10 unforgettable moments in Cubs-Cardinals rivalry history

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Summer means a lot of different things to different people. Some spend their weekends on the lake. Others stay out late around backyard fire pits or chase sunsets on warm evenings. For baseball fans in Chicago, St. Louis and every place in between summer starts when the Cubs and Cardinals meet.

Another chapter in one of baseball's greatest rivalries begins this weekend at Busch Stadium, as the two longtime enemies square off for the first time in 2026. More than 140 years after the rivalry first began, the uniforms have changed, the ballparks have changed and generations of players have come and gone.

The intensity hasn't. Every Cubs-Cardinals series hits a little different because of the history behind it. Hall of Famers, pennant races, unforgettable home runs, controversial trades and heated brawls have all helped shape a rivalry that remains one of the sport's crown jewels. As the latest chapter gets set to unfold in St. Louis, here are 10 moments that helped define the Cubs-Cardinals feud.

10. The 1974 "Mad Hungarian" brawl

The Cubs and Cardinals have never needed much of a reason to dislike each other, but things boiled over on Sept. 22, 1974. Cardinals reliever Al Hrabosky, known as "The Mad Hungarian," was one of baseball's biggest personalities. Before each pitch, he would stomp around the mound, glare at hitters and put on a show.

Cubs infielder Bill Madlock wasn't impressed. Madlock repeatedly stepped out of the batter's box during an at-bat, frustrating Hrabosky. Tempers exploded, benches cleared and one of the most memorable fights in rivalry history followed. More than 50 years later, fans still talk about the day the rivalry turned into a full-blown street fight.

9. Lou Brock becomes a Cardinals legend after leaving Chicago

Every rivalry has one move that haunts one fanbase forever. For Cubs fans, it's the Lou Brock trade.

In June 1964, Chicago sent Brock to St. Louis in exchange for pitcher Ernie Broglio. At the time, many believed the Cubs had won the deal. History had other ideas.

Brock became a Hall of Famer, stole 938 bases, helped the Cardinals win multiple pennants and two World Series titles and turned into one of the most beloved players in franchise history. Meanwhile, the trade became one of the most lopsided deals baseball has ever seen.

MORE: Cardinals-Cubs rivalry has another chapter to write — and neither team knows exactly who it is

8. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa captivate baseball in 1998

For one summer, the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry became the center of the sports world. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa spent the 1998 season chasing Roger Maris' single-season home run record. Every game felt like a national event.

The biggest moment came on Sept. 8 when McGwire launched home run No. 62 against Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel at Busch Stadium. What made the moment special was the respect between the two stars. Sosa ran in from right field to congratulate McGwire, creating one of the most iconic images in baseball history.

Even rivals can appreciate greatness.

7. Dusty Baker and the Cubs finally punch back in 2003

By 2003, the Cardinals had dominated much of the rivalry's recent history. Then came a massive September showdown at Wrigley Field.

After Cardinals manager Tony La Russa accused Cubs ace Kerry Wood of throwing at hitters, Dusty Baker fired back with one of the rivalry's best quotes.

"If you're going to bark, you have to be ready to bite."

Chicago backed it up. The Cubs won four of five games in the series, seized control of the NL Central race and eventually captured their first division title since 1989. For Cubs fans, it felt like years of frustration finally being released.

6. Albert Pujols creates an unforgettable Cardinals call

The 2003 season featured no shortage of drama between the Cubs and Cardinals, and one of the rivalry's most memorable moments came on July 3 at Wrigley Field.

With Cubs ace Kerry Wood on the mound, the Cardinals wasted little time making noise. Jim Edmonds homered in the first inning, bringing Albert Pujols to the plate moments later.

Wood tried to establish the inside part of the plate, but Pujols responded the way Hall of Famers often do. He crushed a home run into the Chicago night. The blast was memorable enough on its own, but Cardinals fans remember it for another reason. As Pujols rounded the bases, legendary broadcaster Mike Shannon delivered a call that became part of franchise lore.

