The St. Louis Cardinals announced on May 2 that Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols will be inducted together into the Cardinals Hall of Fame during a pregame ceremony scheduled for Sept. 12. Bill Sherdel, a pitcher from the early 20th century, will also join them as part of the class.
The induction highlights the lasting impact both Molina and Pujols have had on the team and its fans over their long careers. The announcement comes after a fan vote placed both players on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in the same year.
Molina played all 19 seasons of his Major League Baseball career with St. Louis from 2004 to 2022, earning ten All-Star selections, nine Gold Gloves, and two World Series championships with the club. He is currently serving as special assistant to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. The recognition with a red jacket was described as “a long time coming” for Molina.
Pujols returned to St. Louis for his final season after spending years away from the franchise, reaching significant milestones including his 700th career home run while wearing a Cardinals uniform again. Manager Oliver Marmol said, “I was actually looking at the picture of Albert underneath the tunnel when he hit 700… it just depicts … all the work, sacrifice that goes into that moment.” Marmol recalled his own role in bringing Pujols back to St. Louis: “Hearing him tell the story at the table was a cool moment, for sure,” he said.
Sherdel spent most of his career with St. Louis before finishing out his playing days there after brief stints elsewhere. He remains one of team’s winningest left-handed pitchers with 153 wins and holds several records among Cardinals pitchers.
The induction ceremony is expected to draw significant attention from fans who have followed these players’ careers closely.
