What is the relevance of the so-called Cubs/Cardinals rivalry?

Question

Why is this such a great rivalry? Neither team in my opinion was ever that great. Please tell me why the Cubs/Cardinals rivalry tends to labeled a close second to the Yankees/Sox

Answer 1

The rivalry goes back pre-1958, the year the Dodgers and Giants moved west from New York to California. Prior to '58, the Cardinals and Cubs were the western-most teams in MLB and sort of fought to gain as many fans as possible west of the Mississippi River.

Also, at the time the two radio stations that broadcasted each team's games could be heard in central Illinios, so a fan base for each team developed around that area and, thus, a rivalry developed which rapidly spread.

It should be noted that although you may think that the Cardinals were never "that great", the club ranks second (to the Yankees, of course) as the team that has won the most World Series, with 10.

Combine that with the struggles the Cubs have had throughout the years (no World Series win since 1908) and you get the same sort of pattern that the 26-time champion Yankees had with the Red Sox, when Boston were going through their so-called "Curse of Babe Ruth" (no World Series win between 1918-2004).

Answer 2

Neither team was ever that great??  Didn't the Cardinals win the world series fairly recently?  Yeah, I think so.  It is a great rivalry because they are in the same division, and in the past have battled for division titles.  Just like the red sox and yankees, bears and packers, etc.

Answer 3

Chicago and St. Louis are the two major cities in the midwest.  Just as Boston and New York are the two big cities in the northeast.  I grew up in Boston so I know alot about the Sox vs. Yanks rivalry, I am a Sox fan.

But i have also lived in St. Louis quite awhile and to understand the STL vs. CHI rivalry you have to understand the city.  There isn't a rivalry based on talent, both teams have limited success in most sports, the cards are by far the best sports team in STL going against the rams, and blues, and the cubs haven't won anything in a great while.  while the bulls, blackhawks and bears have also had average to limited success over the recent time period.  The rivalry is based on geography in my opinion.  The Cards and Cubs are the two biggest teams in the Midwest.  throwing out the Royals who's fan base is almost solely in KC, everyone in the midwest likes either the Cubs or Cards.  It splits up the area of the US.  The Mississippi is almost like a border for the rivalry.  Over the years the fans have escalated the rivalry because it is such a crosstown thing.  Many people interact with people who like the opposite team, people work in CHI from STL and people form CHI work in STL, so there are always people rooting against other teams around you.  Its all about bragging rights, each team wants to be the superior team in the midwest.  It is almost like how if you live in the northeast you have to choose either the sox or yanks, if you live in the midwest you have to choose the cards or cubs.  

Answer 4

The answer is easy...  Please go to Wrigley when the Cubs are playing the Cards and ask anyone there why.  When they give you an answer think about what they are saying and then tell them its not a good rivalry.  After that please run to the airport because someone will be chasing you.  Once you land in I'm guessing the east coast ask someone there the same question, he or she should then proceed to ask you what planet are you from?