The 1996 St. Louis Cardinals season was the Cardinals' 115th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 105th season in the National League. It was Tony La Russa's first season managing the club, after leaving the Oakland Athletics. During the first year of the William DeWitt, Jr. era, the Cardinals went 88–74 during the season and won their first-ever National League Central title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS after being up 3–1. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch during the 1995-96 offseason.
Offseason October 23, 1995: The Cardinals hire Tony La Russa as team's manager December 23, 1995: Ron Gant was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals December 23, 1995: Andy Benes was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals December 15, 1995: Willie McGee was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.Willie McGee Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com January 9, 1996: Todd Stottlemyre was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Allen Battle, Carl Dale, Jay Witasick, and Bret Wagner (minors). January 11, 1996: Mike Gallego signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.Mike Gallego Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com February 13, 1996: Dennis Eckersley was traded by the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Montgomery. December 18, 1995: Gary Gaetti signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Ozzie Smith's final season Legendary veteran shortstop Ozzie Smith announced during the season that it would be his last season in the Major Leagues, while veteran outfielder Willie McGee, was brought back to the Cards as a free agent. Though the tension between Smith and exciting youngster Royce Clayton, acquired in a trade, grew thick and troublesome at times as they shared time at shortstop, both players had good seasons. McGee came off the bench and started when needed.
Regular season Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 1 || @ Mets || 6–7 || Dipoto || Fossas (0–1) || Franco || 42,060 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 2 || April 3 || @ Mets || 5–3 || Stottlemyre (1–0) || Person || Eckersley (1) || 13,323 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || @ Mets || 9–10 || Franco || Eckersley (0–1) || — || 15,507 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || @ Braves || 5–4 (14) || Bailey (1–0) || Bielecki || Eckersley (2) || 31,071 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || @ Braves || 3–2 (12) || Parrett (1–0) || Clontz || — || 34,649 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || @ Braves || 3–13 || Schmidt || Busby (0–1) || — || 28,498 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 8 || Expos || 3–4 (10) || Rojas || Parrett (1–1) || — || 52,841 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 10 || Expos || 4–1 || Benes (1–0) || Paniagua || — || 27,734 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 9 || April 11 || Phillies || 2–1 || Benes (2–0) || Mulholland || Mathews (1) || 23,412 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 10 || April 12 || Phillies || 6–1 || Urbani (1–0) || Williams || — || 26,753 || 6–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 13 || Phillies || 2–4 || Hunter || Fossas (0–2) || Bottalico || 28,913 || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 14 || Phillies || 6–5 || Mathews (1–0) || Fernandez || Eckersley (3) || 27,545 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 15 || Pirates || 6–4 || Benes (3–0) || Ericks || Honeycutt (1) || 18,731 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 16 || Pirates || 3–13 || Smith || Benes (3–1) || Lieber || 21,349 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 15 || April 17 || Pirates || 6–1 || Osborne (1–0) || Darwin || — || 23,074 || 9–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 18 || Pirates || 2–6 || Wagner || Stottlemyre (1–1) || — || 25,700 || 9–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 19 || @ Phillies || 1–0 || Bailey (2–0) || Springer || Eckersley (4) || 25,614 || 10–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 20 || @ Phillies || 1–0 || Benes (4–1) || Bottalico || Eckersley (5) || 23,630 || 11–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 21 || @ Phillies || 2–4 || Grace || Benes (4–2) || Bottalico || 32,896 || 11–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 22 || @ Expos || 0–8 || Cormier || Osborne (1–1) || — || 9,778 || 11–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 23 || @ Expos || 11–12 || Scott || Mathews (1–1) || — || 8,352 || 11–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 24 || Mets || 9–4 || Petkovsek (1–0) || Harnisch || — || 23,189 || 12–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 25 || Mets || 3–9 || Clark || Benes (4–3) || — || 26,933 || 12–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 26 || Braves || 1–6 || Avery || Benes (4–4) || — || 34,598 || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 27 || Braves || 2–7 || Maddux || Osborne (1–2) || — || 20,757 || 12–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || April 29 || Braves || 1–4 || Glavine || Stottlemyre (1–2) || Wohlers || 25,452 || 12–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || April 30 || @ Cubs || 6–7 || Wendell || Eckersley (0–2) || — || 20,771 || 12–15
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Cubs || 3–9 || Trachsel || Benes (4–5) || — || 25,668 || 12–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 3 || @ Padres || 3–1 || Osborne (2–2) || Ashby || Eckersley (6) || 21,335 || 13–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 4 || @ Padres || 4–3 || Stottlemyre (2–2) || Bergman || Eckersley (7) || 44,375 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 5 || @ Padres || 4–10 || Hamilton || Benes (4–6) || — || 27,435 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 7 || Giants || 2–4 || Watson || Fossas (0–3) || Beck || 23,492 || 14–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 8 || Giants || 7–10 || Gardner || Benes (4–7) || Beck || 22,517 || 14–19 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 34 || May 9 || Giants || 16–8 || Parrett (2–1) || Dewey || — || 37,920 || 15–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 10 || Dodgers || 2–3 (12) || Worrell || Eckersley (0–3) || — || 36,821 || 15–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 11 || Dodgers || 2–4 || Valdez || Benes (4–8) || Worrell || 38,008 || 15–21 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 12 || Dodgers || 6–5 || Petkovsek (2–0) || Nomo || Eckersley (8) || 38,549 || 16–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 13 || @ Marlins || 2–5 || Burkett || Benes (4–9) || Powell || 19,227 || 16–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 14 || @ Marlins || 5–11 || Mathews || Parrett (2–2) || — || 16,070 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 40 || May 15 || @ Marlins || 6–0 || Stottlemyre (3–2) || Rapp || — || 18,066 || 17–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 17 || @ Rockies || 11–12 || Leskanic || Bailey (2–1) || Ruffin || 48,074 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 18 || @ Rockies || 8–9 || Habyan || Eckersley (0–4) || — || 48,103 || 17–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 19 || @ Rockies || 3–10 || Thompson || Benes (4–10) || — || 48,075 || 17–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 44 || May 20 || @ Astros || 5–3 || Osborne (3–2) || Drabek || — || 14,547 || 18–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 45 || May 21 || @ Astros || 8–2 || Stottlemyre (4–2) || Reynolds || — || 17,935 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 22 || @ Astros || 5–2 || Benes (5–10) || Kile || Mathews (2) || 15,353 || 20–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 24 || @ Marlins || 4–2 || Morgan (1–0) || Burkett || Mathews (3) || 19,583 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 25 || @ Marlins || 5–0 || Benes (6–10) || Rapp || — || 26,312 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 26 || @ Marlins || 2–8 (7) || Weathers || Osborne (3–3) || — || 20,573 || 22–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || May 27 || Rockies || 2–5 || Ritz || Stottlemyre (4–3) || Ruffin || 38,804 || 22–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 28 || Rockies || 5–6 || Painter || Mathews (1–2) || Holmes || 26,913 || 22–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || May 29 || Rockies || 6–5 || Petkovsek (3–0) || Leskanic || Benes (1) || 27,856 || 23–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || May 31 || Astros || 6–4 || Osborne (4–3) || Swindell || Fossas (1) || 37,625 || 24–29
