[3] Former Cardinals David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds and Troy Glaus were announced as first-time candidates on the 2016 ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on November 9.

[8] For the 2016 franchise Hall of Fame ballot, the Cardinals announced on January 17 it would include Chris Carpenter, Keith Hernandez, Jason Isringhausen, Mark McGwire, Matt Morris, Édgar Rentería, Scott Rolen, and Joe Torre.

[38] The 26 players invited to STEP were Sandy Alcantara, John Brebbia, Junior Fernandez, Jack Flaherty, Derian Gonzalez, Josh Lucas, Mike Mayers, Alex Reyes, Arturo Reyes, Rowan Wick and Jacob Woodford; catchers Christopher Chinea, Jose Godoy, Ryan McCarvel and Brian O’Keefe; infielders Eliezer Alvarez, Paul DeJong, Juan Herrera, Chris Jacobs, Oscar Mercado, Darren Seferina and Edmundo Sosa; and outfielders Harrison Bader, C. J. McElroy, Nick Plummer and Magneuris Sierra.

[55] Another serious injury, this one to backup catcher Brayan Pena's left knee after slipping in a dugout a few days ago, puts him on the 15-day disabled list after surgery from two to four weeks, along with the five others.

The Cardinals played Opening Day in the first game of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season on April 3, commencing at PNC Park against the division rival Pittsburgh Pirates.

Free agent starting pitcher acquisition Mike Leake made his Cardinals debut on April 6 against the Pirates, allowing four runs and seven hits in 4+1⁄3 IP, resulting in being charged with the loss as Pittsburgh won, 5–1, and swept the opening series.

His collected his first two doubles for the Cardinals, including driving in Aledmys Díaz for the decisive run in a 4–3 win, allowing St. Louis to take two of three in the series from Cincinnati.

[77] On April 29, the club announced that former owner Sam Breadon, starting pitcher Chris Carpenter, center fielder Terry Moore, and catcher and manager Joe Torre were selected as the 2016 class to be inducted into the franchise Hall of Fame, with the enshrinement scheduled for August 27, 2016.

The Cardinals, through the first month of 2016 having improved their run-scoring and home run rates from the previous season, likewise received increased hitting contribution from Wainwright.

[79] In each of four consecutive plate appearances spanning April 27 to May 7, he became the first Cardinal pitcher since 1900 to garner an extra base hit while batting, per the Elias Sports Bureau.

[93] Third Baseman Matt Carpenter was granted paternity leave to attend the birth of his first child on May 25, causing him to miss the rubber game against the Chicago Cubs.

[95] While playing the Nationals in the seventh inning of a 2–1 loss at Busch Stadium on May 26, Stephen Drew hit a high infield fly that stayed over the pitcher's mound.

In 2001, the Diamondbacks were World Series champions, while the Cardinals and Giants in those respective years, hosted Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds both breaking the individual single-season home run record.

[109] The Cardinals tied a franchise record, not seen since 1940, with 13 extra-base hits (6 home runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples) in an 11–6 win against the Seattle Mariners, at Safeco Field on June 26.

[124] Adam Wainwright pitched a three-hit, complete-game shutout and 5–0 win against Miami on July 15; the first hit he allowed was a double to Adeiny Hechavarria in the sixth inning.

[128] On July 21, with a 5–5 tie in the bottom of the ninth, Aledmys Díaz batted against Carlos Villanueva with the bases loaded and singled home the game-winning run for his first career walk-off hit.

[135] The Cardinals won the scintillating back-and-forth rubber game 5–4 on July 27, in New York with a two-run ninth-inning rally, pushing them past that team in the Wild Card standings.

Down to his last strike at 1–2, Brandon Moss got the tying run in with a bases-loaded walk, and Yadier Molina then finished off the improbable comeback win by getting hit in the ribs by a pitch.

Backup catcher Brayan Pena was transferred to the 60-day DL, to make room for the Cardinals purchasing their long-awaited, ninth-best prospect in baseball, RHP Alex Reyes from AAA-Memphis, and added him to the roster.

[148] He made his debut that evening (20 days before his 22nd birthday), pitching a perfect ninth inning in getting his first batter to strike out, with a speed gun registering 101.4 mph.

It was not considered prudent to have Adams stay unplayable on the bench with four big games in Chicago on Aug. 11–14, against the division leading Cubs (71–41 .634), on a season-high nine-game winning streak.

[151] Luke Weaver made his debut in Chicago on August 13 ending their 11-game unbeaten streak in the month, pitching four innings, giving up just two runs on four hits (Double and two-run HR by Addison Russell), striking out three, and walking three.

[163] Newly called-up catcher Carson Kelly made his debut on September 5, against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a line-drive double in the eighth inning, and then scored his first run.

[164] Three final call-ups from the minors happened on September 6, when José Martínez (OF) making his major league debut, and two relievers who were here earlier, Mike Mayers, and Sam Tuivailala.

[165] Yadier Molina's fourth career grand slam on September 6, gave the 2016 Cardinals an NL record tying 25 consecutive games with at least one home run, matching the San Diego Padres set earlier this year.

[166] In yet another improbable comeback on September 6, the Cardinals won a critical game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9–6, with two outs and two strikes against Matt Carpenter in the ninth, trailing 5–6.

This was not a planned move, but Garcia's 8.23 ERA over his last six starts necessitated a change by the Cardinals, who are locked in a tight Wild Card race with the Giants and Mets.

[183] With four RBI against Colorado on September 20, Adam Wainwright increased his season total to 18, breaking the record for all pitchers in the designated hitter (DH) era – since 1973 – and the most since Ferguson Jenkins drove in 20 for the Cubs in 1971.

[230] In 2016, the Cardinals signed three Cuban players as free agents: outfielders Randy Arozarena ($1.25 million on July 27) and Jonatan Machado, and right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo.

[236] Because Heyward and Lackey both received qualifying offers and signed with the Chicago Cubs as free agents prior to the 2016 season, the Cardinals were allotted a total of three selections within the first 40 picks.