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{{about|the minor league baseball team that plays in Springfield, Missouri|the team that played in Springfield, Illinois|Springfield Cardinals (Illinois)|the team that played in Springfield, Ohio|Springfield (OH) Cardinals}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
|name            = Springfield Cardinals
|founded         = 2005
|city            = Springfield, Missouri
|logo            = SpringfieldCardinals.PNG
|uniformlogo     = SPRcardinals.PNG
|class level     = [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] (2005–present)
|past class level=
|current league  = [[Texas League]] (2005–present)
|conference      =
|division        = North Division
|past league     =
|majorleague     = [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (2005–present)
|pastmajorleague =
|nickname        = Springfield Cardinals (2005–present)
|pastnames       =
|ballpark        = [[Hammons Field]] (2005–present)
|pastparks       =
|leaguenum       = 1
|leaguechamps    = 2012
|divnum          = 2
|divisionchamps  = {{hlist|2007|2012}}
|firsthalfnum    = 5
|firsthalfchamps = {{hlist|2007|2009|2016|2024|2025}}
|secondhalfnum   = 3
|secondhalfchamps= {{hlist|2007|2012|2023}}
|wildcardnum     = 1
|wildcardberths  = {{hlist|2010}}
|owner           = [[Diamond Baseball Holdings]]
|manager         = Patrick Anderson
|gm              = Dan Reiter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ozarksfirst.com/sports/gifford-promoted-to-st-louis-reiter-named-new-springfield-general-manager/746621013|title=Gifford Promoted To St. Louis, Reiter Named New Springfield GM|last=Rice|first=Melissa|website=Osarks First|date=June 20, 2017|access-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref>
|colors=Cardinal red, midnight navy blue, yellow, white<br />{{color box|#C41E3A}} {{color box|#000066}} {{color box|#FEDB00}} {{color box|#FFFFFF}}
|website         = {{URL|https://www.milb.com/springfield|milb.com/springfield}}
}}
[[File:S-Cards map.PNG|right|thumb|Cardinals secondary logo]]

The '''Springfield Cardinals''' are a [[Minor League Baseball]] team based in [[Springfield, Missouri]]. They are members of the [[Texas League]]'s North Division and serve as the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. The Springfield Cardinals began play in 2005. Since its inception, the team's home venue has been [[Hammons Field]].

The Springfield Cardinals won three Texas League North 1st Half Division titles, two Texas League North 2nd Half Division titles, two Texas League North championships and one [[List of Texas League champions|Texas League championship]] (2012). Through the 2020 season, a total of 114 former Springfield Cardinals have gone on to make their Major League debut with St. Louis with an additional 27 others debuting with different MLB teams.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FAQ's|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-41102746|access-date=2015-12-02|website=Springfield Cardinals}}</ref>

Previously, the St. Louis Cardinals' Double-A affiliate was the [[Tennessee Smokies]], located near [[Sevierville, Tennessee]]. The Springfield Cardinals' Texas League North rivals are the [[Arkansas Travelers]] ([[Seattle Mariners]]), [[Northwest Arkansas Naturals]] ([[Kansas City Royals]]), [[Tulsa Drillers]] ([[Los Angeles Dodgers]]), and [[Wichita Wind Surge]] ([[Minnesota Twins]]).

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Cardinals were organized into the Double-A Central.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayo|first=Jonathan|title=MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/new-minor-league-baseball-structure|website=Major League Baseball|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=June 20, 2024}}</ref> In 2022, the Double-A Central became known as the Texas League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022|title=Historical League Names to Return in 2022|website=Minor League Baseball|date=March 16, 2022|access-date=June 20, 2024}}</ref>

On May 1, 2023, the Springfield Cardinals were sold by the St. Louis Cardinals to [[Diamond Baseball Holdings]].<ref>Springfield Cardinals announce new ownership organization; will continue to be AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals https://www.ky3.com/2023/05/01/springfield-cardinals-announce-new-ownership-organization-will-continue-be-aa-affiliate-st-louis-cardinals/</ref>

== The original Springfield Cardinals ==
[[Springfield, Missouri]], has hosted professional baseball teams since as early as 1905, when the Springfield Highlanders began play. For nearly 30 years, the team was variously called the Highlanders, Jobbers, Midgets, and Merchants. There were several years when no team existed at all.