"HELLO FOURTH OF JULY! Take that, knockdown pitch, big boy!"

More than 20 years later, Cardinals fans can still quote the line word for word. It remains one of the most iconic calls attached to one of the rivalry's biggest stars.

5. Jim Edmonds sends Busch Stadium into a frenzy

The rivalry reached another level in October 2004. With a trip to the World Series on the line in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, the Cubs and Cardinals battled into extra innings at Busch Stadium.

Then came one of the biggest swings in Cardinals history. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Jim Edmonds launched a walk-off home run into the St. Louis night, sending Busch Stadium into chaos and forcing a decisive Game 7.

The Cardinals would go on to win the pennant, but Edmonds' blast remains one of the defining moments of the era. For Cardinals fans, it's still one of the sweetest home runs ever hit against Chicago.

4. Kyle Schwarber puts a baseball on top of the scoreboard

Some home runs are remembered because they win games. Others are remembered because they look impossible.

During Game 4 of the 2015 National League Division Series, Kyle Schwarber crushed a towering blast toward right field at Wrigley Field. The ball didn't leave the stadium. It landed on top of the iconic scoreboard.

The image instantly became part of Cubs lore. The ball remained there for months as a reminder that Chicago had just eliminated its biggest rival on its way to the National League Championship Series.

3. The Sandberg Game becomes baseball history

Every great rivalry needs a signature game. This was it. On June 23, 1984, the Cardinals stormed out to an early lead behind Willie McGee, who hit for the cycle.

Most games would have been over. Ryne Sandberg had other plans. Trailing by one run in the ninth inning, Sandberg blasted a game-tying homer off Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter. After the Cardinals scored again in the 10th, Sandberg answered with another game-tying home run off Sutter.

Chicago eventually won 12-11 in 11 innings. The game became known simply as "The Sandberg Game" and helped launch Sandberg toward the National League MVP award while pushing the Cubs toward their first postseason appearance in nearly four decades.

2. The longest game in rivalry history

Long before television cameras and social media clips, the Cubs and Cardinals were already creating baseball legends. On July 2, 1902, the two rivals played a 20-inning marathon that remains the longest game in the history of the rivalry.

Neither team could find a breakthrough as the game stretched hour after hour. Eventually, St. Louis pushed across the winning run in the 20th inning, ending one of the most exhausting games either franchise has ever played. More than a century later, it remains one of the most remarkable box scores in the long history between the two clubs.

1. The Cubs and Cardinals finally meet in October

Considering how much history these teams share, it seems impossible that they didn't meet in the postseason until 2015. But that's exactly what happened.

The Cardinals entered the National League Division Series with 100 wins and championship expectations. The Cubs arrived with a young core featuring Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez and Schwarber.

Chicago won the series in four games, delivering one of the biggest postseason moments in franchise history and signaling that a new era had arrived on the North Side.

One year later, that same core would bring a World Series title back to Chicago.

Busch Stadium is the place to be

That's the beauty of Cubs-Cardinals baseball.

Every generation has its moment.

Some fans remember Lou Brock breaking Chicago's heart. Others remember Ryne Sandberg taking over a summer afternoon at Wrigley Field. Some still talk about Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire chasing history, while Cardinals fans can still hear Mike Shannon shouting, "Take that, knockdown pitch, big boy" after another Albert Pujols home run.

The names change, the stars change and the standings change, but the rivalry never really does.

That's why a regular-season series in late May can still feel like a major event. Every pitch carries more meaning. Every big hit becomes part of the story. And every time the Cubs and Cardinals take the field together, there's always a chance another unforgettable chapter is about to be written.

Maybe that's what makes this rivalry special. Nobody knows what the next iconic moment will be. They just know there's a pretty good chance it happens when the Cardinals and Cubs are on the same field.

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