Continuing my 5 in 50 series, today’s team is the St Louis Cardinals. This will be a list of the top 5 greatest players for the Cardinals in the last 50 years. The criteria are as follows: Player must have been part of team for at least 5 full seasons. Both regular season and post season success will be measured (statistical leaders, awards, et). Players on this list can be from any position. Multiple players at the same position can be included. I’ll list the major accomplishments for each player only for the team they are selected.
Here is my list of the top 5 greatest Cardinals players in
the last 50 years.
5. Keith Hernandez (1974-1983): 1979 NL MVP and NL batting
champion. 6-time gold glove winner. 1982 World Series champion.
4. Chris Carpenter (2004-2012): 2005 NL Cy Young award
winner. Finished twice in top 3 Cy Young voting. 10-4 in post season. 2-time World
Series champion.
3. Yadier Molina (2004-2021): 9-time gold glove winner. 2-time
World Series champion.
2. Ozzie Smith (1982-1996): 11-time gold glove winner. 1987
NLCS MVP. 1982 World Series champion.
1. Albert Pujols (2001-2011): 3-time NL MVP. 2-time NL home
run champion. 2004 NLCS MVP. 2-time World Series champion.
Honorable mention to Ted Simmons, Adam Wainright, Willie
McGee, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds
Notes. Mark Mcguire did not play a full 5 seasons with the
Cardinals. The great Lou Brock was at the tail end of his career and did not
make the list. This was a tricky list to put together. The Cardinals have a
deep history and are filled with great players who have won MVPs, Cy Youngs, and
other various awards. Picking # 4 and 5 were tough. So many great players to
choose from. It came down to Hernandez and Simmons for me at #5. Hernandez won
an MVP, batting title and gold glove. Simmons was a great hitter, but never won
any awards. For #4, I picked Chris Carpenter over Adam Wainright. Although
Wainright is played longer for the team, Carpenter accomplished more during his
time with the Cardinals. And Carpenter’s post season numbers (including 3-0 in
the World Series) added to his impact. Molina is a great catcher who will be inducted
into the Hall of Fame someday. Smith is a Hall of Famer who is one of the greatest
defensive players of all time. Finally,
Pujols played 11 seasons for the Cardinals. In each of those seasons he was one
of the best players in baseball. Besides winning 3 MVPs, he finished in the top
5 MVP voting in 7 other seasons (and finished 9th in his only season
out of the top 5).
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