Sixteen years ago, on July 24, 2009, the St. Louis Cardinals pulled off a trade that reverberated through the National League and signaled the club's serious intent to contend. On that day, the Redbirds acquired outfielder Matt Holliday from the Oakland Athletics, a move that would define a significant era of Cardinals baseball and ultimately lead to a World Series championship.
The Cardinals, then under manager Tony La Russa, had been seeking a middle-of-the-order bat to complement Albert Pujols. Holliday, an established star with a potent bat, was the prize. In exchange, the A's received a package of promising prospects: first baseman Brett Wallace, pitcher Clayton Mortensen, and outfielder Shane Peterson.