The 1882 St. Louis Brown Stockings season was the first played by the professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri now known as the St. Louis Cardinals in the American Association. However, this team had roots in the earlier St. Louis Brown Stockings franchise that played in the National Association in 1875 and the National League from 1876 to 1877. After a scandal over game-fixing and financial problems, the Brown Stockings continued to play as an independent barnstorming team from 1878 to 1881. Chris von der Ahe purchased the team prior to the 1882 season and placed them in the new American Association. The Brown Stockings posted a 37–43 record in their new league and finished in 5th place.