What makes a great rivalry?
A mutual distaste between teams and rabid fan bases? A treasured past filled with anecdotes which intricately weave the fabric of the involved franchises' past? A geographic proximity which commingle opposing fan bases to the point of friendly familiarity?
Well, I know a rivalry not often hailed as a great one in the eyes of the national sports landscape. A hidden treasure within American's favorite pastime that takes place in the Midwest, away from the crazed coasts which act as media black holes. A rivalry untouched by diva athletes, key players switching teams in mid-career, and national attention. A rivalry with so much hate that it’s almost love...
Put them all together and you get the rivalry of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs.
"What?!," may have been your first reaction to this bold statement. I know. I understand your confusion. The teams have never met in the playoffs since the World Series came into existence in 1903. Seasons in which both teams' relevance in the divisional (or before the current format, pennant) race rarely, if ever, intersect. But there's more to this rivalry than first glance can depict.
First, let us address mutual distaste between teams and fan bases. The Cardinals and the Cubs don't really like each other. This isn't an understatement or an overstatement for that matter. They are divisional foes who face each other 15-18 times a year. Familiarity between the two teams is significant. In recent years, there have been shouting matches between coaches, bench-clearing incidents, dramatic comebacks, and in general, very hotly contested games. I think its safe to say there is a heighten tension between the two teams, who may respect each other but certainly don't like each other.
When considering the past, its hard not to consider the Cards-Cubs rivalry in a league of its own. The two teams have been playing each other since 1885. (The over-hyped Yankees-Red Sox rivalry? They've been playing since 1901.) Harry Caray got his start as an radio announcer with the Cardinals in 1947. Jack Buck arrived and teamed up with Caray in 1954. The two became close. When Caray left for Chicago in 1969, it only added to the allure of the rivalry. Two friends, broadcasting opposing sides. I don't think you see that when the Buckeyes play the Wolverines in football. Yes, the Yankees bought the Bambino away from Boston, but compare that to the absolute theft the Cardinals committed, when they traded Ernie Broglio to the Cubbies for Lou Brock on June 15th, 1964. Broglio played two years as a mediocre (at best) pitcher and Brock became the all-time career leader in steals (until 1991), a member of the 3000 hit club, and a Hall of Famer. And though the lust has been significantly removed from the 1998 home run chase, due to steroid-filled syringes, false denials, and tarnished records, one of the most important events in bringing baseball back to prominence in the national sports landscape involved a Cardinal, Mark McGwire, and a Cub, Sammy Sosa.
However, the most important component of the rivalry is the geographic aspect, which has caused families and friends to split their allegiances down the middle Civil War style. In the early days of the MLB, the Cardinals were the only show in The Show west of the Mississippi River. KMOX radio transmitted across several Midwest states, creating a Cardinals fan base that spanned well past the borders of St. Louis. Chicago eventually had WGN, a television network which, with the aide of the mere size of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, created another well-extended fan base. But the proximity of the beating hearts in the body of these fan bases are what make the rivalry all the more intriguing.
Allow me a short personal anecdote to illustrate this point. One of my best friends since the 7th grade is a Cubs fan, raised on the Cubs since he was old enough to comprehend baseball. He was born in St. Louis to Illinois transplants, which caused him to be the brunt of many-a-joke throughout middle school and high school. But this is the perfect illustration of the rivalry. I despise the Cubs but I also enjoy jesting with my friend about their haplessness, almost to the point where they have become a pet team. And while they haven't had too much post season success, their record against the Cardinals is always surprisingly respectable. And herein lies the beauty of this rivalry. The down-to-earth feel of the Midwest has encroached into the rivalry creating an environment of harmonious dislike. Cardinals fans and Cubs fans sit next to each other at Busch Stadium and Wrigley Field watch their teams, talk smack to each other, drink beers, and enjoy baseball's greatest rivalry.
Sure, the teams have never met in the playoffs. They haven't played a game meaningful to both sides in probably.... forever. But nothing truly compares to what these two teams have with each other. The history is too thick, the fan bases too intertwined, and the teams all too familiar with each other. I'll take this rivalry over the over-paid, inflated egos of the Red Sox-Yankees, the on-again, off-again intrigue of the Ohio State-Michigan game, and the too heavily influenced by Dick Vitale's commentating factor of the North Carolina-Duke game any day of the week and twice on Sundays.So enjoy baseball fans, one of the best rivalries in all of sports.
