"It's hard to beat somebody when they don't give up."     - Babe Ruth

I'm ashamed to confess that I'm one of the handful of St. Louisans who did not witness the end of Game 6 of the World Series when the Cards beat the Rangers. I turned off the TV somewhere around the 6th inning when we were behind two runs. I had more desire for sleep than hope for victory. Good thing the Cards didn't share my lack of faith.

I rose Friday morning at the usual time. My smartphone showed dozens of emails and text messages from friends and family across the country (and one from Ireland) who kept the vigil throughout the extra innings, including one friend's midnight text that evoked Harry Caray's, "It might be, it could be, it IS!" from glory days gone by.

Back in August when the Cards were 10 games behind Atlanta, most of us gave up on them. We weren't naysayers. We were realists.

Lucky for us, the St. Louis team is comprised of un-realists, buoyed by a wave of optimism, determination and brutally tough work. Some miracles seem to strike overnight. Others creep in, half a game at a time, tenacious and brave, loving the fight, ignoring the odds. Thanks to the Cards for teaching us what a comeback looks like.

The Game 7 victory was sweet.  But it's Game 6 we'll talk about at kitchen tables, classrooms, and board meetings for a generation to come.