Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina Get Red Jackets, Take Rightful Places in Cardinals Hall of Fame

During his historic first stint with the St. Louis Cardinals from 2001-11, Albert Pujols never missed a chance to chop it up with a famed “Red Jacket” Hall of Famer at Busch Stadium, whether it was talking hitting with Stan Musial, joking with Bob Gibson about trying to hit off him, thanking Lou Brock for teaching him how to run the bases or listening to Red Schoendienst bark about how good today’s players have it.

So, when he returned to the Cardinals in 2022 for what would be his final, historic season of wearing the birds on the bat across his chest while swatting his way to 700 home runs, Pujols looked forward to Opening Day and catching up with as many “Red Jacket” Hall of Famers as possible. He was well aware that the franchise’s collection of all-time greats had taken a few hits in the years prior, but the gravity of those losses didn’t hit him until he was lined up along the first base line and the sellout crowd cheering on his return.

“I’m looking around and all of a sudden it hits me that Gibby’s gone, and Stan’s gone and Red’s not here and I got so emotional,” Pujols recalled recently before his induction into the Cardinals’ Hall of Fame. “I knew they had passed but not having them here hit me hard. I had tears streaming down my face. Everybody thought it was because I was so happy to be back, but it 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 Major League Baseball to swat 700 homers, joined teammate and close friend Yadier Molina and the family of left-handed pitcher Bill Sherdell for induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame in a ceremony so anticipated by an adoring fanbase that it was moved into Busch Stadium so that more than 40,000 could be in attendance.

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Impacted through the years by the likes of National Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith, Tony La Russa and Scott Rolen and the many legends who have passed in recent years, Pujols said he learned the importance of Cardinals history early in a career that included three MVP awards, two World Series trophies, 11 All-Star Game appearances, a Rookie of the Year award, six Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves.  

“I got drafted by the Cardinals in 1999 and I learned right away that this is about more than just history; it’s about family,” Pujols said prior 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 manager Tony La Russa, the leadership in that clubhouse and the coaching staff. They taught me Cardinals baseball and how to play the game. The rest was just history, and I was just honored to be a part of it.”

Often camera shy and one that regularly ran from the spotlight that his career created, Molina was downright loquacious – both in English and Spanish – will speaking for more than 25 minutes on Saturday.  

Molina, who spent all 19 years of his MLB career with the Cardinals while winning two World Series and nine Gold Glove awards, stopped before giving his speech so that he could have trainer Chris Conroy apply his familiar eye black patches applied and his blue and red, backward Cards hat put on his head. He specifically thanked pitcher Adam Wainwright, La Russa and Pujols and told the story of why he switched from No. 41 to No. 4 before the World Series winning season of 2006.

“I was given No. 41, I was happy with it and thinking I was going 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 know me, I’ve got to be right next to No. 5 (Pujols).”

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Pujols, 46, said going into the Cards Hall of Fame was made more special by going in alongside of Molina, who he repeatedly referred to as his “brother.” Pujols discussed one of the first times he met Molina, 44, and the promise he made to the young catcher’s late father.

“When Yadi came up to the big leagues, I felt that (leadership) was part of my responsibility,” Pujols recalled. “Now, to share the moment with Yadi, going into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, and in a couple of years hopefully going together into Cooperstown, you can’t write a better script.”

Added Molina: “He took me under his wing and taught me how to be a professional, between the lines and outside the lines. He knows I love him like 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.”