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Most fans think the St. Louis Cardinals' season ended Monday night.

That's funny, because it actually ended last December, didn't you know?

Albert Pujols left us, signing a 10-year, $254 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels.

There's a fine line between an Angel and the devil.

Thanks for the memories, Al.

 
This move left Cardinal fans disappointed. Sad. Frustrated. Angry. Hurt. Seeing Red.

All because Albert was seeing green.

 
Last December, a friend of mine was so disgusted, she ripped her Albert Pujols ornament off the family Christmas tree, like a soldier being stripped of a medal.

It was over.

Sad Busch Stadium workers --- in a slow, shuffling walk with heads dropped on a cold, gloomy winter's day --- put up signs around the stadium: "Closed for business. Albert has left the building."

Tumbleweeds blew around the stadium and on the field. Flowers died. Flags were flown at half-mast.

Kids played kick the can, but they did it with puppies. Newspaper boys threw their product at people and hit them in the head. On purpose. Christmas was canceled.

Albert, the Grinch, had stolen Christmas.

A long, cold, sad winter. Baseball, as Cardinal fans knew it, was over.

But then spring came. They decided to play, anyway.

They took the signs down at Busch Stadium, the gates opened and the tumbleweeds were brushed away.

Why not? Even though it's a lost cause, they could sell some hot dogs.

Flowers bloomed and flags flew proudly. Kids cuddled their puppies. Newspapers were handed out with a smile.

Opening day. A new season. Without Albert.

The Grinch didn't steal it all, after all.

And what happened then? Well, in St. Louis they say,
Cardinal fans hearts grew three sizes that day.
And then the true meaning of baseball came through,
The fans found the strength of ten Alberts, plus two!

The Cardinals started winning again and gave us another season to remember. They found a way to win, against all odds, and gave us thrills and chills we'll never forget.

Game 5 at Washington? Really? Did that happen?

You know the names, you know the players, you know the heroes of 2012.

Albert who?

Thanks for the memories.