brantley — 83–72 156 September 22 @ Reds 0–6 Smiley Jackson (0–1) — 38,225 83–73 157 September 23 @ Reds 3–2 Stottlemyre (14–11) Morgan Eckersley (30) 17,313 84–73 158 September 24 @ Pirates 7–1 Benes (31–20) Loaiza — 8,611 85–73 159 September 25 @ Pirates 8–7 (11) Bailey (5–2) Miceli Mathews (6) 20,022 86–73 160 September 27 Reds 2–1 (11) Batchelor (2–0) Shaw — 39,730 87–73 161 September 28 Reds 5–2 Jackson (1–1) Morgan Honeycutt (4) 52,876 88–73 162 September 29 Reds 3–6 Lyons Ludwick (0–1) Brantley 51,379 88–74
Legend:        = Win        = Loss Bold = Cardinals team member

Detailed records

National League Opponent W L WP RS RA NL East Atlanta Braves 4 9 0.308 47 67 Florida Marlins 6 6 0.500 53 53 Montreal Expos 4 8 0.333 50 60 New York Mets 7 5 0.583 67 55 Philadelphia Phillies 8 4 0.667 41 30 Total 29 32 0.475 258 265 NL Central Chicago Cubs 8 5 0.615 74 61 Cincinnati Reds 8 5 0.615 50 49 Houston Astros 11 2 0.846 63 38 Pittsburgh Pirates 10 3 0.769 79 59 St. Louis Cardinals Total 37 15 0.712 266 207 NL West Colorado Rockies 4 8 0.333 70 83 Los Angeles Dodgers 4 8 0.333 42 50 San Diego Padres 8 4 0.667 58 39 San Francisco Giants 6 7 0.462 65 62 Total 22 27 0.449 235 234 Season Total 88 74 0.543 759 706

Month Games Won Lost Win % RS RA April 27 12 15 0.444 108 140 May 26 12 14 0.462 132 141 June 27 17 10 0.630 133 97 July 26 15 11 0.577 138 114 August 30 15 15 0.500 117 113 September 26 17 9 0.654 131 101 Total 162 88 74 0.543 759 706 Games Won Lost Win % RS RA Home 81 48 33 0.593 391 326 Away 81 40 41 0.494 368 380 Total 162 88 74 0.543 759 706

Opening Day starters

• Luis Alicea
• Gary Gaetti
• Ron Gant
• Ray Lankford
• John Mabry
• Willie McGee
• Pat Borders
• Ozzie Smith
• Todd Stottlemyre

Roster

1996 St. Louis Cardinals
Roster
Pitchers 39 Cory Bailey 52 Brian Barber 44 Rich Batchelor 41 Alan Benes 40 Andy Benes 57 Mike Busby 43 Dennis Eckersley 48 Tony Fossas 32 Rick Honeycutt 29 Danny Jackson 54 Eric Ludwick 33 T. J. Mathews 36 Mike Morgan 31 Donovan Osborne 49 Jeff Parrett 46 Mark Petkovsek 30 Todd Stottlemyre 34 Tom Urbani		Catchers 38 Pat Borders 49 Mike DiFelice 19 Tom Pagnozzi Infielders 18 Luis Alicea 27 David Bell 11 Royce Clayton  8 Gary Gaetti 22 Mike Gallego 68 Aaron Holbert 47 John Mabry 12 Danny Sheaffer  1 Ozzie Smith 24 Dmitri Young		Outfielders 55 Terry Bradshaw  5 Ron Gant  3 Brian Jordan 16 Ray Lankford 51 Willie McGee 35 Miguel Mejia 23 Mark Sweeney		Manager 10 Tony La Russa Coaches 18 Dave Duncan (Pitching)  9 Mark DeJohn (Bullpen) 28 Ron Hassey (Bench) 25 George Hendrick (Hitting) 39 Dave McKay (First Base) 15 Tommie Reynolds (Third Base)

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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	Tom Pagnozzi	119	407	110	.270	13	55
1B	John Mabry	151	543	161	.297	13	74
2B	Luis Alicea	129	380	98	.258	5	42
SS	Royce Clayton	129	491	136	.277	6	35
3B	Gary Gaetti	141	522	143	.274	23	80
LF	Ron Gant	122	419	103	.246	30	82
CF	Ray Lankford	149	545	150	.275	21	86
RF	Brian Jordan	140	513	159	.310	17	104

