The St. Louis Cardinals were a football team that never hosted a playoff game

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For 28 years, the St. Louis Cardinals struggled to find their footing in a city that already had a baseball team of the same name. Despite producing legendary players and earning the nickname Cardiac Cardinals for their nail-biting finishes, the franchise never once hosted a postseason game in Missouri.

The team arrived in St. Louis in 1960 after leaving Chicago, where they had faced financial ruin and competition from the Bears. To secure their move, the owners, the Bidwill family, had to pay a significant fee and navigate the NFL's desire to block the rival American Football League from entering the market. They shared Busch Memorial Stadium with the baseball Cardinals, a facility that was often criticized for its outdated infrastructure and lack of parking. Because the baseball team held scheduling priority, the football franchise frequently faced logistical hurdles, including being forced to play home games on the road when the baseball team reached the World Series.

On the field, the team experienced a mix of mediocrity and flashes of brilliance. They were dubbed the Cardiac Cardinals in the 1970s for their penchant for close, come-from-behind victories, yet they remained haunted by near misses. In 1974 and 1975, they won the NFC East title but were denied home-field advantage due to the league's rotating playoff venue rules at the time. Their 1976 season was particularly painful; they became the only team to win 10 games under a 14-game schedule and still fail to qualify for the playoffs. Despite the efforts of stars like Larry Wilson, Jim Hart, and Roger Wehrli, the team struggled with inconsistent coaching and poor draft choices.

By the late 1980s, the stadium was viewed as obsolete, and the lack of public support for a new football-only venue pushed the Bidwills to consider relocation. Attendance plummeted, and the atmosphere grew hostile enough that Bill Bidwill reportedly avoided home games in 1987 due to safety concerns. The team played its final game in St. Louis on December 13, 1987, defeating the New York Giants before moving to Arizona the following year. Although they finished their St. Louis tenure with a winning percentage of .481—higher than in their other home cities—they left behind a legacy defined more by frustration than championship glory.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The Arizona Cardinals hold the longest active championship drought in North American professional sports
• The baseball team that lost its city to a shared stadium
• The St. Louis ballpark that hosted two teams, two sports, and one beer war.
• How a church decoration and a fan's comment created a baseball icon
• How the worst-ever champion proved that regular season records don't predict glory
• The violent folk legend of the man who shot for a hat
• The Oldest European Settlement in the United States Is a Florida Time Capsule
• Stamford is Connecticut’s economic powerhouse, hiding a history of witch trials and general strikes.
• Did the SS Californian really ignore the Titanic's final, desperate cries for help?
• How one fighter became the first three-sport world champion in ONE Championship history
• The unassuming destroyer that redefined naval propulsion and modular design
• Lord Stanley’s trophy was a ten-guinea rose bowl, not a purpose-built championship cup.

More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics