From the second that rookie closer Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge to wrap up the 4-2, series-clinching victory over the Tigers on Friday night, St. Louis has been partying.
More than 300,000 people attended the victory parade in downtown St. Louis on Sunday and the revelry will continue throughout the week – and winter.
Right-handed ace Chris Carpenter said it was only fitting to clinch at home in the new place, especially after disappointments the last two years at the old place, which witnessed the end of the Red Sox’ Series sweep in 2004 and the disappointment against the Astros last year.
“It’s a great feeling to go all year long to do this, and it was great to do it in front of our fans,” Carpenter said.
Tony La Russa moved into even more rarified managerial territory on Friday night, joining Sparky Anderson as the only managers who have won World Series titles with teams in both leagues.
Anderson got his championships with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976 and the Detroit Tigers in 1984. La Russa won with the 1989 Oakland Athletics and now with the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals.
La Russa is third in all-time victories by a manager. He has already had a Hall of Fame-caliber managerial career. But joining Anderson, his friend and mentor, is something special apart from that.
“Well, I mean, I said it once and I’ll say it again, I have such a respect and affection for Sparky that I believe he’s one of the greatest, not just managers, but baseball men, ambassadors for the game, it’s such a great honor, he should really have this alone,” La Russa said Friday night after his Cardinals had beaten Detroit to clinch the 2006 Series.
“But I just saw Bob Gibson. When you’re around here, especially if you’re around here for a while, I just don’t feel you can join the club unless you can say you won a World Series. Now we can say this group can join the club.”
