The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 101st season for the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis, Missouri and the 91st season in the National League. Making up for the previous season's near-miss, the Cardinals went 92–70 during the season and won their first-ever National League East title by three games over the Philadelphia Phillies. They achieved their first postseason appearance since 1968 and defeated the National League West champion Atlanta Braves in three straight games to claim the NL pennant. From there, they went on to win the World Series in seven games over the American League champion Milwaukee Brewers. It was the Cardinals' first World Championship since 1967, and their last until they opened the current Busch Stadium in 2006.
Offseason October 21, 1981: Bob Sykes was traded by the Cardinals to the New York Yankees for Willie McGee. October 23, 1981: Jeff Little was traded by the Cardinals to the Minnesota Twins for Mike Kinnunen. November 20, 1981: Silvio Martínez and Lary Sorensen were traded by the Cardinals to the Cleveland Indians as part of a three-team trade. The Philadelphia Phillies traded Lonnie Smith to the Cardinals. The Indians traded Bo Díaz to the Phillies. The Phillies sent a player to be named later to the Indians. The Phillies completed the deal by sending Scott Munninghoff to the Indians on December 9. December 10, 1981: Sixto Lezcano, Garry Templeton and a player to be named later were traded by the Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for Ozzie Smith, Steve Mura and a player to be named later. The deal was completed on February 19, 1982, with the Padres sending Al Olmsted to the Cardinals and the Cardinals sending Luis DeLeón to the Padres. December 29, 1981: Joaquín Andújar was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.
Regular season
First baseman Keith Hernandez and shortstop Ozzie Smith won Gold Gloves this year.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day Lineup +Opening Day Starters # Name Position27 Lonnie Smith CF28 Tom Herr 2B37 Keith Hernandez 1B15 Darrell Porter C25 George Hendrick RF19 Dane Iorg LF26 Steve Braun 3B 1 Ozzie Smith SS31 Bob Forsch P
Notable games May 30, 1982: The Cardinals rallied twice in their last at-bat in a thrilling 6–5 victory over the San Diego Padres at Busch Memorial Stadium. St. Louis trailed 3–0 entering the bottom of the ninth when Keith Hernandez led off with a single to left field. Hernandez took second on a single by George Hendrick and scored on Lonnie Smith's RBI double. After a Mike Ramsey ground out, Julio González reached on Padre third baseman Luis Salazar's error, allowing Hendrick to score and cutting the deficit to 3–2, and two batters later, Smith scored on Tom Herr's sacrifice fly to tie the game. After San Diego tacked on an additional two runs off Bruce Sutter in the top of the tenth inning, the Cardinals rallied again in the bottom half. Padres reliever Gary Lucas retired Orlando Sánchez and Hernandez to start the inning, but allowed a two-out single to Hendrick. Lonnie Smith then doubled Hendrick home to bring St. Louis back within 5–4, and Ramsey's subsequent RBI single tied the game. After Julio Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Dane Iorg lined a single into center field, scoring Ramsey with the winning run.
Notable transactions June 7, 1982: 1982 Major League Baseball draft Terry Pendleton was drafted by the Cardinals in the 7th round. Player signed June 12, 1982. Vince Coleman was drafted by the Cardinals in the 10th round. Player signed June 9, 1982. June 25, 1982: Joe Boever was signed by the Cardinals as an amateur free agent. August 11, 1982: Eric Rasmussen was purchased by the Cardinals from the Leones de Yucatán.
Roster 1982 St. Louis Cardinals roster Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Game log
|- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 10 || April 16 || Phillies || 3–2 || || || || 7–3 || W6 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 11 || April 17 || Phillies || 6–0 || || || || 8–3 || W7 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 12 || April 18 || Phillies || 6–5 || || || || 9–3 || W8 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 15 || April 23 || @ Phillies || 9–2 || || || || 12–3 || W11 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 16 || April 24 || @ Phillies || 7–4 || || || || 13–3 || W12 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 17 || April 25 || @ Phillies || 4–8 || || || || 13–4 || L1
|- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 28 || May 7 || Braves || 3–6 || || || || 18–10 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 29 || May 8 || Braves || 8–7 || || || || 19–10 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 30 || May 9 || Braves || 0–3 || || || || 19–11 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 33 || May 13 || @ Braves || 10–9 || || || || 21–12 || W2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 34 || May 14 || @ Braves || 1–2 || || || || 21–13 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 35 || May 15 || @ Braves || 7–6 || || || || 22–13 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 36 || May 16 || @ Braves || 2–5 || || || || 22–14 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 40 || May 21 || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || || || || 25–15 || W2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 41 || May 22 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || || || || 25–16 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 42 || May 23 || @ Dodgers || 0–5 || || || || 25–17 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 43 || May 24 || @ Giants || 6–0 || || || || 26–17 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 44 || May 25 || @ Giants || 8–3 || || || || 27–17 || W2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 45 || May 26 || @ Giants || 8–4 || || || || 28–17 || W3 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 49 || May 31 || Giants || 11–6 || || || || 31–18 || W2
|- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 50 || June 1 || Giants || 3–4 || || || || 31–19 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 51 || June 2 || Giants || 1–0 || || || || 32–19 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 52 || June 4 || Dodgers || 5–2 || || || || 33–19 || W2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 53 || June 5 || Dodgers || 2–6 || || || || 33–20 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 54 || June 6 || Dodgers || 3–5 || || || || 33–21 || L2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 55 || June 7 || @ Expos || 2–3 || || || || 33–22 || L3 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 56 || June 8 || @ Expos || 5–4 || || || || 34–22 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 57 || June 9 || @ Expos || 5–1 || || || || 34–23 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 60 || June 14 || Expos || 2–1 || || || || 36–24 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 61 || June 15 || Expos || 3–2 || || || || 37–24 || W2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 62 || June 16 || Expos || 3–8 || || || || 37–25 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 67 || June 21 || Phillies || 7–5 || || || || 39–28 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 68 || June 22 || Phillies || 3–2 || || || || 40–28 || W2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 69 || June 23 || Phillies || 1–7 || || || || 40–29 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 70 || June 24 || Phillies || 2–10 || || || || 40–30 || L2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 75 || June 28 || @ Phillies || 0–1 || || || || 42–33 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 76 || June 29 || @ Phillies || 15–3 || || || || 43–33 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 77 || June 30 || @ Phillies || 3–6 || || || || 43–34 || L1
|- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 83 || July 7 || @ Braves || 2–3 || || || || 46–37 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 84 || July 8 || @ Braves || 5–2 || || || || 47–37 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 92 || July 19 || Braves || 1–4 || || || || 51–41 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 93 || July 20 || Braves || 6–8 || || || || 51–42 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 94 || July 21 || Braves || 8–0 || || || || 52–42 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 100 || July 29 || @ Expos || 3–4 || || || || 57–43 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 101 || July 30 || @ Expos || 4–5 || || || || 57–44 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 102 || July 31 || @ Expos || 10–1 || || || || 58–44 || W1
|- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 103 || August 1 || @ Expos || 4–5 || || || || 58–45 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 108 || August 6 || Expos || 3–5 || || || || 60–48 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 109 || August 7 || Expos || 9–5 || || || || 61–48 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 110 || August 8 || Expos || 1–2 || || || || 61–49 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 121 || August 20 || Giants || 7–8 || || || || 69–52 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 122 || August 21 || Giants || 7–6 || || || || 70–52 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 123 || August 22 || Giants || 5–4 || || || || 71–52 || W2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 124 || August 23 || Dodgers || 11–3 || || || || 72–52 || W3 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 125 || August 24 || Dodgers || 2–5 || || || || 72–53 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 126 || August 25 || Dodgers || 3–11 || || || || 72–54 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 130 || August 30 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 || || || || 75–55 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 131 || August 31 || @ Dodgers || 1–4 || || || || 75–56 || L1
|- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 132 || September 1 || @ Dodgers || 6–5 || || || || 76–56 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 133 || September 3 || @ Giants || 2–3 || || || || 76–57 || L1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 134 || September 4 || @ Giants || 4–5 || || || || 76–58 || L2 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 135 || September 5 || @ Giants || 1–5 || || || || 76–59 || L3 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 136 || September 6 || Expos || 1–0 || || || || 77–59 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 137 || September 7 || Expos || 4–7 || || || || 77–60 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 138 || September 8 || Expos || 1–0 || || || || 78–60 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 142 || September 13 || @ Phillies || 0–2 || || || || 79–63 || L2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 143 || September 14 || @ Phillies || 2–0 || || || || 80–63 || W1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 144 || September 15 || @ Phillies || 8–0 || || || || 81–63 || W2 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 150 || September 20 || Phillies || 4–1 || || || || 87–63 || W8 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 151 || September 21 || Phillies || 2–5 || || || || 87–64 || L1 |- style="background:#ccffcc;" | 157 || September 27 || @ Expos || 4–2 || || || || 91–66 || W1 |- style="background:#ffbbbb;" | 158 || September 28 || @ Expos || 4–5 || || || || 91–67 || L1
|- style="text-align:center;" | Legend: = Win = Loss = PostponementBold = Cardinals team member
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C 120 373 86 .231 12 48 1B 160 579 173 .299 7 94 2B 135 493 131 .266 0 36 3B 137 470 136 .289 2 34 SS 140 488 121 .248 2 43 LF 156 592 182 .307 8 69 CF 123 422 125 .296 4 56 RF 136 515 145 .282 19 104
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI 112 256 59 .230 1 21 102 238 70 .294 0 34 76 166 47 .283 2 23 66 124 32 .258 7 18 42 87 21 .241 1 7 79 72 20 .278 2 14 35 64 15 .234 0 8 58 62 17 .274 0 4 26 37 7 .189 0 3 12 29 3 .103 0 1 11 15 4 .267 0 2
Pitching
= Indicates league leader
Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 38 265.2 15 10 2.47 137 36 233.0 15 9 3.48 69 35 184.1 12 11 4.05 84 23 136.2 9 7 3.36 53
Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 42 152.2 9 3 3.42 81 24 66.0 4 5 4.23 21 11 40.0 2 3 4.73 11 8 18.1 1 2 4.42 15
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts