St. Louis Cardinals

Lore & Background

In 1881, entrepreneur Chris von der Ahe purchased the Brown Stockings barnstorming club, renamed it the St. Louis Browns, and made it a charter member of the American Association baseball league. The team won four league championships, qualifying them to play in the era's professional baseball championship series, a forerunner of the modern World Series. In two of these championships, the Browns met the Chicago White Stockings, now the Chicago Cubs, launching the enduring Cardinals–Cubs rivalry. In 1892, the Browns – also called the Perfectos – joined the National League. In 1900, the team was renamed the Cardinals (Two years later, an unrelated St. Louis Browns team joined the American League).

Reader's Guide

Notable Cardinals achievements include manager/owner Branch Rickey's invention of the farm system, Rogers Hornsby's two batting Triple Crowns, Dizzy Dean's 30-win season in 1934, Stan Musial's 17 MLB and 29 NL records, Bob Gibson's 1.12 earned run average (ERA) in 1968, Whitey Herzog's Whiteyball dynasty of the 1980s, Mark McGwire's single-season home run record in 1998, the 2011 championship team's unprecedented comebacks, and Albert Pujols’ 700th home run.

The Cardinals have won 105 or more games in four seasons and won 100 or more nine times. Cardinals players have won 21 league MVPs, four batting Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards. Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include Lou Brock, Dizzy Dean, Frankie Frisch, Bob Gibson, Chick Hafey, Jesse Haines, Whitey Herzog, Rogers Hornsby, Tony La Russa, Joe Medwick, Johnny Mize, Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Ted Simmons, Enos Slaughter, Ozzie Smith, and Billy Southworth.

In 2018, Forbes valued the Cardinals at $1.9 billion, the 7th-highest among MLB clubs and far more than the $147 million paid in 1995 by owner William DeWitt Jr.'s investment group. In 2017, the team took in revenue of $319 million on an operating income of $40.0 million. Chaim Bloom is the President of Baseball Operations and Oliver Marmol is the manager. The Cardinals are renowned for their strong fan support: despite being in one of the sport's mid-level markets, they routinely see attendances among the league's highest, and are consistently among the top three in MLB in local television ratings.

Early Promise and Draft Selection

Jacob Robert Woodford's journey to professional baseball began in Tampa, Florida, where he attended Plant High School alongside future major leaguer Kyle Tucker. As a senior, Woodford dominated the mound with an undefeated 7–0 record and a remarkably low 0.67 ERA, showcasing his potential early on. Although he committed to playing college baseball at the University of Florida, his talent attracted significant attention from professional scouts. In the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 39th overall pick.

Woodford chose to sign immediately with the organization rather than honor his collegiate commitment, marking the start of his professional career. His initial season in 2015 was spent entirely within the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Cardinals system. During this foundational year, he pitched in eight games, compiling a solid 1–0 record and maintaining a 2.39 ERA, setting the stage for his ascent through the minor league ranks.

Minor League Ascent and All-Star Honors

Following his rookie campaign, Woodford steadily climbed the Cardinals' farm system, earning recognition for his consistent performance across multiple levels. In 2016, he pitched for the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League, where his efforts earned him an All-Star selection while posting a 5–5 record with 82 strikeouts. The following year saw him advance to the Palm Beach Cardinals, where he improved slightly on his ERA despite a mixed win-loss record.

By 2018, Woodford had reached the Double-A level with the Springfield Cardinals, earning another All-Star nod before being promoted mid-season to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. His time in Memphis proved pivotal; after returning there for the 2019 season, he was named a Pacific Coast League All-Star. Over 26 starts that year, he struck out 131 batters and posted a respectable 4.15 ERA. This sustained success culminated in his addition to St. Louis' 40-man roster following the conclusion of the 2019 season, signaling his readiness for the major leagues.

Major League Debut and Cardinals Tenure

Woodford finally reached the big stage on August 15, 2020, making his Major League debut against the Chicago White Sox after being promoted from Memphis. In his initial outing, he pitched three innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out three batters. His rookie season with the Cardinals was brief but notable, as he finished with a 1–0 record and a 5.57 ERA over 21 innings of work. The following year, he served primarily in a relief role though he did start eight games during the second half of 2021, accumulating 50 strikeouts across nearly 68 innings.

His most effective period with St. Louis occurred in 2022, where he shuttled between the majors and Triple-A Memphis. During his major league appearances that year, he was particularly dominant, going 4–0 with a stellar 2.23 ERA over 48+1⁄3 innings. Despite this strong finish to his tenure, Woodford was non-tendered by the organization in November 2023, ending his initial chapter with the Cardinals.

Wanderings Through Multiple Organizations

After leaving St. Louis, Woodford embarked on a nomadic journey through several franchises, often navigating the complexities of minor league contracts and roster moves. He briefly joined the Chicago White Sox in early 2024 but was designated for assignment after struggling in two starts. His path then led him to the Pittsburgh Pirates later that year, where he experienced significant volatility; despite a strong Triple-A showing, his major league stint resulted in an 0–4 record and a high ERA before he elected free agency.

In 2025, he signed with the Colorado Rockies but opted out quickly, moving on to the New York Yankees organization only to opt out again after a short spring. He subsequently spent time with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, where he recorded three saves in relief work before being designated for assignment. His career continued into 2026 with the Milwaukee Brewers following a trade from Tampa Bay, though he struggled there as well before eventually becoming a free agent once more.

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