Publisher's Synopsis
12 Rings: Stories of the St. Louis Cardinals World Championships is like a dozen adventure novels, all with the same happy ending. Going back to 1886, St. Louis has won 12 World Series. The Cardinals have been champions during both good and bad economic times, during war and in peace. Twice they've christened a new stadium with a world championship during its first full year. In 12 Rings, veteran newspaperman James Rygelski and eminent baseball historian Robert L. Tiemann mine this rich history for the stories behind the personalities that took these teams to the top. The Browns (now known as the Cardinals) best Chicago in an extra inning finale of a winner-take-all World Series. Rogers Hornsby's Cards subdue Murderer's Row. Pepper Martin runs wild on Connie Mack's Athletics. Dizzy and Paul Dean tame some Tigers. The St. Louis Swifties, with a young Stan Musial, overwhelm the mighty Yankees. Home field advantage? Not when the Cardinals and Browns meet. Country Slaughter makes a mad dash. Gibson goes the distance for Gussie Busch's first title. El Birdos turn Boston's Impossible Dream into a nightmare. Whiteyball proves too fast for Harvey's Wallbangers. Tony La Russa's improbable Redbirds shock the Tigers and the world. Never-say-die Cards outlast the Phillies, Brewers, and Rangers. Along with each narrative is a summary of that year's pennant race, stats for each World Series game, comments from St. Louis sportscaster Ron Jacober, and photos.
