Cubs vs. Cardinals

The Cubs-Cardinals rivalry is the most played rivalry in Major League Baseball history, with over 2,500 meetings between these two National League franchises. Separated by 300 miles of Illinois interstate, Chicago and St. Louis have been competing for Midwestern baseball supremacy since the 19th century. The rivalry encompasses everything that makes baseball great: tradition, heartbreak, redemption, and an unwavering belief on both sides that their team represents the true soul of the game.

St. Louis has historically held the upper hand, with 11 World Series titles to Chicago's three. The Cardinals' self-proclaimed identity as the Best Fans in Baseball is a source of endless irritation to Cubs supporters, who endured 108 years between championships before their triumphant 2016 World Series victory. The rivalry between the two fan bases is as fierce as anything that happens on the field, with both sides possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of the other's failures.

From the Gashouse Gang to the 1998 McGwire-Sosa home run chase to the 2015 NLDS showdown, this rivalry has produced moments that resonate across generations. The combination of geographic proximity, historical significance, and passionate fan bases ensures that every Cubs-Cardinals series feels like an event, regardless of where either team sits in the standings.