Redemption

November 13, 2006

The 2006 World Series matchup between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers rekindled memories of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's Oct. 7, 1968, issue, which helped cement the reputation of the SI cover jinx. The cover pictured the Cardinals' starting lineup, assuming ace Bob Gibson would be pitching, seated in the locker room at Busch Stadium and included the title the team had earned a year before—WORLD CHAMPION ST. LOUIS CARDINALS—as the reigning champs were heading into a Fall Classic that they lost in seven memorable games. Kevin McFarland, Belleville, Ill.