I can’t believe this is actually happening. Somebody pinch me. The St. Louis Cardinals are going to play in October! What an unexpected turn of events? There are so many people to thank.
First, I want to thank the Atlanta Braves. They should be commended on a fine season. But their fall from the top has been just as remarkable. Atlanta led St. Louis by 10.5 games on Aug. 25 and 8.5 on Sept. 5. No National League team has ever held such a lead and not made the playoffs. So, to you, Chipper Jones, I tip my cap. Without you and your teammates, none of this would have been possible.

I also would like to thank the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. Without your dismal performances late in the season, the Cardinals wouldn’t be making their eighth trip in 12 years to the post-season. Without you, St. Louis wouldn’t be salivating at the chance to compete for their eleventh World Series title. When you took the field against the Cardinals, you did your duty – playing like we expected you to, allowing the Birds to get some wins and put together a September to remember. Yes, the Birds did win 23 of their last 31 games. So, thank you for being you.

Obviously I also have to thank Bud Selig. Oh, Bud. When you instituted the Wild Card in 1995, purists around America cried foul. You took so much heat because you were screwing with tradition. How dare you! Well, 16 years later, I say, thank you. Because the Cardinals refused to play with passion through the dog days of summer, their only option to play into October was via the NL Wild Card. And by dog, they’ve done it!

And trust me, I know the odds aren’t that good – the Cardinals will face the Philadelphia Phillies in the first round of the playoffs, but I would be remiss if I forgot about the 2004 American League Wild Card team, the Boston Red Sox. Excuse me, the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox.

Which reminds me – thank you, Philadelphia, for coming alive down the stretch. For a while there I was worried.  Losing seven in a row coming into the season-finale against Atlanta, and with the Cardinals in the race, I just wasn’t sure you were the formidable opponent ESPN made you out to be. But you’ve reminded me why you’re the favorite to take the title. Thank you, and congratulations.

And finally, my friends, I have to thank my team.

They’ve tested my fandom, my sanity, my blood pressure and my temper – usually within the same game. I admit it. I gave up on the Redbirds. Can you blame me? Seriously, a 15-14 August? And that sweep, at home, against the Dodgers – even the manager gave up. But the Cardinals proved me wrong. Those cardiac, come-from-behind Cardinals are going to play in October. I was wrong.

And speaking of being wrong, I have to speak to the doubters. Milwaukee, I’m gonna let you finish, but the Cardinals deserve to be here. There is not a team I fear more in the post-season than this scrappy squad from Busch. Albert Pujols is batting .300 on the season, including a .363 September with 5 homeruns. Kyle Lohse leads the starting five with a 3.39 ERA and 14 wins. Jaime Garcia follows with a 3.56 ERA.

Oh, and there’s Chris Carpenter, who pitched a shut-out against the Astros to assure the Cardinals a place in the playoffs. He has a post-season record of 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA. Thank you, Chris.

I think I can hear the music playing me off the stage. I have one more thing to say.

Baseball Heaven will soon be filled with the faithful of Cardinal Nation. All is right in the world.

Thank God.