1971 St. Louis Cardinals season

The 1971 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 90th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 80th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 90–72 during the season and finished second in the National League East, seven games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

Offseason October 5, 1970: Dick Allen was traded by the Cardinals to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ted Sizemore and Bob Stinson.Dick Allen page at Baseball Reference October 20, 1970: Carl Taylor and Jim Ellis were traded by the Cardinals to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jerry McNertney, George Lauzerique, and Jesse Huggins (minors).Jerry McNertney page at Baseball Reference

Regular season The Cardinals scrapped their traditional buttoned jerseys for T-shirt style uniform tops, and would keep them until they switched back in 1992.

Third baseman Joe Torre won the MVP Award this year, batting .363, with 24 home runs and 137 RBIs. Pitcher Bob Gibson won a Gold Glove this year, and threw a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 14.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor=#fbb | 1 || April 6 || @ Cubs || 1–2 || Jenkins || Gibson || || 39,079 || 0–1 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 2 || April 7 || @ Cubs || 14–3 || Carlton || Hands || || 23,287 || 1–1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 3 || April 10 || Giants || 4–6 || Reberger || Reuss || Johnson || 26,841 || 1–2 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 4 || April 11 (1) || Giants || 4–2 || Gibson || Robertson || || || 2–2 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 5 || April 11 (2) || Giants || 2–7 || Marichal || Cleveland || || 27,104 || 2–3 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 6 || April 12 || Astros || 5–4 || Carlton || Blasingame || Linzy || 11,270 || 3–3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 7 || April 13 || Astros || 4–8 || Culver || Torrez || Lemaster || 5,105 || 3–4 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 8 || April 14 || @ Dodgers || 7–1 || Reuss || Osteen || Linzy || 11,644 || 4–4 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 9 || April 15 || @ Dodgers || 1–2 || Downing || Cleveland || || 12,632 || 4–5 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 10 || April 16 || @ Padres || 7–1 || Gibson || Coombs || || 6,782 || 5–5 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 11 || April 17 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Carlton || Phoebus || || 3,462 || 6–5 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 12 || April 18 || @ Padres || 4–2 || Torrez || Ross || Linzy || 8,777 || 7–5 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 13 || April 19 || @ Giants || 2–4 || Bryant || Reuss || || 3,630 || 7–6 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 14 || April 20 || @ Giants || 2–1 || Cleveland || Marichal || Drabowsky || 9,791 || 8–6 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 15 || April 21 || @ Giants ||5–3 || Gibson || Perry || || 6,178 || 9–6 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 16 || April 22 || Phillies || 5–2 || Carlton || Bunning || || 8,411 || 10–6 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 17 || April 23 || Phillies || 6–8 || Brandon || Brunet || || 29,290 || 10–7 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 18 || April 24 || Phillies || 5–0 || Reuss || Champion || || 17,733 || 11–7 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 19 || April 25 || Phillies || 5–4 || Linzy || Fryman || || 13,122 || 12–7 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 20 || April 26 || Mets || 2–12 || Seaver || Gibson || || 20,402 || 12–8 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 21 || April 27 || Mets || 1–2 || Koosman || Carlton || Frisella || 8,575 || 12–9 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 22 || April 28 || Mets || 1–9 || Gentry || Torrez || || 8,171 || 12–10 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || April 29 || Mets || 0–7 || Ryan || Reuss || Frisella || 10,215 || 12–11 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 24 || April 30 || Expos || 4–2 || Shaw || Raymond || || 10,766 || 13–11

