St. Louis Cardinals is a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri, established in 1882. As one of the oldest Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Cardinals play in the Central Division and are known for their iconic logos and rich history. Their home stadium is Busch Stadium, and the team is owned by Bill DeWitt Jr.

St. Louis Cardinals Logo History

The team has had several iconic logos throughout its history, with the birds-on-the-bat and interlocking StL logos being the most recognized.

1900 — 1919

The first logo, introduced in 1900, featured a simple “SL” monogram in burgundy. The overlapping letters had bold, rounded lines and remained in use for nearly 20 years. Notably, this version did not feature the bird imagery.

1922 — 1926

A more detailed and dynamic logo debuted in 1922. The "Cardinals" wordmark in red with a black outline was introduced, with a bat running through the “C,” and two red birds perched on it. This logo symbolized the team’s energy and character.

1927 — 1928

In 1927, the logo was simplified but more detailed, featuring a red cardinal bird sitting on a bat. The bird was designed to face left, representing pride and reliability.

1929 — 1948

The logo from 1929 returned to the previous version, which was more playful and bright, emphasizing the team’s passion and joy on the field.

1949 — 1955

The 1949 logo added a blue color and made the elements smaller, with the “St. Louis” lettering in black above the image, giving the design a more compact appearance.

1956 — 1966

This version depicted a caricature of a red bird with a yellow bat. It was a more playful and fun design, beloved by fans.

1967 — 1997

The 1967 redesign incorporated a white baseball with red stitches, a red bird perched on a yellow bat, and a thick red circular frame. The text was rendered in a sans-serif font.

1998

In 1998, the baseball and frame were removed, and the word “Cardinals” was placed under the bird on the bat. The wordmark used a script typeface with cardinal red and a thin black outline.

1999 — Today

The current logo, refined in 1999, features the cardinal bird sitting on a yellow bat. The bird faces left, symbolizing the team's deep-rooted passion for baseball. The wordmark is in a script typeface, showcasing the legacy of the team.

Color Palette

The St. Louis Cardinals' colors are rich and vivid, symbolizing the team's spirit and legacy:

• Cardinal Red
  • Pantone: PMS 200 C
  • Hex: #C41E3A
  • RGB: (196, 30, 58)
• Navy
  • Pantone: PMS 289 C
  • Hex: #0C2340
  • RGB: (12, 35, 64)
• Yellow
  • Pantone: PMS 107 C
  • Hex: #FEDB00
  • RGB: (254, 219, 0)
• White
  • Hex: #FFFFFF
  • RGB: (255, 255, 255)

This distinctive color combination is immediately associated with the St. Louis Cardinals, representing both the team's tradition and its connection to the community.