The 1982 Cardinals are finally set. After spending the past two offseasons retooling, Whitey Herzog's Runnin' Redbirds begin their march to the NL East crown. Their first half features an 11-game winning streak, numerous injuries to their catchers and outfielders, and a the emergence of a fiery Dominican starting pitcher. They foster a diverse cast of characters that breathe life into their blue-collar identity: George Hendrick, Joaquin Andujar, and Ozzie Smith. The '82 Cardinals start their year off extremely hot before being brought back down to Earth in June, usually at the hands of Steve Carlton and the mighty Phillies. By the All-Star Break they'll have perservered over their latest struggles, setting themselves up for one final push.