|- bgcolor=#ddd | 25 || May 1 || Expos || 2–2 || Rain out || Tied after || 7 innings ||32,061 || 13–11 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 26 || May 2 || Expos || 1–0 || Carlton || Morton || || 10,320 || 14–11 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 27 || May 3 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || Lersch || Zachary || Hoerner || 9,102 || 14–12 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 28 || May 4 || @ Phillies || 7–3 || Reuss || Short || || 9,339 || 15–12 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 29 || May 5 || @ Phillies || 5–1 || Cleveland || Hoerner || || 10,184 || 16–12 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 30 || May 7 || @ Mets || 1–3 || Seaver || Gibson || || 44,304 || 16–13 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 31 || May 9 || @ Mets || 5–9 || Koosman || Carlton || Frisella || 27,189 || 16–14 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 32 || May 10 || @ Expos || 8–5 || Reuss || Renko || Linzy || 16,703 || 17–14 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 33 || May 11 || @ Expos || 10–4 || Cleveland || Morton || Linzy || 8,862 || 18–14 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 34 || May 14 || @ Astros || 4–2 || Gibson || Billingham || || 16,437 || 19–14 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 35 || May 15 || @ Astros || 6–5 || Carlton || Griffin || Taylor || 19,285 || 20–14 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 36 || May 16 || @ Astros || 4–12 || Dierker || Reuss || Ray || 14,983 || 20–15 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 37 || May 18 || Dodgers || 6–5 || Drabowsky|| Brewer || || 14,753 || 21–15 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 38 || May 19 || Dodgers || 5–6 || Mikkelsen || Gibson || || 13,869 || 21–16 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 39 || May 20 || Dodgers || 5–0 || Carlton || Singer || || 11,875 || 22–16 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 40 || May 21 || Padres || 15–8 || Shaw || Laxton || Drabowsky || 27,298 || 23–16 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 41 || May 22 || Padres || 7–4 || Zachary || Roberts || Shaw || 10,776 || 24–16 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 42 || May 23 || Padres || 6–1 || Cleveland || Arlin || || 9,475 || 25–16 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 43 || May 24 || Padres || 3–12 || Phoebus || Gibson || Miller || 8,609 || 25–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 44 || May 25 || Cubs || 4–2 || Carlton || Hands || || 12,667 || 26–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 45 || May 26 || Cubs || 9–4 || Taylor || Holtzman || || 12,690 || 27–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 46 || May 27 || Cubs || 10–0 || Zachary || Jenkins || || 14,167 || 28–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 47 || May 28 || Braves || 4–0 || Cleveland || Reed || || 14,537 || 29–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 48 || May 29 || Braves || 8–7 || Drabowsky || Upshaw || || 47,598 || 30–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 49 || May 30 || Braves || 8–3 || Carlton || P. Niekro || || 24,380 || 31–17 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 50 || May 31 || Braves || 3–2 || Reuss || Stone || || 20,349 || 32–17

|- bgcolor=#fbb | 51 || June 1 || @ Pirates || 0–9 || Ellis (7–3) || Zachary (2–2) || || 21,516 || 32–18 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 52 || June 2 || @ Pirates || 1–10 || Walker (2–6) || Cleveland (5–3) || Veale (1) || 9,612 || 32–19 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 53 || June 3 || @ Pirates || 7–1 || Carlton (10–2) || Johnson (4–4) || || 18,947 || 33–19 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 54 || June 4 || @ Reds || 0–12 || Grimsley (3–1) || Zachary (2–3) || || 17,120 || 33–20 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 55 || June 5 || @ Reds || 5–3 || Reuss (6–4) || Cloninger (2–4) || Drabowsky (3) || 18,144 || 34–20 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 56 || June 6 || @ Reds || 2–4 || Gullett (6–2) || Cleveland (5–4) || Gibbon (5) || 20,189 || 34–21 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 57 || June 7 || @ Braves || 7–6 || Drabowsky (3–0) || Priddy (2–2) || || 10,354 || 35–21 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 58 || June 8 || @ Braves || 7–8 || Upshaw (7–4) || Linzy (1–1) || || 8,518 || 35–22 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 59 || June 9 || @ Braves || 3–8 || P. Niekro (4–6) || Zachary (2–4) || || 7,506 || 35–23 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 60 || June 10 || Pirates || 1–3 || Blass (6–3) || Reuss (6–5) || || 18,950 || 35–24 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 61 || June 11 || Pirates || 4–11 || Ellis (9–3) || Cleveland (5–5) || Giusti (13) || 27,308 || 35–25 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 62 || June 12 || Pirates || 3–4 || Grant (4–2) || Arroyo (0–1) || || 24,565 || 35–26 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 63 || June 13 || Pirates || 4–8 || Giusti (2–1) || Carlton (10–3) || Hernández (1) || 21,205 || 35–27 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 64 || June 14 || Reds || 2–7 || Grimsley (4–1) || Reuss (6–6) || Carroll (7) || 18,613 || 35–28 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 65 || June 15 || Reds || 6–1 || Cleveland (6–5) || Merritt (0–8) || || 19,514 || 36–28 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 66 || June 16 || Reds || 0–1 || Gullett (7–2) || Santorini (0–3) || || 19,232 || 36–29 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || June 17 || @ Cubs || 6–7 || Bonham (1–1) || Zachary (2–5) || || 22,749 || 36–30 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 68 || June 18 || @ Cubs || 5–15 || Pappas (7–6) || Reuss (6–7) || Regan (2) || 23,540 || 36–31 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 69 || June 19 || @ Cubs || 1–7 || Hands (8–8) || Cleveland (6–6) || || 32,809 || 36–32 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 70 || June 20 || @ Cubs || 5–4 || Drabowsky (4–0) || Holtzman (6–8) || || 34,574 || 37–32 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 71 || June 21 || @ Dodgers || 0–4 || O'Brien (2–1) || Gibson (4–6) || || 18,480 || 37–33 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 72 || June 22 || @ Dodgers || 6–5 || Carlton (11–3) || Osteen (8–5) || || 21,004 || 38–33 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 73 || June 23 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || Drabowsky (5–0) || Brewer (3–2) || Shaw (2) || 19,910 || 39–33 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 74 || June 24 || @ Dodgers || 4–11 || Downing (8–4) || Cleveland (6–7) || Peña (1) || 19,282 || 39–34 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 75 || June 25 || Cubs || 0–12 || Bonham (2–1) || Santorini (0–4) || || 28,743 || 39–35 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 76 || June 26 || Cubs || 1–5 || Holtzman (7–8) || Gibson (4–7) || || 43,300 || 39–36 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 77 || June 27 || Cubs || 1–4 || Jenkins (11–7) || Carlton (11–4) || || 34,964 || 39–37 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 78 || June 28 || Pirates || 5–11 || Moose (6–4) || Reuss (6–8) || Grant (7) || 15,024 || 39–38 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 79 || June 29 || Pirates || 8–3 || Cleveland (7–7) || Walker (3–7) || || 14,586 || 40–38

