Now that Albert Pujols has signed a one-year contract to finish his career with the team he started out with, the Cardinals have not one, not two, but three franchise legends in uniform for the 2022 season.
Here’s a look at the greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history in team form.
Greatest Cardinals of All-Time
Yadier Molina, Catcher
Molina is a brilliant defender who occasionally has a decent season with the bat. At this point of his career he’s essentially Catcher Emeritus for the Redbirds. He and Adam Wainwright will probably break the record for most games together by pitcher/catcher teammates this season.
Albert Pujols, First Base
It’s possible to rate Phat Albert ahead of Lou Gehrig as the greatest first baseman of all-time.
Rogers Hornsby, Second Base
Hornsby refused to watch motion pictures or read the newspaper so he could save his eyes for fastballs. He did a lot of hitting: over a five-year stretch he hit over .400 with power.
Ozzie Smith, Shortstop
Did you know that Ozzie tried to do his famous backflip in front of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for a promotional photo and broke his hand? That was the final time The Wizard attempted to do that physical feat.
Ken Boyer, Third Base
We have him rated among the 12 greatest third basemen in baseball history. Honorable mention to Scott Rolen, who spent six seasons in St. Louis.
Joe Medwick, Left Field
Long forgotten is the way that Medwick left the Cardinals. In the middle of the 1940 season, following a nasty salary dispute, St. Louis traded their star outfielder to the Brooklyn Dodgers. How bad was the blood between Ducky and the Redbirds? In his first series against his old team later that season, Medwick was hit in the head by a pitch and sent to the hospital.
Curt Flood, Center Field
One of the greatest fielding outfielders to ever play the game. Ironically, a misplay by Flood in the 1968 World Series helped lead to the Cardinals defeat by the Tigers.
READ ALSO: The High School That Produced Flood, Pinson, and Frank Robinson
Stan Musial, Right Field
Stan Musial is one of only two National League players to win as many as seven batting titles, with Tony Gwynn.
Bob Gibson, Starting Pitcher
A lot of people forget just how great Bob Gibson was. There’s an argument to be made that he was the best post-season pitcher in baseball history.
ALSO: The 100 Greatest Pitchers in Baseball History
Adam Wainwright, Starting Pitcher
Gibson was greater, but Wainwright is probably the most beloved Cardinals pitcher in history.
Bruce Sutter, Relief Pitcher
One of the more fascinating stories of a baseball player who transformed a mediocre career through a happenstance meeting with a coach. Sutter was a struggling starter in the Cubs farm system when he met a pitching coach who taught him a new pitch that made him a legendary relief specialist and eventually a Hall of Famer.
Todd Worrell, Relief Pitcher
In the 1985 World Series, Worrell tied a World Series record by striking out six consecutive hitters. He was Rookie of the Year, a three-time All-Star, and the first pitcher to start his career with back-to-back 30-save seasons.
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