St. Louis Cardinals
Missouri franchise with 11 World Series titles — the most in the National League — whose Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Albert Pujols represent three distinct eras of excellence.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest MLB Franchises of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank St. Louis Cardinals significantly differently across lists.
The Athletic Record
The Case For St. Louis Cardinals
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for St. Louis Cardinals.
Often Compared To
Pittsburgh Pirates
#2MLB / AL Central — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · 1882–present
Pennsylvania franchise whose Roberto Clemente remains the most beloved figure in baseball history — and whose 1970s teams with Willie Stargell won consecutive championships.
Minnesota Twins
#3MLB / AL Central — Minneapolis, Minnesota · 1901–present
Minnesota franchise with two World Series titles including the 1991 classic against the Braves — one of the most closely contested Series in baseball history.