The 1946 Cardinals Were Almost Clad in Shiny Red Uniforms

The St. Louis Cardinals have always been a steady, conservative organization when it comes to uniforms. Their traditional "birds on bat" look has been a visual staple of the team since 1922 (with the notable exception of their 1956 jerseys.)

The Cardinals enjoyed a season to remember in 1946, winning the World Series for the third time in five seasons. One other memorable thing that almost happened that year involved their flashy red satin road uniforms.

Satin uniforms were popular in the '40s. The Dodgers, Reds, and Braves all wore satins for some night games at one time or another. The Cardinals decided to go for something a little less garish than red when they pulled the trigger on satin road jerseys in 1948—this example was displayed at the old St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum, across the street from Busch Stadium.