2001 St. Louis Cardinals season



The St. Louis Cardinals 2001 season was the team's 120th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 110th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93–69 during the season and finished tied for first in the National League Central with the Houston Astros. Because the Cardinals and Astros were best two teams in the National League, both from the Central, and both finished five games ahead of the third-place Chicago Cubs, the Astros were awarded the NL Central champion and the number 1 seed in the playoffs due to winning the season series 9–7, and the Cardinals were awarded the wild-card.

In the playoffs the Cardinals lost to the eventual World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks 3 games to 2 in the NLDS.

Third baseman/Outfielder Albert Pujols won the Rookie of the Year Award this year, batting .329, with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs. Second baseman Fernando Viña and outfielder Jim Edmonds won Gold Gloves in 2001.

This was also Jack Buck's final season as the team's broadcaster.

Offseason

 * December 22, 2000: Quinton McCracken was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
 * January 5, 2001: Bobby Bonilla was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
 * January 5, 2001: John Mabry was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals.
 * March 28, 2001: Quinton McCracken was released by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Regular season
Albert Pujols made his major league debut on April 2 against the Colorado Rockies. He appeared in three at-bats and collected one hit.

On September 3, Bud Smith became the ninth Cardinal and eighteenth rookie to hurl a no-hitter.

Transactions

 * April 9, 2001: John Mabry was sent to the Florida Marlins by the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a conditional deal.
 * June 5, 2001: Dan Haren was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 2001 amateur draft. Player signed June 20, 2001.
 * June 5, 2001: Joe Mather was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 3rd round of the 2001 amateur draft.
 * June 5, 2001: Skip Schumaker was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 5th round of the 2001 amateur draft.

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

NLDS
Arizona wins the series, 3-2

Awards and honors

 * Jim Edmonds, OF, Gold Glove Award
 * Albert Pujols, 3B, National League Rookie of the Year Award
 * Fernando Viña, 2B, Gold Glove Award

All-Star Game
 * Matt Morris, P, reserve
 * Albert Pujols, 3B, reserve