Old-school World Series features unfamiliar foes in Cards, Rangers

Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton in a matchup of Most Valuable Player sluggers. Nelson Cruz and David Freese becoming bigger names with each home run. Pitching staffs full of shaky starters and shutdown relievers.

Plus, a Rally Squirrel and the Claw.

The Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals, with plenty of symmetry, are all set to get acquainted in the World Series.

Leave it to veteran reliever Arthur Rhodes to make the introductions. The 41-year-old lefty began the year with Texas and signed with St. Louis in August after being released.

Besides, it takes someone who's been around a bit to remember the last time these teams played each other.

It was 2004, when St. Louis won two of three in Texas. In fact, that's the only time the Cardinals and Rangers have met in the regular season. According to STATS LLC, that matches the fewest games between a pair of opponents in the majors, tying the Mets-White Sox.

Game 1 is Wednesday night in St. Louis, with aces Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals and C.J. Wilson set to start. The opening odds see Texas as a small favorite.

"The Rangers are scary. They're a scary team," said Freese, the National League Championship Series MVP. "You look at that lineup, you look at that staff. It's going to be a battle.

"I think we're a team that can match up with them a little bit. And they're confident, we're confident. It's been a tough road."

Consider this an old-school World Series. Top names on both sides, many of them facing each other for the first time, the way it was before interleague play.

Think of Ted Williams vs. Stan Musial, maybe.

Musial, in fact, might even be at the ballpark next week. The 90-year Hall of Famer who helped the Cardinals win three World Series crowns was at Busch Stadium during the playoffs for pregame ceremonies.

Stan the Man and the Cardinals beat Williams and the Red Sox in the 1946 Series. More than a quarter-century later, Williams became the first manager in Texas history after the franchise moved from Washington.

It took a lot longer for Texas to finally reach the Series. Hamilton, Cruz, Michael Young and the Rangers made their first appearance last year, only to get shut down by San Francisco in a five-game wipeout.

"We weren't very happy with the results, and we certainly knew that we were a better team than we showed," manager Ron Washington said.

The Series shifts to Arlington, Texas, for Game 3 on Saturday. The next day, there will be a doubleheader, of sorts -- St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys, then Cardinals at Rangers.

St. Louis has won 10 Series titles, second most to the New York Yankees' 27. Manager Tony La Russa, Pujols and the Cardinals last took it in 2006, helped by Series MVP David Eckstein.