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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Cardinals secure World Series win | Cardinals secure World Series win |
| (6 days later) | |
| St Louis claimed their first World Series in 24 years by beating the Detroit Tigers in Game Five on Friday. | St Louis claimed their first World Series in 24 years by beating the Detroit Tigers in Game Five on Friday. |
| The 4-2 victory at Busch Stadium gave the Cardinals an unassailable 4-1 lead in the best-of-seven game clash. | The 4-2 victory at Busch Stadium gave the Cardinals an unassailable 4-1 lead in the best-of-seven game clash. |
| Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge in the ninth inning to spark scenes of joy among the home crowd of 46,638. | Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge in the ninth inning to spark scenes of joy among the home crowd of 46,638. |
| It was the Cardinals' 10th overall championship and went some way to erasing the disappointment of Fall Classic losses in 1985, 1987 and 2004. | It was the Cardinals' 10th overall championship and went some way to erasing the disappointment of Fall Classic losses in 1985, 1987 and 2004. |
| "Nobody believed in us but we believed in ourselves," said St Louis shortstop David Eckstein, who was named Most Valuable Player of the Series. | "Nobody believed in us but we believed in ourselves," said St Louis shortstop David Eckstein, who was named Most Valuable Player of the Series. |
| The diminutive lead-off hitter - at 5ft 7in one of the smallest players in the majors - batted .364, going 4-for-5 with three doubles in Game Four and 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Friday. | The diminutive lead-off hitter - at 5ft 7in one of the smallest players in the majors - batted .364, going 4-for-5 with three doubles in Game Four and 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Friday. |
| St Louis starter Jeff Weaver pitched eight brilliant innings, giving up two runs, only one earned, on four hits while striking out nine against his original team. | St Louis starter Jeff Weaver pitched eight brilliant innings, giving up two runs, only one earned, on four hits while striking out nine against his original team. |
| The victory capped a stunning post-season surge for the Cardinals, who were hit by injuries to key players and struggled to the finish line of the regular season. | The victory capped a stunning post-season surge for the Cardinals, who were hit by injuries to key players and struggled to the finish line of the regular season. |
| Their 83 regular season wins were the fewest registered by a World Series champion. | Their 83 regular season wins were the fewest registered by a World Series champion. |
| St Louis shortstop David Eckstein was voted Most Valuable Player | St Louis shortstop David Eckstein was voted Most Valuable Player |
| But with the return to health of Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and Eckstein, they came together to beat San Diego and the New York Mets in the play-offs before defeating Detroit. | But with the return to health of Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen and Eckstein, they came together to beat San Diego and the New York Mets in the play-offs before defeating Detroit. |
| Victory also made St Louis coach Tony La Russa the second manager to win World Series with teams from both leagues. | Victory also made St Louis coach Tony La Russa the second manager to win World Series with teams from both leagues. |
| La Russa, who won the 1989 World Series with the American League's Oakland Athletics, emulates Sparky Anderson, who led both the Cincinnati Reds (1975 and 1976) and Detroit (1984) to victory. | La Russa, who won the 1989 World Series with the American League's Oakland Athletics, emulates Sparky Anderson, who led both the Cincinnati Reds (1975 and 1976) and Detroit (1984) to victory. |
| "I'm feeling so great for our team," said La Russa. "We went through so much. We wanted it so bad. | "I'm feeling so great for our team," said La Russa. "We went through so much. We wanted it so bad. |
| "We had so many players who had never won a ring. I'm just bursting. This is an experience I will never forget. It's the greatest." | "We had so many players who had never won a ring. I'm just bursting. This is an experience I will never forget. It's the greatest." |
| Errors and miscues played a big part in Game Five, contested in windy, cold conditions. | Errors and miscues played a big part in Game Five, contested in windy, cold conditions. |
| The Tigers, who made eight errors overall for one of the worst displays of fielding in World Series history, opened the door with a gaffe in the fourth. | The Tigers, who made eight errors overall for one of the worst displays of fielding in World Series history, opened the door with a gaffe in the fourth. |
| Yadier Molina and So Taguchi stroked one-out singles to put runners on first and second. | Yadier Molina and So Taguchi stroked one-out singles to put runners on first and second. |
| With pitcher Weaver coming to bat, Tigers coach Jim Leyland visited the mound, presumably to advise Verlander to take care fielding the expected bunt. | With pitcher Weaver coming to bat, Tigers coach Jim Leyland visited the mound, presumably to advise Verlander to take care fielding the expected bunt. |
| I didn't have the team ready to play the way it needed to play to win a World Series, so blame me Detroit coach Jim Leyland | I didn't have the team ready to play the way it needed to play to win a World Series, so blame me Detroit coach Jim Leyland |
| Weaver bunted directly back to Verlander, who hurried a wild throw to third that allowed Molina to score and put Taguchi on third and Weaver on second. | Weaver bunted directly back to Verlander, who hurried a wild throw to third that allowed Molina to score and put Taguchi on third and Weaver on second. |
| Eckstein followed with a smash at shortstop Carlos Guillen that scored Taguchi and put St Louis ahead 3-2. | Eckstein followed with a smash at shortstop Carlos Guillen that scored Taguchi and put St Louis ahead 3-2. |
| Verlander's error was the second of the game for Detroit. | Verlander's error was the second of the game for Detroit. |
| In the second inning, Inge threw wildly to first trying to throw out Eckstein, whose broken-bat grounder over the third base bag scored Molina to put the Cards up 1-0. | In the second inning, Inge threw wildly to first trying to throw out Eckstein, whose broken-bat grounder over the third base bag scored Molina to put the Cards up 1-0. |
| "I have no excuses," said Verlander. "I kind of pride myself on being an athlete on the mound and making plays like that. I haven't made a play like that all year." | "I have no excuses," said Verlander. "I kind of pride myself on being an athlete on the mound and making plays like that. I haven't made a play like that all year." |
| Leyland defended his players and shouldered the blame. | Leyland defended his players and shouldered the blame. |
| "We don't single out any one player on this team any more," he said. "I didn't have the team ready to play the way it needed to play to win a World Series, so blame me." | "We don't single out any one player on this team any more," he said. "I didn't have the team ready to play the way it needed to play to win a World Series, so blame me." |