Exactly what I thought. That is the mistake. It is difficult for people to understand since the situation is unique.
Officially St. Louis, MO is The City of St. Louis. It is a county in state government. This is because back in the 1870s or'80s the city didn't want anything to do with the outlying areas surrounding it due to double taxation. The city drew a line around itself beyond which it would not expand. At the time the money and power was within the city and the city was the 4th largest in the US. Over time the city expanded up to its border and beyond but the beyond was comprised of small municipalities within a different county.......St. Louis County.
In reality St. Louis, MO is the City of St. Louis
and St. Louis County. Together the population is 1.3 million and falling. Population is also moving from St.Louis County to surrounding counties. The 1.3 is just on the MO side. If you include the east side then the metro area has a population of nearly 3 million.
The Cardinals draw extremely well throughout the midwest and south since for many years they were the westernmost and southernmost team in MLB. The extent of their radio network was unsurpassed. Today MLB rigidly enforces the extent of the radio affiliates (although I see the Cardinals network includes two stations in Hawaii). Years ago I worked at a radio station in east TN and we still received many calls from people wanting the Cardinals back on local radio.