When the St. Louis Cardinals were 10 1/2 games behind the wild-card leading Atlanta Braves in August, many thought the team’s chances for a playoff berth were slim. One Warrenton resident, however, never stopped believing. “I don’t ever give up on them,” Marie Davis said. “A lot of people didn’t think they would do any good.” With good fortune and some breaks along the way, the Cardinals snuck into the playoffs during the final days of the regular season. From there, they topped the two heavily favored teams in the National League — Philadelphia and Milwaukee — and earned a trip to the World Series. For Davis, it’s been thrilling to watch her favorite team in its quest for an 11th championship. “I was overjoyed of course,” Davis said of the Redbirds reaching the postseason. “I was surprised, but surprised and happy.” At 104, Davis is one of the Cardinals’ oldest fans and is certainly one of the most loyal. Though she has only attended one Cardinals’ game in person, she watches every game on television and has been doing so for decades. Sometimes she turns down the volume on the television inside her room at Whispering Pines Retirement Community preferring to listen to the radio broadcast of the game. Born in 1907 in Arkansas, it wasn’t until she reached her 20s when Davis became interested in the Cardinals. She was working in a building that had several departments. Near the area where she worked was a storage room where the men gathered to listen to Cardinals games on the radio daily. Able to hear the games as well, she has been hooked ever since. On display inside her Whispering Pines’ room is a Cardinals flag with her name stitched at the bottom and a framed collage of an Ozzie Smith picture and a napkin bearing his autograph. She received the autograph from a friend who knew of Davis’ love for the Cardinals and happened to run into the Hall of Fame shortstop at a local restaurant. Having trouble to find something to write on, Smith found the napkin which has now become a treasured keepsake. “I was so glad to get it,” Davis said. So what does she like about this year’s Redbirds? I like the whole team,” Davis said. “I like (David) Freese, (Allen) Craig. They are both great players and of course (Albert) Pujols. I love (Yadier) Molina. I like all the members of the team.” The nights have been late for Davis over the past week, as she makes sure to stay awake until the final out is made. No matter what the outcome of the World Series is — Cardinals trail the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading into Wednesday’s night contest — she will continue to root for the home team. A die-hard fan indeed. “I have really enjoyed it,” Davis said.