One look at the lineup that Tony La Russa could finally write or one glance around the clubhouse at the faces looking back, no longer absent and on the injured list, and the Cardinals knew the talent they took into October 2006 was far different than the 83-win club that limped through September.
Players with the 2006 World Series champion Cardinals pose of for a photo in a ceremony before the start of a game against the White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
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Former Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright hugs Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol at the conclusion of a ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Future Cardinals Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina waves to crowd beside former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa in the pre-game ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Photos: Cardinals blast White Sox 7-3
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals center fielder Nathan Church (27) catches a line drive hit by Chicago White Sox Braden Montgomery (24) to end the seventh inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Joshua B谩ez (22) hits a RBI double off Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay (18) in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals teammates congratulate Joshua Baez after he scored on an RBI single by Leo Bernal in the seventh inning against the White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Joshua B谩ez (22) celebrates his RBI double off Chicago White Sox pitcher Trevor Richards (43) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Ryne Stanek (55) celebrates Chicago White Sox Miguel Vargas (20) grounding out to end the eighth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol congratulates catcher Leo Bernal on the Cardinals鈥 7-3 win over the White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) walks off the filed after being pulled in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals outfielders Jos茅 Ferm铆n (15), Nathan Church (27) and Victor Scott II (11) celebrates the Cardinals 7-3 win over the ChicagoWhite Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) congratulates closer Riley O鈥橞rien (51) on the Cardinals 7-3 win over the ChicagoWhite Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Luis Gastelum (72) celebrates a catch by center fielder Nathan Church (27) at the warning track to end the sixth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Alec Burleson (41) scores on a RBI double by Cardinals Joshua B谩ez (22) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Jordan Walker (18) scores on a RBI single by Alec Burleson (41) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore beats Chicago鈥檚 Miguel Vargas to first base for an out during the first inning Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso (34), manager Oliver Marmol (37) and 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals outfield, baserunning, & quality control coach Jon Jay (19) listen to center fielder Nathan Church (27) post-game interview after Cardinals 7-3 win over the ChicagoWhite Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Joshua B谩ez (22) scores on a RBI single by Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Jordan Walker (18) beats a throw home to Chicago White Sox catcher Jake Rogers (28) to score on a Cardinals Joshua B谩ez (22) RBI double in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal (13) glove-bumps pitcher Gordon Graceffo (44) after striking out Chicago White Sox pinch hitterTristan Peters (29) strikes out with the bases loaded to end the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) tips his helmet after hitting a RBI single off Chicago White Sox pitcher Trevor Richards (43) in the fifth inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) goes to work in the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals left fielder Joshua B谩ez (22) can鈥檛 reach a home run hit by Chicago White Sox Chase Meidroth (10) during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) waits in the dugout before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Chicago White Sox Chase Meidroth (10) celebrates his second home run of the night off 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) during the third inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) beats a throw home to Chicago White Sox catcher Jake Rogers (28) to score a run during his home debut during the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Chicago White Sox Chase Meidroth (10) rounds second base after hitting a solo home run off最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) beats a throw home to Chicago White Sox catcher Jake Rogers (28) to score a run during his home debut during the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Alec Burleson (41) celebrates a RBI double off Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay (18) during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals鈥 Leo Bernal celebrates his double during the second inning against the White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium. The game was Bernal鈥檚 home debut.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Leo Bernal (13) hits a double during his home debut off Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay (18) during the second inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Iv谩n Herrera (48) scores on an RBI double by 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals Alec Burleson (41) off Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay (18) during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitching coach Dusty Blake talks starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) and catcher Leo Bernal (13) during the first inning of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Players with the 2006 World Series champion Cardinals pose of for a photo in a ceremony before the start of a game against the White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
最新杏吧原创 Cardinals players stand for the national anthem before the start of game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Former Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright waves to fans during a pre-game ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Future Cardinals Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina waves to crowd beside former Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa in the pre-game ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Former Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright hugs Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol at the conclusion of a ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Future Cardinals Hall of Famers Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina participate in the pre-game ceremony honoring the 2006 World Series champions before the start of a game between the Cardinals and White Sox on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
In this Series
Celebrating Cardinals Hall of Famers Pujols, Molina and Sherdel | Full coverage
Derrick Goold | Post-Dispatch
Lead baseball writer
