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In the corner of the champagne-soaked clubhouse, Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina -- half of the old guard of the Cardinals -- embraced. They pulled their heads together so their foreheads and goggles touched and reveled in the moment of their second World Series title.

Starter Chris Carpenter -- the winning pitcher in Game 7 after allowing just two runs on six hits to beat the Rangers 6-2 while throwing on short rest -- wasn't far away, the third holdover since 2004, when the franchise won their first of three National League pennants.

Those three have been the on-field identity of the Cardinals for the better part of a decade -- Pujols, the game's best player and three-time MVP; Molina, the starting catcher with a good bat and great glove; and Carpenter, the former Cy Young-winning ace -- and who were joined in recent years by veteran outfielders Matt...

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