Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals: A Statistical Breakdown of Baseball's Historic Rivalry

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are two of the most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball history, boasting a storied rivalry that dates back to the late 1800s. Over the years, these two teams have produced some of the greatest players in baseball, and their matchups have always been filled with intensity and excitement.

In this article, we will take a statistical look at the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry, examining the player stats that have defined this classic matchup. We will cover everything from batting averages to home runs to strikeouts, and we will see how these two teams have stacked up against each other over the years.

Batting Averages

One of the most important statistics in baseball is batting average, which measures a player's ability to hit the ball. Over the course of their history, the Cubs and Cardinals have boasted some of the best hitters in the game, and their batting averages have been consistently high.

Since 1900, the Cubs have had a team batting average of .267, while the Cardinals have a slightly higher average of .270. However, there have been some notable individual performances by players on both teams.

Notable Batting Averages

• Babe Ruth (Cardinals): .317
• Honus Wagner (Cubs): .328
• Stan Musial (Cardinals): .331
• Ernie Banks (Cubs): .277
• Albert Pujols (Cardinals): .328

Home Runs

Home runs are another key statistic in baseball, measuring a player's power at the plate. Over the years, the Cubs and Cardinals have had their fair share of power hitters, and some of the best home run hitters in the game have made their mark in this rivalry.

Since 1900, the Cubs have hit a total of 13,214 home runs, while the Cardinals have hit 13,496. However, the Cardinals have a slight edge in terms of individual home run totals.

Notable Home Run Totals

• Sammy Sosa (Cubs): 597
• Mark McGwire (Cardinals): 583
• Albert Pujols (Cardinals): 679
• Ernie Banks (Cubs): 512
• Babe Ruth (Cardinals): 135

Strikeouts

Strikeouts are a measure of a pitcher's ability to get batters out. Over the years, the Cubs and Cardinals have both had their share of great pitchers, and some of the best strikeout artists in the game have played in this rivalry.

Since 1900, the Cubs have recorded a total of 95,543 strikeouts, while the Cardinals have recorded 97,420. However, the Cardinals have a slight edge in terms of individual strikeout totals.

Notable Strikeout Totals

• Kerry Wood (Cubs): 2,053
• Greg Maddux (Cubs): 3,371
• Bob Gibson (Cardinals): 3,117
• Steve Carlton (Cardinals): 4,136
• Bob Forsch (Cardinals): 2,007

Other Notable Stats

In addition to the three major statistics we've discussed, there are a number of other notable stats that have defined the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry. These include:

• Wins: The Cardinals have a slight edge in terms of wins, with a record of 1,263-1,247 against the Cubs.
• Losses: The Cubs have a slight edge in terms of losses, with a record of 1,247-1,263 against the Cardinals.
• Ties: The two teams have tied a total of 30 times.
• World Series Titles: The Cardinals have won 11 World Series titles, while the Cubs have won 3.
• National League Pennants: The Cardinals have won 19 National League pennants, while the Cubs have won 16.

Conclusion

The Cubs-Cardinals rivalry is one of the oldest and most storied in Major League Baseball history. Over the years, these two teams have produced some of the greatest players in the game, and their matchups have always been filled with intensity and excitement.

The statistical breakdown we've provided in this article shows that the Cubs and Cardinals have been very evenly matched over the years. Both teams have had their share of great hitters, power hitters, and pitchers, and their records against each other are nearly identical.

As we look ahead to the future, the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry is sure to continue to produce memorable moments and great baseball.