Hero with a hangover gives Cardinals their first World Series title

The St. Louis Cardinals won their first World Series title in 1926. The team had been playing in the American Association since 1882. They were in National League in 1892, became the Perfectos in 1899 and the Cardinals one year later. The franchise traces to the original Browns of the long-dead American League. In the National league, the team never finished better than third until winning the 1926 pennant. Bookies rated them underdogs in their series against the Yankees. St Louis had three street celebrations that fall. When play-by-play announcer Graham McNamee declared victory over KSD, a local telephone exchange was swamped with 5,000 calls.

Grover Cleveland Alexander helped Cardinals win their first World Series title. Alexander was cut by the Cubs in 1926 at 39. He won 11 games for the Cardinals and two World series games against the Yankees. After retiring in 1930, Alexander worked in small-time exhibitions and worked a variety show. He died at 63 in 1950 in a rented room in St. Paul, Nebraska. The American Legion organized his funeral. It was paid for by Cardinals.