St. Louis Cardinals All-Time 25-Man Roster

The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most decorated franchises in baseball history. Their all-time 25-man roster also contains some of the greatest names in the sport.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a long history dating back to the 1870s. The Cardinals have won 11 World Series championships, second to the New York Yankees (27). They have also won 19 National League pennants and 13 division titles. Before the modern era of the World Series Championship, the St. Louis franchise won four league championships.

Many individuals within the Cardinals organization have impacted baseball throughout history as well. Rogers Hornsby, Dizzy Dean, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Whitey Herzog, Mark McGwire, and many others have all made a permanent mark on the history of the game. Cardinals players have won 20 league MVPs, four Triple Crowns, and three Cy Young Awards.

This incredibly storied franchise has been around for over 100 years. In that time, they have successfully managed to produce some of the best ballplayers to ever live. They have 11 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees including:

• Lou Brock
• Dizzy Dean
• Bob Gibson
• Whitey Herzog
• Rogers Hornsby
• Joe Medwick
• Stan Musial
• Branch Rickey
• Red Schoendienst
• Ozzie Smith
• Bruce Sutter

With so many impressive players throughout their history, what would the Cardinals’ all-time 25-man roster look like? The following team would be not only the best Cardinals team in history but one of the best teams in all of baseball’s history.

Catcher: Yadier Molina (2004 – Present)

Yadier Molina is a tough pick over the 1970s catcher Ted Simmons. But with Molina’s defensive dominance through his career, he can’t be ignored.

Early in his career, Molina was thought of as only a defensive catcher. He had a career batting average of .248 in 2007. By 2015, it soared to .286. But Molina was and is more known for his defensive abilities. With his unbelievable catching ability, along with his canon for an arm, Molina was quickly recognized as one of the best catchers in the league. Molina currently ranks second all-time among catchers in Total Zone Runs with 131. He only trails Ivan Rodriguez at 167. Molina also has never had a negative defensive WAR in a season.

In his first twelve seasons, he has made a postseason appearance nine times. He also has had seven consecutive All-Star game appearances, eight consecutive Gold Glove awards, four Platinum Glove awards, and one Silver Slugger award. Offensively, Yadi has produced over 1,500 hits, 100 home runs, 600 RBI, and a career batting average of .284. While on the team, the Cardinals have won 2 World Series titles and 4 National League pennants.

Currently, Molina is in his 13^th season and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. The 33-year-old catcher broke Ted Simmons’ record of games caught all-time for the Cardinals. He also is hitting .300/.354/.413 while the Cardinals remain in the hunt for a Wild Card playoff position. The prestigious catcher has been vital to the St. Louis Cardinals’ success and will be until he retires.

First Base: Albert Pujols (2001-2011)

Albert Pujols may retire in another team’s jersey, but be assured his best years were as a Cardinal. Pujols broke onto the scene in 2001 by winning National League Rookie of the Year. He then went on to be a nine-time All-Star as well as a two-time World Series champion as a Cardinal.

In his 11 years in St. Louis, Pujols was actually a living legend. Through those 11 seasons, Pujols was named the National League MVP twice, won the Silver Slugger award 6 times, and was a 2-time Gold Glove winner. He also hit .328/.420/617 with 445 home runs and 1329 RBI as a Cardinal. His time in St. Louis alone is good enough for a Hall of Fame discussion.

Now, Pujols is in his 16^th season at age 36. He has had a number of injury issues since moving to Los Angeles, but he is still making history. He continues to climb the ladder in almost every single all-time offensive category and will surely be known as arguably the best hitter of our time.

Many Cardinals fans may have felt animosity towards Albert when he left for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. But his impact on the franchise and its history is too big to dismiss. The Dominican first baseman made his home and career in St. Louis. He belongs on this all-time team.

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Second Base: Rogers Hornsby (1915-1926; 1933-1937)

Rogers Hornsby joins the team one of the first players to impact the franchise on a historical level. He led the Cardinals to their first World Series in 1926. Many may not know that he also managed the team that year and the previous.

Hornsby was nicknamed “The Rajah,” and is accepted as one of the greatest hitters of all time. He won two Triple Crown awards, two MVP awards, and has a career batting average that is second all-time in all of baseball to Ty Cobb. Hornsby also batted over .400 three times in his career. He’s also the only player to ever bat over .400 and hit 40 home runs in the same season. His 1924 batting average of .424 is a modern era single-season record that has yet to be broken.

Rogers Hornsby was also the first Cardinal to ever be honored by the franchise. In 1937, the team used the symbol, “SL” to honor him instead of his number since that was the norm at the time. His statue currently rests outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Hornsby began this franchise’s historical success, and his place on this team is unquestioned. The two-time batting champion would start at second base for the all-time Cardinals and he may even be the manager.

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Third Base: Ken Boyer (1955-1965)

Ken Boyer is one of the most underrated third basemen of all time. He was an 11-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner and was the National League MVP in 1964. He spent ten years as the Cardinals third baseman and returned after retiring to aid Red Schoendienst to manage the team. Boyer also captained the team to a World Series victory in 1945.

In his 10 years as a Cardinal, he hit 255 home runs. He’s third on the Cardinals all-time home run list behind Stan Musial and Albert Pujols. Boyer retired with a slugging percentage of .462 and ranks among the best when it comes to games (6^th, 1,785) assists (6^th, 3,652) and double plays (3^rd, 355). Boyer is also the only Cardinals player since 1900 to bat for the cycle twice.

The St. Louis Cardinals retired his number in 1984 and made him the only Cardinals player with their number retired to not be in the Hall of Fame. In 2014, the Hall of Fame’s Golden Era Committee placed him on the ballot for the second time but he did not make it. They’ll meet again in 2017.

Many may not know that the Cardinals initially tried to have Boyer be a pitcher. With his hitting ability being so impressive and his pitching being sub-par, the Cardinals moved him to third base in 1951. He joined the Major League roster in 1954. And he joins this all-time roster now.

Shortstop: Ozzie Smith (1982-1996)

It wouldn’t be the Cardinals’ all-time roster without Ozzie Smith. The back-flipping shortstop that is loved by all has been essential to this organization ever since he joined the Redbirds in 1982.

His athletic ability allowed him to be perhaps the best defensive shortstop in history and it also allowed him to celebrate it on the field to become a fan favorite. “The Wizard” won 13 Gold Glove awards, one MVP award, and was a 15-time All-Star. He is second all-time in assists with 8,375 and second in double plays turned as a shortstop with 1,590.

Smith also is known for one of the most memorable moments in history. He hit a game-winning home run in the 1985 National League Championship Series. And because of that moment, Jack Buck’s famous “Go crazy, folks!” became a motto all Cardinals fans loved.

The Wizard was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2002. His number (1) was retired by St. Louis in 1996 and he still remains an active member of the Cardinals community. His membership on this all-time roster is unquestioned and his defensive ability is invaluable.

Left Field: Lou Brock (1964-1979)

Lou Brock is one of the best outfielders of all-time and easily one of the best Cardinals of all-time. Despite beginning his career for the Cardinals’ top rival, the Chicago Cubs, Brock is a Cardinal through and through.

He spent 19 seasons in the major leagues, 16 being with the Redbirds. Through that time, he was a six-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, and an MVP finalist in 1974.

Brock wasn’t known for his power, but he was known for his incredible speed. He currently sits in second on the all-time stolen base list with 938 and trails Rickey Henderson. Brock also became well known after he broke Ty Cobb’s all-time stolen base record in 1977.

In addition to that, Brock reached 3,023 career hits before retiring. Only 29 other players have ever achieved such a thing. 486 of those hits were doubles and 141 were triples.

