No. 11 in 2011

There are few events more anticipated in the world of sports than the Major League Baseball World Series. In Missouri -- and elsewhere in Cardinal Nation -- October baseball is even better when the Redbirds are still playing. That is the case this year as the Cardinals face off against the Texas Rangers in the fall classic.

The Cardinals' road to the World Series was improbable to say the least. A team that was 10 1/2 games out of the Wild Card on Aug. 25, the Cardinals made a historic late-season push. On the last day of the regular season, St. Louis captured the Wild Card -- the final playoff spot -- from the Atlanta Braves.

When postseason play started, the Redbirds were underdogs going up against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers -- the top two National League teams during the regular season. But both teams succumbed to the Cardinals' suddenly-potent offense and stellar bullpen, and the Redbirds won the National League pennant Sunday night in Milwaukee.

As the first pitch is thrown at Busch Stadium this evening, the Cardinals will again face tough odds against the Rangers. The defending American League champions have an explosive offense and a pitching staff that can match any in the big leagues. After losing to the Giants in the World Series last year, the boys from Texas have visions of winning it all this go-round.

Regardless of what happens in the coming days and which team takes home the Commissioner's Trophy, this season has been an entertaining one for Cardinals fans. But what a finish it would be to see another Champagne celebration and a ticker-tape parade in downtown St. Louis later this month.

Here's hoping the team wearing the birds on the bat wins championship No. 11 in 2011.

Go Cards.