|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 1 || Astros || 5–4 (10) || Bailey (3–1) || Hernandez || — || 34,958 || 25–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 2 || Astros || 2–0 || Stottlemyre (5–3) || Kile || — || 32,703 || 26–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 3 || @ Padres || 3–0 || Benes (7–10) || Tewksbury || — || 13,625 || 27–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 4 || @ Padres || 11–5 || Petkovsek (4–0) || Worrell || — || 13,427 || 28–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 5 || @ Padres || 4–6 || Hoffman || Fossas (0–4) || — || 12,216 || 28–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 59 || June 7 || @ Giants || 9–4 || Benes (8–10) || Fernandez || — || 13,009 || 29–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 8 || @ Giants || 1–4 || DeLucia || Stottlemyre (5–4) || Beck || 20,401 || 29–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 61 || June 9 || @ Giants || 0–9 || Watson || Benes (8–11) || — || 24,176 || 29–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 10 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Park || Morgan (1–1) || Osuna || 54,043 || 29–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 11 || @ Dodgers || 6–3 || Osborne (5–3) || Martinez || Honeycutt (2) || 29,096 || 30–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 13 || Mets || 1–2 || Person || Benes (8–12) || Henry || 30,697 || 30–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 14 || Mets || 13–4 || Stottlemyre (6–4) || Isringhausen || — || 38,556 || 31–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 15 || Mets || 4–2 || Benes (9–12) || Jones || Eckersley (9) || 50,635 || 32–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 16 || Mets || 5–4 || Petkovsek (5–0) || Henry || Eckersley (10) || 31,375 || 33–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 18 || Phillies || 3–2 || Osborne (6–3) || Fernandez || Eckersley (11) || 31,311 || 34–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 19 || Phillies || 3–2 || Benes (10–12) || Bottalico || — || 34,612 || 35–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || June 20 || @ Expos || 3–8 || Rueter || Stottlemyre (6–5) || — || 15,095 || 35–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || June 21 || @ Expos || 3–4 (12) || Rojas || Eckersley (0–5) || — || 16,136 || 35–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 22 || @ Expos || 9–4 || Morgan (2–1) || Urbina || — || 16,895 || 36–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || June 23 || @ Expos || 2–3 || Fassero || Osborne (6–4) || Rojas || 22,168 || 36–37 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 24 || @ Braves || 9–2 || Benes (11–12) || Smoltz || — || 31,971 || 37–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 25 || @ Braves || 3–4 || Schmidt || Stottlemyre (6–6) || Wohlers || 30,942 || 37–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || June 26 || @ Braves || 11–7 || Benes (12–12) || Avery || — || 31,191 || 38–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || June 27 || @ Braves || 0–3 || Maddux || Morgan (2–2) || Wohlers || 32,243 || 38–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 78 || June 28 || Pirates || 6–1 || Osborne (7–4) || Neagle || — || 34,490 || 39–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || June 29 || Pirates || 6–5 || Honeycutt (1–0) || Miceli || — || 34,426 || 40–39 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 80 || June 30 || Pirates || 10–3 || Stottlemyre (7–6) || Smith || — || 38,901 || 41–39
|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 81 || July 1 || Reds || 5–8 || Carrasco || Benes (12–13) || Brantley || 27,221 || 41–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 82 || July 2 || Reds || 4–3 || Honeycutt (2–0) || Smith || Eckersley (12) || 29,074 || 42–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 83 || July 3 || Reds || 4–0 || Osborne (8–4) || Smiley || — || 32,658 || 43–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 84 || July 4 || @ Pirates || 7–1 || Benes (13–13) || Dessens || — || 23,321 || 44–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 85 || July 5 || @ Pirates || 7–4 || Stottlemyre (8–6) || Smith || Fossas (2) || 18,759 || 45–40 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 86 || July 6 || @ Pirates || 9–5 || Benes (14–13) || Darwin || — || 19,144 || 46–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 87 || July 7 || @ Pirates || 2–8 || Lieber || Morgan (2–3) || — || 16,255 || 46–41 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || July 11 || @ Cubs || 0–6 || Navarro || Osborne (8–5) || — || 38,802 || 46–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 89 || July 12 || @ Cubs || 13–3 || Benes (15–13) || Trachsel || — || 38,918 || 47–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 90 || July 13 || @ Cubs || 10–5 || Stottlemyre (9–6) || Bullinger || Eckersley (13) || 39,254 || 48–42 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"