Because Faces of Death wasn't available, the MLB Network showed Game 6 of the 1985 World Series this past weekend. And, because I hadn't watched the entire game since that night in October 24 years ago, I sat there and watched...all the way until the 9th inning when Don Dekkinger blew the call at first base.

Over the next few minutes, the Cardinals would go from a 101-win club three outs from the organization's 10th World Championship to a bumbling, disheartened mess misplaying foul pop-ups, allowing passed balls, and seeing the Royals come back to win Game 6. 24 hours later, what seemed like an inevitable World Championship for St. Louis became a missed opportunity that, 24 years later, still hurts to watch.

It hurts, I think, because for those of us who remember that team, we know how unique they were...how good they were...and even though they didn't win the World Series, Ozzie Smith, who played on the '82 World Championship team, told me one time that the '85 team was a better team.

Yet, after it all seemed so close---and it was---at around 10 p.m. on October 26, 1985...it was gone by 10:30 p.m. on October 27, 1985. And, that 10th World Championship wouldn't come to St. Louis until 21 years later to the day in 2006.

Why bring all of this up?

Perspective.

I've been a Cardinal fan since 1982, and in that time, I can think of four teams that, when they take the field by the time August and September rolls around, you expect to win. Literally, it takes you aback when they lose.

-1985

-2004

-2009

Yes, 2009.

Not 1987. Not 2002. Not 2005. Not 2006.

That's 27 years of watching thousands of Cardinal games because before it became my job in 2000, I was nerding out like I was getting paid to do it from 1982 through 1999. And, I can't recall a machine like this year's team.

'85 had the starting pitching and the speed...but there was no closer and hardly any power. '04 had the best lineup of them all, but while the five starters all had 10 wins, there was no one as dominant as even Joel Pineiro this year---much less '09 Chris Carpenter or Adam Wainwright---and once Carpenter went down in September, the Cardinals were forced to start an exhausted Woody Williams in Game 1 of the World Series and then Matt Morris on short rest in Game 2 of the World Series.

As of September 3, 2009, this year's Cardinal team is tied for the best record in the National League, and barring injury, I'd be shocked if they don't finish with the #1 seed in the National League. Imagine if this group that all got together when Matt Holliday arrived in late July were the team the Cardinals trotted out there on Opening Day. I honestly believe they'd easily have at least 90 wins now instead of the 79 that's good enough for the second-best record in all of the game.

We could legitimately have the Cy Young, the MVP, the Fireman of The Year, the Comeback Player of The Year, the Rookie of The Year, the Executive of The Year, and the Manager of The Year all in St. Louis.

So, what's the point?

Well, I guess what I'm saying is enjoy it. Savor it.

Odds are you love the Cardinals. It's not a guarantee, but it's likely considering the make-up of our city and the way there's a direct correlation between the way the baseball team plays and the mood of the city.

And, what we're witnessing may be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

You never know when something like this is going to come around again...if it will come around again.

On October 26, 1985, we felt like the coronation for the 101-win club was only three outs away...and we wound up waiting 21 years.

Teams like the 2009 Cardinals don't come around often, and right now, the only thing that I don't like about this team is that they only have two more months to play.

Log-in to post your comments, or you can email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.