Other batters

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
Willie McGee	123	309	95	.307	5	41
Ozzie Smith	82	227	64	.282	2	18
Danny Sheaffer	79	198	45	.227	2	20
Mark Sweeney	98	170	45	.265	3	22
David Bell	62	145	31	.214	1	9
Mike Gallego	51	143	30	.210	0	4
Pat Borders	26	69	22	.319	0	4
Dmitri Young	16	29	7	.241	0	2
Miguel Mejia	45	23	2	.087	0	0
Terry Bradshaw	15	21	7	.333	0	3
Mike DiFelice	4	7	2	.286	0	2
Aaron Holbert	1	3	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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	36	230.1	18	10	3.83	160
Todd Stottlemyre	34	223.1	14	11	3.87	194
Donovan Osborne	30	198.2	13	9	3.53	134
Alan Benes	34	191.0	13	10	4.90	131
Mike Morgan	18	103.0	4	8	5.24	55
Mike Busby	1	4.0	0	1	18.00	4
Brian Barber	1	3.0	0	0	15.00	1

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Mark Petkovsek	48	88.2	11	2	3.55	45
Danny Jackson	13	36.1	1	1	4.46	27
Tom Urbani	3	11.2	1	0	7.71	1
Eric Ludwick	6	10.0	0	1	9.00	12

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Dennis Eckersley	63	0	6	30	3.30	49
T.J. Mathews	67	2	6	6	3.01	80
Tony Fossas	65	0	4	2	2.68	36
Rick Honeycutt	61	2	1	4	2.85	30
Cory Bailey	51	5	2	0	3.00	38
Jeff Parrett	33	2	2	0	4.25	42
Rich Batchelor	11	2	0	0	1.20	11

NLDS

Main article: 1996 National League Division Series

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

Game	Home	Score	Visitor	Score	Date	Series
1	St. Louis	3	San Diego	1	October 1	1-0 (STL)
2	St. Louis	5	San Diego	4	October 3	2-0 (STL)
3	San Diego	5	St. Louis	7	October 5	3-0 (STL)

NLCS

Main article: 1996 National League Championship Series

Game 1

October 9: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	1
Atlanta	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	X	4	9	0
WP: John Smoltz (1-0)   LP: Mark Petkovsek (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 2

October 10: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	1	0	2	0	0	0	5	0	0	8	11	2
Atlanta	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	2
WP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-0)   LP: Greg Maddux (0-1) Home runs: STL: Gary Gaetti (1) ATL: Marquis Grissom (1)

Game 3

October 12: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	8	1
St. Louis	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	X	3	7	0
WP: Donovan Osborne (1-0)   LP: Tom Glavine (0-1)   Sv: Dennis Eckersley (1) Home runs: ATL: None STL: Ron Gant 2 (2)

Game 4

October 13: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	3	9	1
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	X	4	5	0
WP: Dennis Eckersley (1-0)   LP: Greg McMichael (0-1) Home runs: ATL: Mark Lemke (1), Ryan Klesko (1) STL: Brian Jordan (1)

Game 5

October 14: Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta	5	2	0	3	1	0	0	1	2	14	22	0
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
WP: John Smoltz (2-0)   LP: Todd Stottlemyre (1-1) Home runs: ATL: Fred McGriff (1), Javy López (1), STL: None

Game 6

October 16: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	1
Atlanta	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	X	3	7	0
WP: Greg Maddux (1-1)   LP: Alan Benes (0-1)   Sv: Mark Wohlers (2) Home runs: STL: None ATL: None

Game 7

October 17: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
St. Louis	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Atlanta	6	0	0	4	0	3	2	0	X	15	17	0
WP: Tom Glavine (1-1)   LP: Donovan Osborne (1-1) Home runs: STL: None ATL: Javy López (2), Andruw Jones (1), Fred McGriff (2)

Awards and honors

• Tony La Russa, Associated Press Manager of the Year
• Ozzie Smith, All Star Game

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Louisville Redbirds	American Association	Joe Pettini
AA	Arkansas Travelers	Texas League	Rick Mahler
A	St. Petersburg Cardinals	Florida State League	Chris Maloney
A	Peoria Chiefs	Midwest League	Roy Silver
A-Short Season	New Jersey Cardinals	New York–Penn League	Scott Melvin
Rookie	Johnson City Cardinals	Appalachian League	Steve Turco

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