So, it's the Cardinals and the Tigers

Former Peoria Chief Yadier Molina hit the ninth inning, two-run homer in the rain to beat the Mets...beat the Mets...beat the Mets. I like my lyrics better. That put the Cardinals into the World Series against the Tigers.

This is the third time Detroit and St. Louis will meet in the Fall Classic. St. Louis beat the Tigers in seven games in 1934. The Tigers topped the Cards in seven games in 1968.

The Cardinals are making their 17th World Series appearance. The Tigers are in the World Series for the 10th time.

St. Louis has been there in:
1926 (Win) -Yankees
1928 - Yankees
1930 - Athletics
1931 (Win) - Athletics
1934 (Win) - Tigers
1942 (Win) - Yankees
1943 - Yankees
1944 (Win) - Browns
1946 (Win) - Red Sox
1964 (Win) - Yankees
1967 (Win) - Red Sox
1968 - Tigers
1982 (Win) - Brewers
1985 - Royals
1987 - Twins
2004 - Red Sox

Detroit has been there:
1907 - Cubs
1908 - Cubs
1909 - Pirates
1934 - Cardinals
1935 (Win) - Cubs
1940 - Reds
1945 (Win) - Cubs
1968 (Win) - Cardinals
1984 (Win) - Padres

During the 2006 World Series, I'll go through each previous World Series matchup betweent the Cards and Tigers.

First the previews fron BaseballAlmanac.com:

1934

Once again, the St. Louis Cardinals returned to the big show after edging out the defending champion New York Giants (in the final 3 1/2 weeks of the season) and winning the National League pennant by two games. Solid pitching had enabled them to hustle their way into the post-season thanks in a big way to Dizzy Dean, who had won an amazing thirty games for the senior circuit champions. Dean was a dynamic and outspoken player who was quoted in the press as stating "it-ain't-bragging-if-you-can-do-it". Dean wasn't the only standout as Manager Frankie Frisch had assembled a line-up of mutli-talented players that would come to be known as "The Gas House Gang". Many felt that their "all-out" style of play was a decided advantage over the American League's Detroit Tigers, who were 0-3 to date in World Series appearances.

1968

The defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals once again dominated the National League on the way to their second consecutive Fall Classic as Bob Gibson remained at the top of the list of National League pitchers. Along with his American League equal, the Detroit Tigers' Denny McLain, both had combined for a whopping fifty-three wins and nineteen shutouts (Gibson: 22 wins, 13 shutouts & McLain: 31 wins, 6 shutouts). As was becoming the standard, pitching dominated the World Series contest and nothing would change in 1968.