Cardinal Nation
Encyclopedia
Cardinal Nation, or Redbird Nation, is a term that describes the massive popularity of the St. Louis Cardinals
baseball franchise, and the celebration of professional baseball, not just in St. Louis
, but through a large portion of the Midwest
and South
. The team is traditionally popular in these regions and Cardinals games are broadcast on radio and television affiliates in nine states: Arkansas
, southern and central Illinois
, southwest Indiana
, Iowa
, western Kentucky
, northern Mississippi
, Missouri
, northeast Oklahoma
, and west Tennessee
. In addition, the team is also popular in other Major League markets, most notably in Colorado
, where the Cardinals were the team of choice until the creation of the Rockies
franchise in 1993. To this day, the Cardinals have many fans in attendance at games on the road in Denver, as well as every other Major League venue.
Cardinals fans are known for traveling to see their team on the road as well and fill nearly half of Wrigley Field
in Chicago
when the Cubs
and Cardinals carry on their classic rivalry each season. The same is true when Cubs fans go to Busch Stadium
in St. Louis when the Cubs visit. When the Kansas City Royals
play the Cardinals in Kansas City
every season during interleague play
, the games often sell out--unlike most other poorly-attended Royals' games. In the stands, Cardinals fans outnumber Royals fans almost two to one.
One reason for the large popularity of the Cardinals outside of St. Louis is the fact that the Cardinals were broadcast on the 50,000-watt
, clear-channel KMOX
radio station, which has the power to reach the entire continental United States at night time, until 2006. Many fans around the nation grew up listening to two of the greatest baseball broadcasters in history, Jack Buck
and Harry Caray
, call Cardinals' games starting in the mid-1940s, into the 1950s and through the 1960s. Jack Buck (with Mike Shannon
, starting 1972), remained the voice of the Cardinals through 2001. The Cardinals were also popular in the Western United States
before any teams arrived or were expanded over there. During this period, which took place before widespread Major League expansion, the Cardinals had no competition for the loyalties of baseball fans throughout a huge swath of the Midwest and South (before the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta). Plus, the Cardinals have been one of the most successful baseball franchises in history with 17 National League
pennants and a National League record 11 World Series Championships. They are second only to the New York Yankees
, who have 27, in total World Series
Championships.
It was announced in September 2010, the Cardinals have decided to return to KMOX starting with the 2011 Season
.
advertises membership in Cardinal Nation, an online fan club of the St. Louis Cardinals. Benefits of membership include:
. One of the highlights of the event is the opportunity for Cardinal fans to get autographs from many of their favorite Cardinal players - past and present. All proceeds from the event, including those derived from the sale of autograph tickets for certain players (though some of them sign for free), go directly to Cardinals Care.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
baseball franchise, and the celebration of professional baseball, not just in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, but through a large portion of the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. The team is traditionally popular in these regions and Cardinals games are broadcast on radio and television affiliates in nine states: Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, southern and central Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, southwest Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, western Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, northern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, northeast Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, and west Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. In addition, the team is also popular in other Major League markets, most notably in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, where the Cardinals were the team of choice until the creation of the Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
franchise in 1993. To this day, the Cardinals have many fans in attendance at games on the road in Denver, as well as every other Major League venue.
Cardinals fans are known for traveling to see their team on the road as well and fill nearly half of Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
when the Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Cardinals carry on their classic rivalry each season. The same is true when Cubs fans go to Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
in St. Louis when the Cubs visit. When the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
play the Cardinals in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
every season during interleague play
Interleague play
Interleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
, the games often sell out--unlike most other poorly-attended Royals' games. In the stands, Cardinals fans outnumber Royals fans almost two to one.
One reason for the large popularity of the Cardinals outside of St. Louis is the fact that the Cardinals were broadcast on the 50,000-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
, clear-channel KMOX
KMOX (AM)
KMOX is a radio station broadcasting from St. Louis, Missouri. It is a 50,000-watt clear channel radio station, which permits its nighttime signal to be heard in most of the continental U.S. KMOX operates as "NewsRadio 1120" and refers to itself as "The Voice of St...
radio station, which has the power to reach the entire continental United States at night time, until 2006. Many fans around the nation grew up listening to two of the greatest baseball broadcasters in history, Jack Buck
Jack Buck
John Francis "Jack" Buck was an American sportscaster, best known for his work announcing Major League Baseball games of the St. Louis Cardinals. Buck received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987, and is honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame...
and Harry Caray
Harry Caray
Harry Caray, born Harry Christopher Carabina, was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
, call Cardinals' games starting in the mid-1940s, into the 1950s and through the 1960s. Jack Buck (with Mike Shannon
Mike Shannon
Thomas Michael Shannon is an American-born former Major League Baseball player and current radio sportscaster.Shannon is a radio broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and played with the Cardinals during some of the team's most successful years...
, starting 1972), remained the voice of the Cardinals through 2001. The Cardinals were also popular in the Western United States
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
before any teams arrived or were expanded over there. During this period, which took place before widespread Major League expansion, the Cardinals had no competition for the loyalties of baseball fans throughout a huge swath of the Midwest and South (before the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta). Plus, the Cardinals have been one of the most successful baseball franchises in history with 17 National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennants and a National League record 11 World Series Championships. They are second only to the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, who have 27, in total World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Championships.
It was announced in September 2010, the Cardinals have decided to return to KMOX starting with the 2011 Season
2011 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 2011 season was the 130th season for the franchise in St. Louis, Missouri, the 120th season in the National League, and the sixth season at Busch Stadium III. The Cardinals began their season at home against the San Diego Padres on March 31, coming off a 86-76 season and...
.
Cardinal Nation Membership
The St. Louis Cardinals' websiteWebsite
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
advertises membership in Cardinal Nation, an online fan club of the St. Louis Cardinals. Benefits of membership include:
- Two free tickets to a Cardinals home game
- Free access to MLB.com Gameday audio.
- Special discounts on Cardinals merchandise
- Access to a members-only online newsletter
- A monthly random members-only drawing for Cardinals' merchandise, tickets, or memorabilia.
Winter Warm Up
Like many other teams, Cardinals fans have a gathering of their own before the start of the regular season. During the Third week of January, Cardinals fans gather together at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown St. Louis at a pre-season convention called "Winter Warm Up", which is run by Cardinals Care - the charity fundraising arm of the Cardinals' organization. The last day takes place on Martin Luther King DayMartin Luther King Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform...
. One of the highlights of the event is the opportunity for Cardinal fans to get autographs from many of their favorite Cardinal players - past and present. All proceeds from the event, including those derived from the sale of autograph tickets for certain players (though some of them sign for free), go directly to Cardinals Care.