In 1931, the St. Louis Cardinals purchased a minor league team, renamed it the Cardinals, and relocated it in Springfield. That year, the team won the first of several [[Western Association]] titles. With a front office led by future [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Famer]] [[Branch Rickey]], Springfield also went to the playoffs in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, and 1941, and won league titles in 1931, 1932, 1934, 1937, and 1939.

Following the 1946 season, St. Louis moved the team to [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], where it remained until 1953. The city of Springfield saw a brief re-emergence of minor league baseball when the rival [[Chicago Cubs]] moved its affiliate to Springfield for one season taking the name Springfield Cubs.

Though there was a gap of 63 years, most in the Springfield and St. Louis organizations consider the current Cardinals the same group which existed in 1932. Many pieces of fan apparel actually say "Springfield Cardinals circa 1932." The deck on top of the Cardinals dugout also has the championship banners from the 1930s and 1940s.

==Previous franchise history==
The current Cardinals are a relatively new team, dating back to just 2005. Previous to this, they were known as the [[El Paso Diablos]]. That team's owners sold the franchise to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] and were then moved to Springfield as part of their minor league system.

The previous Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals was the [[Tennessee Smokies]] in 2003 and 2004.

Springfield has also been the home of various other non-affiliated minor league clubs including the Springfield Highlander (1905), Jobbers (1911), Merchants (1920), [[Springfield Midgets]] (1906-1909, 1921–1929; the 1930 club being affiliated with the [[St. Louis Browns]]) and the Red Wings (1931). These former teams were generally Class C ball clubs in the former [[Western Association]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=4df71048| title = 1935 Springfield Cardinals Statistics {{!}} Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

==2012 season==
The Cardinals’ most successful season has been the 2012 campaign, during which they finished first in the North Division in second half of the season, posted a division-best and franchise mark with a 77–61 record, and won the Texas League Championship. They went on to defeat the [[Tulsa Drillers]] 3–2 in the best-of-five divisional playoff series, advancing to the 2012 Texas League Championship Series, their second in franchise history. Springfield defeated the [[Frisco RoughRiders]] three games to one in the best-of-five Championship Series.  Key players included [[Kolten Wong]], [[Jermaine Curtis]], [[Carlos Martínez (pitcher, born 1991)|Carlos Martinez]], [[Trevor Rosenthal]], [[Vance Albitz]], [[Oscar Taveras]], and [[Xavier Scruggs]].

== Hammons Field ==
[[File:Hammons field springfield.jpg|thumb|Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri]]
The Springfield Cardinals play at [[Hammons Field]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/springfield|title=Springfield Cardinals|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|language=en|access-date=2020-04-03}}</ref> It is located in Springfield, Missouri, and has a capacity of 7,986 plus approximately 2,500 general admission seating.

== Mascots ==
The Springfield Cardinals have two mascots. Their first and main mascot is a brightly colored red bird named Louie. He has been a mascot for the team since its formation in 2005. He is the "little brother" of [[Fredbird]], the mascot of the [[MLB]]'s [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=At Work: Louie |url=https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/04/05/work-louie/7355341/ |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Springfield News-Leader |language=en-US}}</ref> Their second mascot is a fluffy dog named Fetch. He is a fluffy [[beagle]] received by Louie as a birthday gift on Opening Day in 2006. During home games they can be found entertaining fans by tossing t-shirts and taking photos. When the team is on the road, Louie and Fetch attend local events in the community.

==Roster==
{{Springfield Cardinals roster}}

== Notable alumni ==

Springfield played host to several players that would go on to play in Major League Baseball. [[Stan Musial]] played 87 games for Springfield during the 1941 season, batting .379 and quickly becoming a fan favorite. In April 2005, Musial threw out the ceremonial first pitch and played his harmonica to the tune of "[[Take Me Out to the Ball Game]]" to a crowd of nearly 12,000 during the inaugural St. Louis vs. Springfield Cardinals game. Among other players to come through Springfield are [[Dizzy Dean]] and his brother [[Paul Dean (baseball)|Paul]], [[Pepper Martin]], and [[Joe Medwick]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Springfield Cardinals (Missouri)}}
*[http://www.springfieldcardinals.com/ Springfield Cardinals official website]
*[http://www.thestlcardinals.com St. Louis Cardinals Minor Leagues at Scout.com]

{{St. Louis Cardinals}}
{{Texas League}}
{{Diamond Baseball Holdings}}
{{Missouri Sports}}

[[Category:Texas League teams]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 2005]]
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Missouri]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:Sports in Springfield, Missouri]]
[[Category:Double-A Central teams]]