
Relive the World Series upset that gave rise to St. Louis's baseball obsession
With a legacy of 11 World Series wins, the culture of St. Louis intertwines with the Cardinals. It all started in 1926 with a legendary World Series upset against Babe Ruth's Yankees. But what goes untold are compelling stories--like Ruth charming the city into what became a tradition of cheering opposing players--that made St. Louis fans go baseball crazy for the first time while early radio broadcasts helped turn the region into "Cardinal country." These forgotten anecdotes made 1926 more than another championship. The victory transformed St. Louis into a baseball town, putting in place practices, traditions, loyalties, and an energy that have been passed down through time.
Terry Lemons, a St. Louis native, brings a reporter's eye to recover faded memories that shine new light on the story that began in 1926.
Terry Lemons has been a baseball fan for a long time, but not so long that he saw the 1926 World Series. Terry grew up in St. Louis before heading to the University of Missouri to become a newspaper reporter in the 1980s. After working at the Springfield (MO) News-Leader, he wound up in Little Rock at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Following the 1992 presidential election, Terry went to Washington to cover the Clinton White House and Congress. He then moved over to handle communications and outreach for the Internal Revenue Service, spending a quarter century in roles overseeing work with the news media, Congress, and the tax community. Following his retirement, Terry resumed his writing career. His material has appeared for publications including Forbes, Washington's The Hill, and Alexandria (Virginia) Living.