|- bgcolor=#fbb | 80 || July 1 || @ Giants || 7–8 || McMahon || Zachary || Johnson || 7,794 || 40–39 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 81 || July 2 || @ Giants || 7–2 || Gibson || Stone || || 11,268 || 41–39 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 82 || July 3 || @ Giants || 1–10 || Cumberland || Carlton || || 24,896 || 41-40 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 83 || July 4 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Reuss || Arlin || Drabowsky || 5,095 || 42–40 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 84 || July 5 || @ Padres || 2–3 || Miller || Cleveland || || 4,588 || 42–41 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 85 || July 7 || @ Padres || 1–4 || Kirby || Gibson || || 7,456 || 42–42 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 86 || July 9 (1) || Astros || 5–2 || Carlton || Forsch || || || 43–42 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 87 || July 9 (2) || Astros || 9–5 || Reuss || Blasingame || Drabowsky || 24,748 || 44–42 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 88 || July 10 || Astros || 6–5 || Linzy || Gladding || || 32,895 || 45–42 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 89 || July 11 || Astros || 7–3 || Gibson || Ray || || 15,252 || 46–42 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 90 || July 15 (1) || Expos || 7–3 || Carlton || Strohmayer || || || 47–42 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 91 || July 15 (2) || Expos || 4–6 || Stoneman || Reuss || || 19,409 || 47–43 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 92 || July 16 || Expos || 6–0 || Cleveland || Renko || || 23,765 || 48–43 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 93 || July 17 || Expos || 3–5 || McAnally || Gibson || || 22,791 || 48–44 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 94 || July 18 || Mets || 8–5 || Taylor || Matlack || Linzy || 27,497 || 49–44 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 95 || July 19 || Mets || 2–5 || Sadecki || Carlton || || 20,003 || 49–45 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 96 || July 20 || Phillies || 1–5 || Short || Reuss || || 14,650 || 49–46 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 97 || July 21 || Phillies || 6–1 || Cleveland || Lersch || || 16,200 || 50–46 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 98 || July 22 || Phillies || 8–0 || Gibson || Fryman || || 20,547 || 51–46 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 99 || July 23 || @ Expos || 6–2 || Zachary || McGinn || || 20,480|| 52–46 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 100 || July 24 (1) || @ Expos || 8–7 || Shaw || Raymond || || || 53–46 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 101 || July 24 (2) || @ Expos || 9–3 || Reuss || Morton || || 24,109 || 54–46 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 102 || July 25 || @ Expos || 4–5 || Stoneman || Cleveland || || 20,346 || 54–47 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 103 || July 26 || @ Mets || 4–0 || Gibson || Sadecki || || 30,586 || 55–47 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 104 || July 27 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Frisella || Zachary || || 35,597 || 55–48 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 105 || July 28 || @ Mets || 6–3 || Carlton || Matlack || || 30,796 || 56–48 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 106 || July 29 || @ Mets || 3–1 || Reuss || C. Williams || || 30,254 || 57–48 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 107 || July 30 || @ Phillies || 4–3 || Gibson || Short || || 26,461 || 58–48 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 108 || July 31 || @ Phillies || 4–5 || Brandon || Drabowsky || || 19,269 || 58–49

|- bgcolor=#cfc | 109 || August 1 || @ Phillies || 9–6 || S. Williams || Muñiz || || 22,432 || 59–49 |- bgcolor=#cfc | 110 || August 2 || Padres || 3–1 || Carlton || Roberts || || 13,591 || 60–49 |- bgcolor=#fbb