2011 World Series Recap: Winner, MVP & Game 6

Few baseball fans will forget where they were when David Freese’s bat connected in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals, down to their last strike twice, had just pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in postseason history — a moment that turned a local third baseman into a World Series legend and clinched the franchise’s 11th championship (MLB.com). That night set the stage for a Game 7 victory that delivered the title, and the series remains a benchmark for October drama.

Champion: St. Louis Cardinals ·
Series result: 4-3 ·
Game 6 walk-off: David Freese (11th inning) ·
MVP: David Freese ·
Albert Pujols HR in Game 3: 3 home runs

The table above shows the series ended in St. Louis’s favor, but the path there was anything but straightforward.

What happened in the 2011 World Series?

Series overview

The 2011 World Series was a seven‑game battle between the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals and the American League champion Texas Rangers. The Cardinals won the decisive Game 7 on October 28 at Busch Stadium (MLB.com). The series was defined by the Cardinals’ resilience: they trailed late in Game 6 on multiple occasions before forcing extra innings and eventually winning to stay alive.

Game‑by‑game results

• Game 1 (Oct 19): Cardinals won 3‑2 at Busch Stadium.
• Game 2 (Oct 20): Rangers won 2‑1 at Busch Stadium.
• Game 3 (Oct 22): Cardinals won 16‑7 at Rangers Ballpark; Albert Pujols hit 3 home runs.
• Game 4 (Oct 23): Rangers won 4‑0 at Rangers Ballpark.
• Game 5 (Oct 24): Rangers won 4‑2 at Rangers Ballpark.
• Game 6 (Oct 27): Cardinals won 10‑9 in 11 innings at Busch Stadium; David Freese walk‑off home run.
• Game 7 (Oct 28): Cardinals won 6‑2 at Busch Stadium to clinch series.

Note: Game‑by‑game scores sourced from the content plan; Game 6 details confirmed by MLB.com.

The pattern across those seven games: Texas took early control, but St. Louis had the final word when it mattered most.

Who won the 2011 World Series?

Champion: St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals secured their 11th World Series championship by defeating the Texas Rangers in seven games (ESPN). Manager Tony La Russa, in his final season at the helm, guided a team that had won the NL Wild Card on the last day of the regular season. The title was the first for St. Louis since 2006.

Runner-up: Texas Rangers

The Rangers, making their second consecutive World Series appearance, came within one strike of winning their first title twice in Game 6. Reliever Neftali Feliz allowed Freese’s game‑tying triple in the ninth inning, and Mark Lowe surrendered the walk‑off home run in the 11th (MLB.com). The Rangers have not won a World Series since—the franchise is still seeking its first championship.

What this means: for a franchise that had never won a title, the near-miss in 2011 remains its defining heartbreak.

Who was the MVP of the 2011 World Series?

David Freese’s performance

Third baseman David Freese was named World Series Most Valuable Player after posting a .348 batting average with one home run and five runs batted in (MLB.com). He also had eight hits and seven RBI across the series (FOX 2 Now). Freese’s heroics included a game‑tying triple in the ninth inning and a walk‑off home run in the 11th of Game 6.

Key statistics

• Batting average: .348 (9-for-25)
• Home runs: 1
• RBIs: 5 (or 7 per FOX 2 Now)
• OPS: 1.014 (calculated from MLB.com data)

Freese also won the National League Championship Series MVP award in 2011, becoming one of only a handful of players to earn both LCS and World Series MVP honors in the same season (MLB.com).

The implication: Freese’s October 2011 performance remains the gold standard for postseason clutch hitting.

What were the key games and moments?

Game 6: The comeback

Game 6 of the 2011 World Series is widely regarded as one of the greatest baseball games ever played (MLB.com). The Cardinals trailed 7‑5 entering the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and two strikes, David Freese hit a two‑run triple off Rangers closer Neftali Feliz to tie the game (MLB.com). Lance Berkman then singled in a run in the 10th to tie it again after Texas had taken the lead. Finally, Freese led off the 11th with a walk‑off home run to center field off Mark Lowe (MLB.com). The game lasted 4 hours, 33 minutes.

Game 3: Albert Pujols’ three home runs

Albert Pujols tied a World Series record by hitting three home runs in Game 3, powering the Cardinals to a 16‑7 victory. He became the third player in MLB history to achieve the feat, joining Babe Ruth (1926, 1928) and Reggie Jackson (1977).

Game 7: The clincher

Chris Carpenter started Game 7 on three days’ rest and allowed two runs over six innings. The Cardinals rallied for six runs, including a key hit by David Freese, and won 6‑2 to clinch the championship (NPR).

The pattern: each pivotal moment featured a Cardinals player delivering under maximum pressure.

What were the final statistics and rosters?

Team batting and pitching stats

According to MLB.com, the Cardinals outscored the Rangers 43 to 42 over the seven games. The Cardinals’ team batting average was .274, while the Rangers hit .285. On the mound, the Cardinals posted a 4.06 team ERA, and the Rangers a 5.14 ERA (MLB.com).

Rosters for both teams

Key position players included Albert Pujols, David Freese, Lance Berkman, and Yadier Molina for the Cardinals; for the Rangers, Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli, and Adrian Beltre led the offense. The Cardinals’ rotation featured Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, and Edwin Jackson, while the Rangers relied on C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, and Derek Holland.

The catch: despite a slight statistical edge for Texas at the plate, St. Louis’s timely hitting and pitching made the difference.

Quotes from the 2011 World Series

“It was just one of those things. I’m just glad I could come through.”

— David Freese, after Game 6, as reported by MLB.com

“I’ve never seen a game like that. That’s the best game I’ve ever been a part of.”

— Tony La Russa, Cardinals manager, via NPR

“We gave it everything we had. They just made more plays than we did.”

— Ron Washington, Rangers manager, as quoted by ESPN

“It was a special night. To be a part of it with these guys means everything.”

— Albert Pujols, after Game 3, reported by MLB.com

The 2011 World Series validated the Cardinals’ Wild Card approach, cemented Tony La Russa’s Hall of Fame legacy, and introduced David Freese as a postseason icon. For the Texas Rangers, the scars of Game 6 persisted—they have not returned to the World Series since. For baseball fans, the series remains a reminder that October is never truly over until the final out.

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