The St. Louis Cardinals’ “Devil Magic” Fades as Playoff Hopes Diminish
The St. Louis Cardinals, known for their infamous “devil magic,” are facing a disappointing reality as they are on track to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite not being the worst team in MLB, the Cardinals’ recent performance has fallen short of their fans’ expectations of excellence.
According to Jeff Jones of BND.com, the Cardinals’ 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday was witnessed by a mere 17,675 fans. This marks the lowest attendance for the team (excluding the COVID-19 affected 2020 season) since August 25, 1997. On that day, only 16,965 fans were present at the Cardinals’ former home, Busch Memorial Stadium, to witness their 2-1 loss to the Montreal Expos.
Fans Disappointed as Cardinals Struggle to Maintain Past Success
The St. Louis Cardinals, known for their “devil magic,” are facing a harsh reality as they are on track to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite not being the worst team in MLB, the Cardinals’ recent performance has fallen short of their fans’ expectations of excellence.
According to Jeff Jones of BND.com, the Cardinals’ 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday was witnessed by a mere 17,675 fans. This marks the lowest attendance for the team (excluding the COVID-19 affected 2020 season) since August 25, 1997. On that day, only 16,965 fans were present at the Cardinals’ former home, Busch Memorial Stadium, to witness their 2-1 loss to the Montreal Expos.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ “Devil Magic” Fades as Playoff Hopes Diminish
The St. Louis Cardinals, known for their “devil magic” and consistent success, are facing a disappointing reality. For the third consecutive season, they are on track to miss the playoffs. And with a lackluster performance, they are also headed towards their second losing season in the past three years. This is a rare occurrence for the Cardinals, who last experienced this in the late 1990s.
While the Cardinals are not the worst team in MLB, their fans are used to excellence and are now left with mediocrity. This shift in the team’s performance has resulted in a lukewarm response from their typically passionate fanbase. The numbers speak for themselves.
According to Jeff Jones of BND.com, only 17,675 fans attended the Cardinals’ recent 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. This is the lowest attendance since August 25, 1997, when only 16,965 fans were present at the Cardinals’ old home, Busch Memorial Stadium, for a 2-1 loss to the Montreal Expos. With a capacity of 44,383, Busch Stadium has seen its fair share of iconic moments, but lately, fans have not been treated to such memories. In fact, the Cardinals rank just 19th in MLB for average attendance, with only 28,828 fans per game, despite having the eighth-largest stadium in the league.
Currently, the Cardinals’ fanbase seems to be in hibernation. However, every team experiences ups and downs, even a dynasty like the Cardinals. When they return to their usual dominance, it is expected that attendance numbers will rise once again, with the stadium selling out like it’s nobody’s business.
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The Cardinals have never been a team to hit rock bottom. Their 71-91 record in 2023 is their worst in terms of win percentage since 1995, as they typically do not finish at the bottom of the league.
It’s not that the Cardinals have a bad team. They simply lack a true superstar to lead their franchise. Their offense is lackluster, and their best position player, Masyn Winn, is known more for his elite defense at shortstop. Their pitching, aside from Sonny Gray and Matthew Liberatore, also leaves much to be desired.
With a roster filled with average to slightly above-average players and no standout star, it’s not surprising that the Cardinals currently hold a 65-67 record. However, this team has a history of bouncing back and finding success. It’s only a matter of time before they return to their winning ways and bring their fanbase back to life.
