CREATE TABLE table_203_697 (id DECIMAL, "player" TEXT, "career" TEXT, "nickname" TEXT, "team inducted as" TEXT)

who was the first player to play for the st louis cardinals ?
SELECT "player" FROM table_203_697 WHERE "team inducted as" = 'st. louis cardinals' ORDER BY "career" LIMIT 1
SELECT "player" FROM "table_203_697" WHERE "team inducted as" = 'st. louis cardinals' ORDER BY "career" NULLS FIRST LIMIT 1