World Series

It was a journey that started in February with pitchers and catchers in spring training. Eight months later, the St. Louis Cardinals find themselves playing the Boston Red Sox in the World Series.

The Cardinals are making their second World Series appearance in three years and fourth in the past decade. Playing baseball in October has become the norm, not the exception. Cardinal fans have responded and regularly fill Busch Stadium.

While the team doesn't have the payroll of some teams in Major League Baseball, the organization has found a way to win. Through scouting, player development and something called the "Cardinal Way," St. Louis has developed a strong culture and winning tradition. It might sound trite, but this is about a team effort.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Bernie Miklasz captured this in his Sunday column for the newspaper.

"I've covered professional sports since the late 1970s, and I've never seen a team like the 2013 Cardinals. I've never seen a team of players so close, so unselfish, so enthusiastic about reaching out. Veterans go out of their way to help ascending, younger teammates who are on track to take the veterans' starting job -- or at least a larger percentage of playing time."

Manager Mike Matheny has had something do this with this attitude. His ability to work with young and inexperienced players is impressive. And the entire organization deserves credit for the team's success.

Tonight, the Cards take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The Red Sox will be a formidable opponent. Playing in a highly competitive division, Boston finished with the best record in the American League and tied for the best record in all of baseball. The team they tied: the Cardinals.

We're excited about this World Series. These are contests that bring out such emotion and fun. It could be a tight seven-game series and one that provides many memorable moments. Hopefully the streets of St. Louis will be lined with red next week as the Cardinals bring home World Series title No. 12.