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Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina Get Red Jackets, Take Rightful Places in Cardinals Hall of Fame
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- Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina Get Red Jackets, Take Rightful Places in Cardinals Hall of Fame
Cardinals ' Hall of Famers Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina discuss what the other meant to their careers at Busch Stadium on Saturday.
During his historic first stint with the St. Louis Cardinals from2001-11, Albert Pujols never missed a chance to chop it up with a famed "RedJacket" Hall of Famer at Busch Stadium, whether it was talking hitting withStan Musial, joking with Bob Gibson about trying to hit off him, thanking LouBrock for teaching him how to run the bases or listening to Red Schoendienst barkabout how good today's players have it.
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So, when he returned to the Cardinals in 2022 for whatwould be his final, historic season of wearing the birds on the bat across hischest while swatting his way to 700 home runs, Pujols looked forward to OpeningDay and catching up with as many "Red Jacket" Hall of Famers as possible. He waswell aware that the franchise's collection of all-time greats had taken a fewhits in the years prior, but the gravity of those losses didn't hit him untilhe was lined up along the first base line and the sellout crowd cheering on hisreturn.
"I'm looking around and all of a sudden it hits me thatGibby's gone, and Stan's gone and Red's not here and I got so emotional," Pujolsrecalled recently before his induction into the Cardinals' Hall of Fame. "I knewthey had passed but not having them here hit me hard. I had tears streamingdown my face. Everybody thought it was because I was so happy to be back, butit was because I was missing those guys and thinking about what they had meant to me."
Pujols, one of just four hitters in the history of MajorLeague Baseball to swat 700 homers, joined teammate and close friend YadierMolina and the family of left-handed pitcher Bill Sherdell for induction intothe Cardinals Hall of Fame in a ceremony so anticipated by an adoring fanbasethat it was moved into Busch Stadium so that more than 40,000 could be inattendance.
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Impacted through the years by the likes of National Hall ofFamers Ozzie Smith, Tony La Russa and Scott Rolen and the many legends who havepassed in recent years, Pujols said he learned the importance of Cardinalshistory early in a career that included three MVP awards, two World Seriestrophies, 11 All-Star Game appearances, a Rookie of the Year award, six SilverSluggers and two Gold Gloves.
"I got drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 and I learned rightaway that this is about more than just history; it's about family," Pujols saidprior to receiving his red jacket and entering the Cards Hall of Fame. "Then,getting that invite to Spring Training in 2001 and having a Hall of Famer like managerTony La Russa, the leadership in that clubhouse and the coaching staff. Theytaught me Cardinals baseball and how to play the game. The rest was justhistory, and I was just honored to be a part of it."
Often camera shy and one that regularly ran from thespotlight that his career created, Molina was downright loquacious – both inEnglish and Spanish – will speaking for more than 25 minutes on Saturday.
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Molina, who spent all 19 years of his MLB career with theCardinals while winning two World Series and nine Gold Glove awards, stoppedbefore giving his speech so that he could have trainer Chris Conroy apply hisfamiliar eye black patches applied and his blue and red, backward Cards hat puton his head. He specifically thanked pitcher Adam Wainwright , La Russa and Pujolsand told the story of why he switched from No. 41 to No. 4 before the WorldSeries winning season of 2006.
"I was given No. 41, I was happy with it and thinking I wasgoing to keep it a long time," Molina told the fans. "I changed to No. 4 in 2006,the year we won the World Series and the first year it was available. You knowme, I've got to be right next to No. 5 (Pujols)."
Marmol Wants Youthful Cards to Listen, Learn from Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina
Pujols, 46, said going into the Cards Hall of Fame was mademore special by going in alongside of Molina, who he repeatedly referred to ashis "brother." Pujols discussed one of the first times he met Molina, 44, andthe promise he made to the young catcher's late father.
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"When Yadi came up to the big leagues, I felt that (leadership)was part of my responsibility," Pujols recalled. "Now, to share the moment withYadi, going into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, and in a couple of years hopefullygoing together into Cooperstown, you can't write a better script."
Added Molina: "He took me under his wing and taught me howto be a professional, between the lines and outside the lines. He knows I love himlike a big brother. He made it so special to win together and play together,and doing this (Hall of Fame induction) together is so special to me."
