Arch Authority
Fansided

Assembling an All-World Cardinals Team

By Patrick Karraker

Aug 24, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh (26) pitches to a New York Mets batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 24, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Seung Hwan Oh (26) pitches to a New York Mets batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. The Cardinals won 8-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
twitterfacebookreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Aug 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The St. Louis Cardinals won 4-3 in the eleventh inning. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (4) in action against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The St. Louis Cardinals won 4-3 in the eleventh inning. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Infield

The infield is the strongest area on this team, with four former All-Stars and two potential future Hall-of-Famers. Four of the five players here played for the Cardinals within the past 15 years, while we had to reach back into the 19th century to find the fifth.

C: Yadier Molina- Puerto Rico

Molina occupies the starting catcher’s spot somewhat out of necessity, since the Cardinals haven’t had too many other foreign-born catchers over their 135-year history, but he’s pretty clearly the most qualified catcher regardless of the geographical restrictions. 2017 will mark the third straight season during which he’s been the Cardinals’ primary starting catcher–that’s more than any other backstop in club history–and he’s won eight Gold Gloves.

1B: Albert Pujols- Dominican Republic

Pujols has unquestionably had the most successful Cardinals career of any Dominican-born (or for that matter, non-U.S.-born) player in franchise history. He was a nine-time All-Star and won three MVP awards with the Cardinals while posting a .328/.420/.617 slash line with 445 homers.

2B: Aledmys Díaz- Cuba

We’re getting creative to fit Díaz into the lineup, putting him at second base–a position where he’s played just two big-league innings, but one that some Cardinals fans would prefer to see him at after a mediocre defensive showing at shortstop during his rookie season. Despite the fact that he’s just one year into his MLB career, Díaz is already perhaps the most accomplished Cuban player in Cardinals history, having hit .300/.369/.510 while making his first All-Star team in 2016.

3B: Joe Quinn- Australia

Quinn is pretty clearly the weak link of this infield, seeing as he’s the only player among the group who never made an All-Star team. Quinn, a utilityman who played all four infield positions and in the outfield but saw his most frequent action at second base, was the first Australian-born player ever to reach the majors, predating the next one, Craig Shipley, by 102 years. Quinn played for three different St. Louis franchises (including the Maroons and Browns) but spent just part of one season with the Cardinals, hitting .263/.344/.325 over 22 games in 1900.

SS: Edgar Renteria- Colombia

Along with fellow shortstop Orlando Cabrera, Renteria is one of the most accomplished Colombian-born MLB players ever. He made three All-Star teams, won three Silver Slugger awards and two Gold Gloves, and helped the Cardinals advance to the 2004 World Series over six seasons in St. Louis. Renteria hit .290/.347/.420 over his time in St. Louis, and he’d be a good future candidate for the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Home/Cardinals All-Time Lists