California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

California State University East Bay

The Pioneer

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By The Numbers: Sports from an Irreverent Perspective

Pioneers, I am proud to announce the 2011 MLB World Series Champions are my hometown St. Louis Cardinals! Defeating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in a momentous game seven just one night after a bare-knuckle brawl of a game six, the Cardinals earned their second championship in five years and 11th in team history.

The Cardinals celebrated at Busch Stadium Friday as one player stood out from the crowd, as one does in every competition.  This player is particularly special because he is a native St. Louisan, because he is also the National League Championship series MVP, because he is the sixth player in baseball history to have this title as well as World Series, because he is the second Cardinal ever to accomplish such a feat since Darrel Porter in 1982, because he is a hometown kid, and as a matter of fact grew up and went to Lafayette High School, close to myself, in South St. Louis. This player is Cardinals Third Baseman David Freese.

Game six Thursday night had its twists and turns of lead changes, bad defensive moves and questionable managerial calls.  What had both Rangers and Cardinals fans on the edge of their seat was the two times in the ninth and tenth innings when the Cardinals had two out and down to their last strike and Rangers could not shut the door.  In the ninth inning, Rangers closer Neftali Feliz failed to produce the third out when Freese hit a shot off the wall and where Rangers OF Nelson Cruz couldn’t make a play as the ball bounced from his glove, tying the game at 7.  In the tenth inning, Rangers OF Josh Hamilton belted a two-run blast to give Texas the lead, but was quickly caught  up with as Cardinal Lance Berkman gave a two-out double to right field, tying the game yet again.

Then, Freese waited for the pitch of his taste, and took his swing: the call from Joe Buck announced, “A deep fly to centerfield….and we will see you tomorrow night!” as Freese crushed a towering shot over OF Josh Hamilton, rounding the bases in celebration.  A walk-off win had forced game seven in St. Louis in front of a home crowd of 47,000 screaming fans as Freese was mobbed by his teammates, ripping off his jersey in celebration.

As much as the national media outlets had written off this year’s World Series as one to be forgotten, game seven had earned Fox the highest rated Friday program in Fox’s history.  The series was watched in 52 percent of homes in St. Louis, making it the second highest viewed program in St. Louis this century.  By the end of game seven, Freese had another night to remember, being responsible for two of the Cardinals six runs in front of the home crowd and selected as World Series MVP.

89 percent of the homes in St. Louis were tuned into the game as it ended to see the final out, to see Cardinals closing pitcher Jason Motte dogpiled as hats and gloves flew from hands, Outfielders Jon Jay and Allen Craig dance their way into the infield, coaches and trainers shake hands with skipper Tony LaRussa, and, most of all, Cardinals fans roar excitedly as their beloved Cardinals hoist the gold.

11 in 11, thanks for reading.

—Todd

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California State University East Bay
By The Numbers: Sports from an Irreverent Perspective