MLB
Top 5 STL Cardinals Players Ever + Fan Rankings
Create your own all-time rankings of the top 5 greatest players in St. Louis Cardinals history from Stan Musial to Bob Gibson to Albert Pujols
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MLB Hall of Fame SP Bob Gibson passed away at 84 years old on October 2, 2021 exactly one year ago, so it’s a great time to honor him by looking at the top 5 greatest St. Louis Cardinals players of all time with him near the top of the list.
The St. Louis Cardinals may be the runner-up to the New York Yankees for Major League Baseball’s greatest team, with over 10 World Series Championships in their storied history. Few franchises have prioritized winning like St. Louis has, establishing a culture of excellence that has endured many decades.
Founded in 1882 as the St. Louis Brown Stockings and winning their first Championship in 1886, the Cardinals were one of the earliest baseball teams to be established. After a rough 30-year stretch with very little success, St. Louis won their first official World Series title in 1926, kicking off a 20-year period in which they appeared in nine World Series, winning six rings.
St. Louis enjoyed moderate success throughout the rest of the 20th century, with some of the greatest players of all time wearing Cardinal red. Many of baseball’s most iconic moments have taken place for this historic franchise over the years of its existence. Baseball fans would find it very difficult to write the story of America’s Pastime without the St. Louis Cardinals.
This list includes some of baseball’s all-time legends from many different eras, whether it be the early 20th century, the late 1900s, or modern 2000s baseball. All of these players were immensely successful due to hard work ethics, consistency, and intelligence, all while representing the standard of St. Louis baseball that has carried over for more than a hundred years. Honorable mention includes: Ozzie Smith, Adam Wainwright, Lou Brock, Joe Medwick, Johnny Mize.
Here are the top 5 greatest Cardinals players of all time. Create your own rankings below!
– 24x All-Star | 7x NL Batting Champ | 5x MLB Hits leader
– 3x World Series Champ | 3x NL MVP | 2x NL RBI leader
– All-Century Team | #6 retired by STL | HOF Class of 1969
One of the greatest players in MLB history, Stan Musial‘s legendary career spanned 22 seasons in St. Louis. A member of the 3,000-hit club, Musial’s consistency was mostly unparalleled in the 1940s and 1950s as he forged one of the most impressive careers ever.
Most career HR in St. Louis #Cardinals history:
1. Stan Musial (475)
2. Albert Pujols (469)
3. Ken Boyer (255)
4. Jim Edmonds (241)
5. Ray Lankford (228) pic.twitter.com/szDJYvLZO4— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 11, 2022
– 9x All-Star | 9x Gold Glove | 2x NL Cy Young | 1968 MVP
– 2x World Series Champ, 2x WS MVP | #45 retired by STL
– Most career Wins (251), IP (3,884.1), & Ks (3,117) ever
Considered by many to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time, Bob Gibson‘s fiery persona translated to his performance on the mound. Over an impressive 17-year career in STL, Gibson’s electric stuff and mound presence endeared him to Cardinals fans forever.
Most career Ks in St. Louis #Cardinals history:
1. Bob Gibson (3,117)
2. Adam Wainwright (2,147)^
3. Dizzy Dean (1,095)
4. Chris Carpenter (1,085)
5. Bob Forsch (1,079)pic.twitter.com/964J9dxmgH— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 11, 2022
– Most MVP (3) | 10x All-Star | 6x Silver Slugger | ’01 NL ROY
– 2x Gold Glove | 2004 NLCS MVP | 2003 Batting Champ
– Most Playoff HR (18), RBI (52), Runs (54), & AVG (.327)
Possibly the greatest hitter of the 2000s, Albert Pujols struck fear into opposing pitchers over an 11-year stint with St. Louis in a way that few hitters ever have. “The Machine” put together one of the most dominant hitting decades in MLB history from 2001-2010.
Albert Pujols’ #Cardinals records:
– Career MVPs (3), SLG (.614) & OPS (1.031) [min 2,000 AB]
– Seasons of 30+ (11) & 40+ (6) HR
– Playoff HR (18), RBI (52), Runs (54), TB (164), XBH (37), AVG (.327)/OBP (.435)/SLG (.596)/OPS (1.031) [min 150 PA]pic.twitter.com/OveCrfK3mg— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 11, 2022
– 1926 World Series | 1925 NL MVP | 2x NL Triple Crown
– 6x NL Batting Champ | 4x NL RBI & 2x NL HR leader
– 1900s All-Century | Season AVG (.424) in the live-ball era
Over a 12-year tenure in St. Louis to begin his career, Rogers Hornsby established himself as a top hitter in MLB history with his insane bat-to-ball skills coupled with great power. Hornsby posted some of the most prolific stat lines ever over his 12 years as a Cardinal.
Rogers Hornsby's #Cardinals records:
– Longest hitting streak (33 GP)
– Season Hits (250), OBP (.507), SLG% (.756), OPS (1.245), & TB (450)
– Seasons (3) of .400+ AVG
– Season GP of 1+ (135) & 3+ (33) Hits
– Consecutive seasons (5) of 1.000+ OPSpic.twitter.com/E57itYqtWn— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) October 11, 2022
– Most GP (2,224) at Catcher for 1 team | 2x WS Champ
– 9x Gold Glove | 4x Platinum Gove | 2013 Silver Slugger
– 10x All-Star | Most Hits (2,168), HR (176), RBI (1,022) by a C
The heartbeat of the storied Cardinals franchise for 19 years, Yadier Molina built a bond with Cardinals fans unlike any other. Molina’s toughness, durability, electric defensive skills, and offensive production place him high up in the rankings of greatest Catchers ever.
Yadier Molina's career records among #Cardinals Catchers:
– Gold Gloves (9)
– Hits (2,089)
– RBI (983)
– Runs (744)
– TB (3,004)
– XBH (572)
– GP (2,119)
– PA (8,176)
– Trails HR by 4 (168 to 172)Most Postseason Hits (101) & GP (101) by any STL playerpic.twitter.com/GmctbJ4Rih
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) August 24, 2021
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