Today marks my final installment of my all time Cardinals teams by era. This team obviously may be the easiest to debate as it is the most clear in everyone's mind. Some choices are obvious like Albert. Some are not like Schumaker. Regardless here it is and feel free to debate if you like.
1st Base-Albert Pujols was quite simply the man at his position for over ten years while in St. Louis. Albert caught a break when Bobby Bonilla was hurt during Spring Training and never looked back. He hit 455 home runs while in St. Louis, he also had 1,329 RBI and a .300 Batting Average. Add to that six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, ten time All Star, and finally a three time National League MVP and you simply have maybe the best right handed hitter of all time. A foot injury and loss to free agency led to Pujols leaving for the Angels but his time in St. Louis will never be matched again.
2nd Base-Skip Schumaker had a rock solid career for the Cardinals. In eight seasons in St. Louis he finished with 711 RBI while playing a steady second base. In one game against the New York Mets he had six hits in seven at bats. This may be the most debatable position on the roster as Fernando Vina and Kolten Wong made a strong challenge.
Shortstop-Edgar Renteria had two Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and three All Star appearances while with the Cardinals. This was made possible from his productive seasons at the plate with 973 hits, 451 RBI and .290 batting average. He was a much needed answer to a problem filling the position after Ozzie Smith's retirement.
3rd Base-Scott Rolen may be my personal favorite player of all the teams on this list. It would be hard to have a more productive six seasons than Rolen had. He was a five time All Star, four time Gold Glove winner, and won a Silver Slugger Award. He is also a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. If not for an unfortunate shoulder injury from a collision while running the bases and a tension shared with Tony LaRussa, he may have finished his career in St. Louis.
Catcher-Yadier Molina has nearly 1,000 RBI and a career .282 batting average and still yet as great as his offense is, his best qualities come from his defense and ability to handle the pitching staff. He is a nine time All Star, a nine time Gold Glove winner and a Silver Slugger award winner as well. Molina will no doubt go down as one of the all time greats and will someday be in the MLB and Cardinal Hall of Fame. The catching position is the most demanding position on the field and Molina handles it without fail.
Outfield-Jim Edmonds may go down as the greatest Cardinal centerfielder of all time. His highlight reel defense and stellar offensive production may never be replaced. In eight years he won six Gold Gloves, was a three time All Star, had a .285 batting average and had 713 RBI's. Not only was he a productive player, he had a knack for making the big play or having the big hit in the postseason as well. He is a well deserved member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
Outfield-Matt Holliday came to the Cardinals via the Rockies and continued to put up big numbers even though he was no longer in Coors Field. In eight years with the Cardinals he had 1,048 hits and 616 RBI's. Holliday was a four time All Star and a four time Silver Slugger Award Winner as well. Nobody worked harder than Holliday and he reaped the rewards.
Outfield-Ray Lankford may not have been as flashy of a centerfielder as Edmonds but he was if nothing else an above average outfielder for thirteen years. He finished his career with 1,479 hits, a .273 batting average, and 829 RBI's. Replacing Willie McGee, who was one of the most popular Redbirds of all time, was a tall task but Lankford made the transition without hesitation.
Outfield-Carlos Beltran was not in St. Louis for very long but his contributions to the club were key to some of the success of that time. In his short time here he was a two time All Star and a Roberto Clemente Award Winner which had only been previously won by Ozzie Smith and Lou Brock.
Pitcher-Chris Carpenter will be long renowned for his intensity while on the mound, just ask Brendan Ryan. He was the go to guy for the Cardinals in his nine years in St. Louis. His stat line is impressive to say the least. He was a three time All Star, a Cy Young winner,a part of two World Series championships and a member of the Cards Hall of Fame.
Pitcher-Adam Wainwright has been a stalwart in the Cardinals rotation for fourteen years and counting. He boasts a .630 winning percentage and a 3.39 ERA which is going to leave a hole when he does choose to hang up the cleats. He has three All Star appearances, two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and has been a part of a World Series Championship. Uncle Charlie is second only to Bob Gibson in strikeouts.
Pitcher-Matt Morris has been retired for a few years now but his contributions to the Redbirds should not go unnoticed. It is not a small feat to go eight years and have a .630 winning percentage but Morris did. He was also a two time All Star and a part of a World Series Championship.
Pitcher-Lance Lynn was over shadowed in his stay in St. Louis by Carp and Waino but his numbers were underrated. He had a .608 winning percentage in his six years with the Cardinals and played a big part in the success during that time. Lynn had an All Star appearance and a World Series Championship as well.
Pitcher-Jason Isringhausen filled the closers role for the Birds on Bat for seven years. Over the course of those seven years he had a 2.98 era and 217 saves as well as two All Star game appearances. He was key in the Cardinals post season appearances and for this he was inducted into the Cards Hall of Fame.
