The St. Louis Cardinals achieved one of the most iconic World Series victories in baseball history when they rallied to defeat the Texas Rangers in 2011. That unforgettable win still resonates with Skip Schumaker, who was an outfielder on that championship team.
Over the past 50 years, four World Series stand out for their drama and intensity. The 1975 showdown between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox featured Carlton Fisk’s legendary game-winning home run in Game 6 and the Reds’ ultimate victory in Game 7. In 1986, the New York Mets staged their own miracle comeback to beat the Red Sox in seven games. The 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves went down to the wire, with the Twins prevailing in a 1-0 extra-inning thriller behind Jack Morris’ epic duel against John Smoltz. Finally, the Cardinals’ stunning win over the Rangers rounds out the list of all-time greats. Schumaker recently reminisced about that series during an interview on Buster Olney’s MLB podcast.
In Game 6 of the 2011 Series, the Cardinals were down to their last out—much like the Mets in 1986. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, David Freese hit a line drive off the right field wall, tying the game. In the 10th inning, the Cardinals erased another two-run deficit before Freese hit a walk-off home run to center field. The Cardinals completed the comeback by winning Game 7 and securing the championship.
Schumaker vividly recalled that game, describing the intense emotions. Now the Miami Marlins’ manager, he relived the victory with pride.
“I still can’t believe we won the World Series, let alone Game 6,” Schumaker said. “They had Neftali Feliz on the mound, and it felt like the game was over. Tony (La Russa) pulled a few of us veterans aside to prepare to salute the fans after the game. The idea of coming back was on our minds, but not like it usually is. When Freese hit the ball, we all held our breath as Nellie Cruz drifted back and jumped too soon. When the ball hit the wall, Albert (Pujols) was waving everyone home, and it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”