The 2006 National League Championship Series (NLCS), the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the heavily favored New York Mets in 7 games to advance to the 2006 World Series against the Detroit Tigers.

The Cardinals and the Mets took the series to the limit, reaching the 9th inning of Game 7 tied at 1–1. The Cardinals took the lead with Yadier Molina's 2-run home run off Mets reliever Aaron Heilman in the 9th to put his team ahead 3–1. Adam Wainwright would then hold the Mets scoreless in the bottom of the 9th to give St. Louis their 2nd pennant in 3 years and 17th in club history, placing them one behind the New York/San Francisco Giants and the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers for most in NL modern history (since 1903). The Cardinals were making their 3rd consecutive appearance in the NLCS; manager Tony La Russa, who led St. Louis to the 2004 pennant and previously won AL titles with the Oakland Athletics from 1988–90, became the first manager in history to win multiple pennants in both leagues.

The Mets, handicapped after season-ending injuries to Pedro Martínez and Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez, had defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3 games to none in the NL Division Series, while the Cardinals had defeated the San Diego Padres 3 games to 1. The Mets had home-field advantage due to their better record in the regular season (the Mets were 97–65, the Cardinals 83–78). The Mets and Cardinals previously met in the 2000 NLCS, which the Mets won in 5 games. Until 2015, 2006 was only the second time the Mets have qualified for postseason play since 2000.

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