2000 St. Louis Cardinals | ||
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National League Central champions | ||
League | National League | |
Division | Central | |
Ballpark | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
City | St. Louis, Missouri | |
Record | 95–67 (.586) | |
Divisional place | 1st | |
Owners | William DeWitt, Jr. | |
General managers | Walt Jocketty | |
Managers | Tony La Russa | |
Television | Fox Sports Midwest KPLR (Al Hrabosky, Bob Carpenter, Dan McLaughlin, Joe Buck) | |
Radio | KMOX (Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Joe Buck) | |
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The St. Louis Cardinals 2000 season was the team's 119th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 109th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 95–67 during the season, their best finish since 1987, and won the National League Central by ten games over the Cincinnati Reds. In the playoffs the Cardinals defeated the Atlanta Braves a three-game sweep of the NLDS. They faced the New York Mets in the NLCS and lost in five games.
The Cardinals sweep of the Braves in the NLDS was notable because of the perception by the media that it would make it easier for their opponent in the Mets to reach the World Series.[1][2] The Braves (the defending National League champion) had eliminated the Mets from the playoffs on the final day of the 1998 season and in the 1999 NLCS.[2]
The 2000 Cardinals featured a completely revamped roster, assembled during a busy offseason following a losing 1999 campaign. Key acquisitions included second baseman Fernando Vina, from the Milwaukee Brewers, catcher Mike Matheny, from the Toronto Blue Jays, and centerfielder Jim Edmonds, from the Anaheim Angels. Matheny and Edmonds won Gold Gloves this year. Pitcher Darryl Kile, from the Colorado Rockies, was one of three new starters in the rotation. He went 20-9 and finished 5th in voting for the NL Cy Young Award.