The St. The Louis Cardinals will conclude their three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The two clubs split their first two matches on Monday (WAS 5, STL 2) and Tuesday (STL 14, WAS 3), so Wednesday’s final match is the rubber match.
Stalwart Yadier Molina started Wednesday’s game behind the scenes for the Cardinals and this is nothing new. He started ten of the team’s first 11 games this season and has been a rock behind the plate for almost two decades now. However, the start of Wednesday is historic. It was Molina’s 2,000th career match on catcher.
The persistent Cardinals fans gave Molina an applause after the first battle on Wednesday.
Here are the top games ever caught:
- Ivan Rodriguez: 2 427 games
- Carlton Fisk: 2 226 games
- Bob Boone: 2 225 matches
- Gary Carter: 2 056 games
- Jason Kendall: 2 025 games
- Yadier Molina: 2,000 games and counting
Molina is the only one of the six catchers who has spent his entire career with one team. Since her MLB debut on June 3, 2004, Molina has been 2,000 from St. Louis. Louis’ 2,608 regular season games, or 77 percent, behind the sheet. He has also caught 101 of the 116 post-season games, or 87 percent, since 2004. Unbelievable.
The 38-year-old Molina is off to a good start to the 2021 season, going 12 for 34 (.353) with two home games. He is no longer the elite defender he was in his best time (Molina’s fixed steal rate and pitch figures have been lower for years), but he is still reliable. Its durability at the most demanding position on the field is remarkable.
Prisoners are unfortunately underrepresented in the Hall of Fame – there are 19 prisoners in the Hall of Fame and only two of them started their careers after 1990 (Rodriguez and Mike Piazza) – and when the time comes, I expect Molina to be voted. on the first ballot. He was an above average player with almost a long life for the position.