<P> The only extended period of failure the Cardinals have experienced began when they joined the National League in 1892 . The Cardinals played only five winning seasons in 30 years while finishing last seven times from their entrance to the NL until 1921 . However , the Cardinals have remarkably avoided such failure since then as they have not finished in last place in the National League since 1918 , by far the longest streak in the NL . The Cardinals failed to reach the World Series in the 1950s , 1970s , and 1990s , but were regularly a competitive team in each of these decades . </P>
<P> The only extended period of failure the Cardinals have experienced began when they joined the National League in 1892 . The Cardinals played only five winning seasons in 30 years while finishing last seven times from their entrance to the NL until 1921 . However , the Cardinals have remarkably avoided such failure since then as they have not finished in last place in the National League since 1918 , by far the longest streak in the NL . The Cardinals failed to reach the World Series in the 1950s , 1970s , and 1990s , but were regularly a competitive team in each of these decades . </P>
when was the last time the st louis cardinals finished in last place
when was the last time the st louis cardinals finished in last place
1918
1918