Baseball: Cardinals/Pirates Divisional Battle 40 years Later

The St. Louis Cardinals enter the final weekend of the baseball season with a one game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, there is little drama as both teams have already clinched playoffs spots.

The team that wins the NL Central will not have to face a one game “play in” game, but contrast that “incentive” with that of 40 years ago. Then the same two teams battled for the NL East title without the “safety net” of being a wild card team.

In 1974 the Pirates gained a game on the last day of the season and won the NL East title sending them to the NLCS. The Cardinals were eliminated from any post season play, that season was the closest Joe Torre came to post season as a player.

I truly long for the days when teams had to finish first to be in post season play. Sure there is some incentive for the Cards and Pirates this weekend, but it is not even close to the drama between the same two teams 40 years ago when one team advanced and the other was eliminated from any post season play.

Click here for 1974 All Star Game moments