Over the past six years, Cardinals Nation has lost 1967 World Series winners Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Mike Shannon, Tim McCarver and manager Red Schoendienst.

And then this weekend came the news that Orlando Cepeda, the MVP, passed away at the age of 86.

Every goodbye is painful and poignant. A reminder of how long it really was – and a reminder of how much time we all really have. But also a reminder of the joy of being a young girl or a young boy – in the “Summer of Love” the people of St. Louis certainly fell in love with “El Birdos”.

“Orlando brings back fond memories that I was able to share with my children,” said Augie Nash, a lifelong fan who runs a popular Twitter/X feed about Cardinals history. “I remember his smile, his voice and his love of the game. I remember sitting in the stands at Busch Stadium 2 with my children and chanting 'Viva El Birdos!' Orlando's baseball legacy may belong to the San Francisco Giants, but for a brief time he created memories that a generation of Cardinals fans will never forget.”

It's crazy to think that the Giants almost traded Cepeda to the Cubs.

In April 1966, published reports mentioned the near-deal, which was ultimately rejected by San Francisco. Instead, the Giants sent “Cha Cha” to St. Louis in May in exchange for pitcher Ray Sadecki.

Cepeda hit .303 for the 1966 Cardinals.

And in 1967 he was an otherworldly world champion.

He hit .325 with 25 home runs, a league-best 111 RBIs and an OPS of .931. He was unanimously voted MVP. And he won a ring.

And his influence with the famed 1967 Cardinals – affectionately known as “El Birdos” – secured his legacy within the club. Winning teams often develop a bond – Cepeda certainly stirred up the St. Louis personality. After all, his “unwavering love for the game of baseball” sparkled, said Jane Forbes Clark, the chair of the Baseball Hall of Fame, in a statement.

Cepeda made his debut for the Giants in 1958 at the age of 20. In his first six seasons, he averaged 32 home runs per year.

He was elected in Cooperstown in 1999.

Here in St. Louis, Cepeda was beloved. And still is. He played for the 1968 team that lost in the World Series. He was at the epicenter of a happy era. He was a tremendous hitter. He was the kind of player parents would tell their kids about. I know that firsthand. And that happened in San Francisco, too.

“My dad grew up a Giants fan,” said Brandon Crawford, 37, the current Cardinal who previously played 13 years for his hometown team. “Orlando was one of those great players that everyone seemed to like. An all-around good guy. It's tough to see him go. … He was just a nice guy who was available, easy to talk to. Humble. And he came back every year for spring training with Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Gaylord Perry. They were the four who always came back, told stories and answered questions.”

On the Saturday before the game, I strolled over to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. There was the real 1967 MVP award on display, as well as a Cepeda jersey with the number 30 (you know you're good when you have multiple nicknames) personally signed by “The Baby Bull.” And it's fitting—this summer there's also an exhibit called “Viva Los Cardenales” that celebrates the history of Cardinals from Latin American countries. Cepeda was the fourth Cardinal ever from Puerto Rico.

“For us Puerto Ricans, he was an idol, he opened doors for us,” said Spanish Cardinals commentator Bengie Molina, Yadier's brother, who played four seasons for San Francisco. “Roberto Clemente and all those guys who were there before us took the punishment so that we could be here today. …

“I had the opportunity to hang out with Cepeda a lot during my years with the Giants. We sat together a lot and talked about baseball. And he told me a lot of stories about racism and what he went through – and the guys he went through it with, like Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Hank Aaron. So many stories.”

Cepeda was on the famous 1967 cover of Sports Illustrated, along with the Cardinals lineup and pitcher Gibson. They're in civilian clothes, sitting in front of their lockers, with the players' jerseys visible. It's just a beautiful shot. But if you look at the picture long enough, you get a tugging feeling. Run your eyes over the faces, one by one. Roger Maris is gone. McCarver is gone. Gibson is gone. Shannon is gone. Brock is gone. Cepeda is gone. Curt Flood is gone. The last two players in the photo are still with us – Julian Javier (87 years old) and Dal Maxvill (85).

The 1967 St. Louis Cardinals are on the decline.

“It's very sad, very sad,” Molina said. “There goes another brain, man. Another Hall of Famer going — and everything in his head goes with him.”

But Cepeda remains in our memories. Those who saw him remember his swing. Those who met him remember his personality. And those who found out about him? We remember the pride of the people who first told us about Orlando Cepeda.