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Cardinals turn to win World Series

The St. Louis Cardinals won the 2006 World Series after beating the Detroit Tigers 4-2 in Game 5 on Friday, to end the series 4-1. They have become the seventh team in the last seven years to win the title, a model of parity for U.S. professional sports. The new labor agreement signed last week by the MLB and Players Union will all but assure that next year`s champion will be a new team altogether.

Moreover, the Cards were not favorites to win the World Series at anytime during the season, nor were they favorites upon entering the playoffs or facing Detroit. Twelve teams in baseball had better records than the Cards` 83 wins in the regular season ? the fewest ever for a World Series winner. Eleven teams had a higher payroll.

Yankees captain Derek Jeter said of the Cards` success in spite of their poor record, that ?[I]t goes to show - I think we won one time with 80-something wins. Like I?ve always said, time and time again, the best teams make it to the playoffs, the hottest team wins,? Jeter said. Anyone can win the World Series these days.