ST. LOUIS -- It used to be big news in America when the team that won the last World Series found itself on the verge of heading back to the next World Series.

Remember that?

Nowadays, of course, it doesn't work that way. Nowadays, every sports fan in our great land understands that sort of thing pales in comparison to, say, A-Rod's audition for "The Bachelor." Or the possibility of A-Rod getting traded to the Nippon Ham Fighters. Or, at the very least, A-Rod's OPS against former Mexican League right-handers.

But this just in: While you've been preoccupied with baseball's truly important storylines, a funny thing has happened since Alex Rodriguez's last hit:

The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Elsa/Getty Images

Those St. Louis Cardinals, a whole team full of Mr. Octobers, are doing it again.

They pounded the San Francisco Giants, 8-3, Thursday in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. And here's what that means:

They lead this series now, three games to one. So they're one win away from doing something special, something historic, something that doesn't deserve to be trampled by our national fixation with a $275-million man whose last extra-base hit was five weeks ago.

"That's every player's dream, to be in the World Series and winning the World Series. And now we're close," said Carlos Beltran late Thursday night. "We're one win away from being there."

And if they get there, you should know right now, here's the historic significance of that remarkable achievement:

• Only three franchises in the wild-card era have won the World Series and returned to play in the World Series the following year -- the 2008-09 Philadelphia Phillies, the 1998-2001 New York Yankees, and the 1995-96 Atlanta Braves. But these Cardinals are one win away.

• Only three National League teams in the divisional era have won one World Series and then gotten back the next year -- the 1975-76 editions of the Big Red Machine, the '95-96 Braves and the 2008-09 Phillies. But these Cardinals are one win away.

• And over the last half-century, just five NL teams have won a World Series and then made it back to the next one. That would be the 1965-66 Dodgers, the 1967-68 Cardinals and the three teams we just mentioned. But these Cardinals are one win away.

So why hasn't that registered yet on the American consciousness? You've got us. Maybe it's because they're just a lowly second wild-card team. Maybe it's because they haven't finished the job yet. Or maybe it's just because they aren't owned by, say, a Steinbrenner.