The St. Louis Cardinals have won the National League Central for the 12th time in franchise history.

Founded in 1994, the Cardinals have more than double the division crowns as the team behind them. It marks the first time since 2015 they’ve won the division, or made the playoffs. For a franchise that hasn’t gone more than three years without a playoff berth in over one hundred years, the wait was long for some. It took all 162 games for the Cardinals to clinch the division, as they beat the Cubs 9-0 on Sunday. They finished the season with a record of 91-71.

“In St. Louis, three years is an eternity to go without October baseball,” senior Connor Price said.

Just a month ago, St. Louis was 2.5 games out of first place in the division. Since then, they have the best record in baseball. The pivotal point was the four-game sweep of the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was the first time the Cardinals swept the Cubs in a four-game set since 1912. That sweep put the Cardinals in the top divisional spot, however they ran into some turbulence in the following series in Arizona. St. Louis took the opening game, although they dropped the final two games — unable to seal up division.

“The team turned it on in the final month. They showed what they are capable of,” senior Harrison Riebow said.

The team got some assistance from the Colorado Rockies, as they took their series against the Brewers to allow the Cardinals to wrap up the central division. St. Louis’ first matchup in the postseason will be against the Atlanta Braves. 

“I’m taking the Cardinals against the Braves. Offense is the only edge Atlanta has,” senior Blake Ebner said. 

The five-game series kicks off tomorrow afternoon with Miles Mikolas on the hill for St. Louis.