How does Cardinals-Reds rivalry match-up next to National League matchups?

With the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds kicking off their first series of 2013, memories flash back to one of baseball's newest and most heated rivalries.

The tension between the Cardinals and Reds doesn't come from just a geographical coincidence or a century-old dispute, it stems from several things-some of which you will read about in a moment.

The fact that the two teams consistently battle for the top two positions in their division means there was plenty of emotion before the other factors ever came into play. The Cardinals winning the 2011 World Series, when the Reds won the division, likely only worked to deepen the divide.

With the Houston Astros now in the American League, the pressure to win one's division will only grow greater.

Will 2013 be the year the rivalry smoothes over, or will it bring with it new fireworks? Following is a comparison of the Cardinals/Reds rivalry with some of the best matchups in the National League.

St. Louis Cardinals--Cincinnati Reds

History: The rivalry most likely began in 2009 when the Cardinals accused Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo of having pine tar in his hat. It escalated from there into one of the most heated rivalries in all of baseball.

Most Famous Moment: The most famous moment of the rivalry, hands down, is the brawl of August 2010. When Reds second baseman made some less than flattering comments about the Cardinals, the Cardinals were naturally looking for a reason. When Phillips stepped to the plate and tapped his bat on catcher Yadier Molina's shinguard, the brawl was on. The benches cleared and several people were injured, but none like catcher Jason LaRue. Pitcher Johnny Cueto found himself pinned to a wall and began kicking. He spiked pitcher Chris Carpenter and then spiked LaRue in the head, effectively ending his playing career. Needless to say, things can get 'tense' when the two teams face off.

Philadelphia Phillies--Pittsburgh Pirates

History: This rivalry, once one of the best in baseball, began when the Pirates entered the National League. While it was never particularly ugly, at least as compared to some others, it did continue on until MLB realigned again in 1994 and split the two teams between divisions.

Most Famous Moment: The Phillies 10-run comeback in 1989 is likely the most famous moment of this series. A June game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia kicked off with a 10-run Pirates first inning rally. Despite the odds, the Phillies, after being down 0-10, managed to tie the game in the eighth inning. They eventually won the game 15-11.

St. Louis Cardinals--Chicago Cubs

History: According to Wikipedia, "In his book, Before They Were Cardinals, Jon David Cash speculates that the economic trade rivalry between the cities of Chicago and St. Louis led to the formation of the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1875 to compete with the Chicago White Stockings. The Brown Stockings would later fold and reemerge in 1882 when the Cardinals (as the Browns), met the Cubs (as the White Stockings), in a pair of pre-World Series matchups between American Association champion St. Louis and NL champion Chicago."

Most Famous Moment: The summer of 1998 marked the highest point of the rivalry. As Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chased Roger Maris' single season home run record, the rivalry both intensified and softened the rivalry. The embrace between the two sluggers is something that, prior to '98, one never would have seen happen. The rivalry has had others highs and lows, but that summer was by far the most monumental. Now, with the Cubs far less competitive than they once were, the rivalry has taken on more of a fun attitude.

Atlanta Braves--New York Mets

History: Some would argue that this rivalry began when the "Miracle Mets" swept the Braves in the 1969 National League Championship Series. In reality, its most intense period began after Braves pitcher John Rocker made a series of comments about New York City. Visiting New York then became rather hazardous for the always controversial Rocker when fans threw cups and even batteries at him.

Most Famous Moment: For the first time since the 1969 NLCS, the Braves and Mets met up in the 1999 NLCS. With the Braves leading the Series 3-0, they were all but certain to sweep. In Game 5, Robin Venture hit what will forever be known as the 'Grand Slam Single' and the rivalry took a new twist. During the celebration after his 'grand slam,' Ventura actually never made it to second base. The remaining games of the NLCS were hard fought until, in the end, the Braves got their revenge on the Mets for 1969. They didn't win the World Series, but they did beat the Mets.

Los Angeles Dodgers--San Francisco Giants

History: The two teams, then the local rival Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, have been rivals from the very beginning. When the Dodgers joined the Giants in the National League, the rivalry only intensified. The fans even involved a sort of class warfare through the rivalry. The Giants fans were believed to be more elitist than the blue collar Dodger fans and that led to the rivalry between fans. The rivalry has had its stronger periods, but it still continues to this day as is illustrated by incidents that have happened even between fans over recent years.

Most Famous Moment: The shot heard 'round the world. When Bobby Thomson's ninth inning home run in 1951 sealed up the pennant for the Giants in the tie-breaking third game, it also reached the record book as possibly the most famous pennant clinch of all-time. While there have been countless highlights in this rivalry, "the shot" is hands down the most famous.