Sam Arkwright Diary
October 2nd, 2022
This was one of the first games I scheduled when I set about my ballpark journey. And I wasn’t alone. A sellout crowd flocked to Busch Stadium in St. Louis to say goodbye to two Cardinal greats — Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
Cards fans knew this day was coming. Albert had decided to come back to St. Louis for one last ride with the Cardinals after ten years in Southern California with the Angels and then the Dodgers. But his best seasons were in St. Louis, where he was a 10-time All-Star, winning 3 NL MVP awards and Rookie of the Year honors, and was a two-time World Series champion.
Unlike Pujols, Molina spent his entire 19-year career with the Cardinals, making him one of the most beloved players in St. Louis. When you think all-time Cardinal greats, you have to put Pujols and Molina on the short list with Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, Rogers Hornsby, and Lou Brock.
That’s quite the list.
I arrived early to Busch Stadium so I could watch the pregame ceremonies for Pujols and Yadi. This would be their final regular season games at home, and the Cardinals pulled out all the stops to honor them. A long list of current and former teammates we’re on hand to join them, from Adam Wainwright to Ray Lankford. A Puerto Rican artist was commissioned to paint two custom portraits. The Mayor of St. Louis proclaimed two official days in honor of the two players. Each player was given a custom set of golf clubs as well as a man engraved plate from Tiffany’s.
This is how you honor your all-time greats. I’m taking notes.
With all the hubbub over Yadi and Albert, I kind of slipped through the cracks. Which was completely understandable. I never expected a sit-down with principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr., who has his hands full hosting not one, but two retirement ceremonies. He at least left me a box seat with a note, which read:
Quote:
Dear Sam,
Please enjoy this very special day, compliments of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Sincerely,
William O. DeWitt, Jr.
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After a heartfelt pregame ceremony, it was game time. And all 46,680 fans were on their feet when Albert Pujols strode to the plate with two on in the first inning. Pujols promptly delivered with a double right on the chalk in left to score two. Then, fittingly enough, Pujols scored on a Yadier Molina sacrifice fly. These guys can still play.
And just to further that point, Pujols reminded us all just how special he is in the 3rd inning. The man with the second-most RBI in MLB history, fourth-most home runs, and ninth-most hits gave Cardinals fans one last stamp on his career, with a drive to center and over the wall… his 702nd home run. Simply unbelievable.
The fact the Cards lost to the visiting Pirates 7-5 didn’t matter. Fans got to see Yadi and Pujols one last time. And so did I. What a day.
Pictured: Busch Stadium, Albert Pujols