It was a cold October night when Darrell Porter jumped into the arms of Bruce Sutter after the St. Louis Cardinals won another World Series. That moment happened exactly 40 years ago today.

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October 20, 1982 was a night that almost didn't happen. The St. Louis Cardinals hadn't won a World Series since 1967 and it had been 14 years since they'd even made it that far. The World Series of 1982 started off horrifically for the Cardinals as Milwaukee hammered them for a 10-0 Game 1 rout in Busch Stadium II.

The Cardinals barely won Game 2 winning 5-4. Many remember that one of the Brewer home runs that day was by former St. Louis Cardinals legend Ted Simmons who had joined the Brewers just the year prior in 1981.

Game 3 of the 1982 World Series is what is now known as the Willie McGee game. Willie hit 2 home runs and made a game saving catch that night in Milwaukee.

Games 4 and 5 would be won by the Brewers by scores of 6-4 and 7-5 respectively. The Cardinals trounced the Brewers 13-1 in game 6 as both Darrell Porter and Keith Hernandez had home runs to even the series at 3 games apiece.

Game 7 the night of October 20, 1982 was a nailbiter as the Cardinals didn't take the lead until the bottom of the 6th inning. It was a one-run game until the Cardinals added 2 insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th leading to the iconic moment when Bruce Sutter struck out Gorman Thomas for the final out.

It was the St. Louis Cardinals first world championship in 15 years and would lead to them being an almost constant contender with World Series appearances in 1985 and 1987 during Whitey Herzog's era as manager.

The next world championships wouldn't come until 2006 and 2011 for the Cardinals. That October night in 1982 is what many will remember as the St. Louis Cardinals return to prominence in baseball. What a magnificent night it was 40 years ago today.

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