That completes my list of greatest Cardinals at each position by era. Enjoy
1st Base-Albert Pujols was quite simply the man at his position for over ten years while in St. Louis. Albert caught a break when Bobby Bonilla was hurt during Spring Training and never looked back. He hit 455 home runs while in St. Louis, he also had 1,329 RBI and a .300 Batting Average. Add to that six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, ten time All Star, and finally a three time National League MVP and you simply have maybe the best right handed hitter of all time. A foot injury and loss to free agency led to Pujols leaving for the Angels but his time in St. Louis will never be matched again.
2nd Base-Skip Schumaker had a rock solid career for the Cardinals. In eight seasons in St. Louis he finished with 711 RBI while playing a steady second base. In one game against the New York Mets he had six hits in seven at bats. This may be the most debatable position on the roster as Fernando Vina and Kolten Wong made a strong challenge.
Shortstop-Edgar Renteria had two Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and three All Star appearances while with the Cardinals. This was made possible from his productive seasons at the plate with 973 hits, 451 RBI and .290 batting average. He was a much needed answer to a problem filling the position after Ozzie Smith's retirement.
3rd Base-Scott Rolen may be my personal favorite player of all the teams on this list. It would be hard to have a more productive six seasons than Rolen had. He was a five time All Star, four time Gold Glove winner, and won a Silver Slugger Award. He is also a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. If not for an unfortunate shoulder injury from a collision while running the bases and a tension shared with Tony LaRussa, he may have finished his career in St. Louis.
Catcher-Yadier Molina has nearly 1,000 RBI and a career .282 batting average and still yet as great as his offense is, his best qualities come from his defense and ability to handle the pitching staff. He is a nine time All Star, a nine time Gold Glove winner and a Silver Slugger award winner as well. Molina will no doubt go down as one of the all time greats and will someday be in the MLB and Cardinal Hall of Fame. The catching position is the most demanding position on the field and Molina handles it without fail.
Outfield-Jim Edmonds may go down as the greatest Cardinal centerfielder of all time. His highlight reel defense and stellar offensive production may never be replaced. In eight years he won six Gold Gloves, was a three time All Star, had a .285 batting average and had 713 RBI's. Not only was he a productive player, he had a knack for making the big play or having the big hit in the postseason as well. He is a well deserved member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
Outfield-Matt Holliday came to the Cardinals via the Rockies and continued to put up big numbers even though he was no longer in Coors Field. In eight years with the Cardinals he had 1,048 hits and 616 RBI's. Holliday was a four time All Star and a four time Silver Slugger Award Winner as well. Nobody worked harder than Holliday and he reaped the rewards.
Outfield-Ray Lankford may not have been as flashy of a centerfielder as Edmonds but he was if nothing else an above average outfielder for thirteen years. He finished his career with 1,479 hits, a .273 batting average, and 829 RBI's. Replacing Willie McGee, who was one of the most popular Redbirds of all time, was a tall task but Lankford made the transition without hesitation.
Outfield-Carlos Beltran was not in St. Louis for very long but his contributions to the club were key to some of the success of that time. In his short time here he was a two time All Star and a Roberto Clemente Award Winner which had only been previously won by Ozzie Smith and Lou Brock.
Pitcher-Chris Carpenter will be long renowned for his intensity while on the mound, just ask Brendan Ryan. He was the go to guy for the Cardinals in his nine years in St. Louis. His stat line is impressive to say the least. He was a three time All Star, a Cy Young winner,a part of two World Series championships and a member of the Cards Hall of Fame.
Pitcher-Adam Wainwright has been a stalwart in the Cardinals rotation for fourteen years and counting. He boasts a .630 winning percentage and a 3.39 ERA which is going to leave a hole when he does choose to hang up the cleats. He has three All Star appearances, two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger and has been a part of a World Series Championship. Uncle Charlie is second only to Bob Gibson in strikeouts.
Pitcher-Matt Morris has been retired for a few years now but his contributions to the Redbirds should not go unnoticed. It is not a small feat to go eight years and have a .630 winning percentage but Morris did. He was also a two time All Star and a part of a World Series Championship.
Pitcher-Lance Lynn was over shadowed in his stay in St. Louis by Carp and Waino but his numbers were underrated. He had a .608 winning percentage in his six years with the Cardinals and played a big part in the success during that time. Lynn had an All Star appearance and a World Series Championship as well.
Pitcher-Jason Isringhausen filled the closers role for the Birds on Bat for seven years. Over the course of those seven years he had a 2.98 era and 217 saves as well as two All Star game appearances. He was key in the Cardinals post season appearances and for this he was inducted into the Cards Hall of Fame.
That completes my list of greatest Cardinals at each position by era. Enjoy