| 1996 St. Louis Cardinals | ||
|---|---|---|
| National League Central Champions | ||
 | ||
| League | National League | |
| Division | Central | |
| Ballpark | Busch Memorial Stadium | |
| City | St. Louis, Missouri | |
| Record | 88–74 (.543) | |
| Divisional place | 1st | |
| Owners | William DeWitt, Jr. | |
| General managers | Walt Jocketty | |
| Managers | Tony La Russa | |
| Television | KPLR Prime Sports Midwest (Al Hrabosky, Bob Carpenter, Joe Buck) | |
| Radio | KMOX (Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Joe Buck) | |
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The St. Louis Cardinals 1996 season was the team's 115th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 105th season in the National League. It was Tony La Russa's first season managing the club, after leaving the Oakland Athletics. During the first year of the William DeWitt, Jr. era, the Cardinals went 88–74 during the season and won their first-ever National League Central title by six games over the Houston Astros. They beat the San Diego Padres in the NLDS, but fell in 7 games to the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS after being up 3–1. DeWitt, along with Drew Bauer and Fred Hanser had bought the Cardinals from Anheuser-Busch during the 1995-96 offseason.