St. Louis retired number 20 in 1979 and Brock was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. He remains with the Cardinals today as a special instructor coach and is a fan favorite. During games, if there is a sighting of the great outfielder, fans cheer “Loooouuuuu” while many visitors believe the fans are booing. Brock is a Cardinal for life, and his leadoff presence on this team goes unchallenged.

Center Field: Stan Musial (1941-1944; 1946-1963)

Stan Musial may be known as “Stan the Man,” but he really should be known as the greatest Cardinal. Musial played first base and outfield since he was so versatile and athletic. Although center field wasn’t his primary position, he would start there for this all-time roster.

Musial was a seven-time National League batting champion and three-time National League MVP. Through his 22 year career, he never struck out more than 50 times in one season and he had exactly 1,815 hits at home and 1,815 hits on the road. With 3,630 total hits, he is fourth on the all-time list and is first among players that only played for one team. He also shares the major league record for most All-Star games played (24) with Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.

In his first full season as a Cardinal in 1942, he led them to a World Series championship. In 1943, he won MVP and led in almost every offensive category. He followed that up with another World Series title in 1944. Unfortunately, in 1945, Musial left baseball and served our country in the Navy during World War II.

But he returned in 1946 and seemed to not have missed a step. He won the 1946 MVP award and helped the Cardinals win another World Series title. After Musial retired, he served as general manager of the Cardinals in 1967 and was part of yet another St. Louis Cardinals World Series winning team.

Stan the Man was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Cardinals retired his number (6) in 1963. One of the best hitters of all-time captains this all-time Cardinals roster from center field.

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Right Field: Enos Slaughter (1938-1942; 1946-1953)

There are other options for an outfield position on this roster, but Enos Slaughter had the proven bat and accolades to be the starter. He had 2,383 hits in his career, including 169 home runs and 1,304 RBI in 2,380 games. In total, Slaughter played for 19 seasons and was a 10-time All-Star that had 5 World Series appearances (four wins).

Slaughter ranks fourth in games played as a Cardinal with 1,820 behind Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock, and Stan Musial. He also ranks third in RBI (1,148), fifth in ABs (6,775), and sixth in doubles (366).

Like Stan Musial, Slaughter missed time during the 1940s due to military service. But upon return in 1946, he led the National League with 130 RBI and led the Cardinals to a World Series win. He is famously known for the “Mad Dash” from first base to home in the eighth inning of the 7^th game.

Enos Slaughter was always known for his hustle and his intense run to first base on walks was later emulated by Pete Rose and David Eckstein. Slaughter was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985. The Redbirds retired his number (9) in 1996. His hustle, ability to knock in runs, and tendency to win big games earns him a spot on this historic roster.

Designated Hitter: Mark McGwire (1997-2001)

Mark McGwire, despite the controversy about his PED use, was an incredible St. Louis Cardinals player. He was an All-Star every season he was a Cardinal and made 12 total All-Star appearances. As a rookie, McGwire hit 49 home runs, setting the single-season rookie record. But that was just the start. Each season from 1996 to 1999, he led the major leagues in home runs.

In 1998, McGwire chased Roger Maris’ home run record of 61. He broke it and set a new major league single-season home run record with 70. Big Mac also led the league in RBI, walks, OBP, and slugging percentage multiple times throughout his career. He averaged a home run once every 10.61 at bats which are the best at bats per home run ratio in baseball history. He also was the fastest player to hit 500 home runs. He needed only 5,487 at bats. He retired following injury filled 2000 and 2001 seasons and finished with 583 home runs, which was 5th all-time when he retired.

Currently, Big Mac is working as the bench coach for the San Diego Padres. He previously worked on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ coaching staff. McGwire was the home run king for a few years before Barry Bonds broke his record. He revitalized not only the Cardinals as a team, but also the entire sport. Whether you feel he should be eligible for special considerations or not due to the PED issues, he deserves to be on this list for what he did as a St. Louis Cardinal.

Backup Catcher: Ted Simmons (1968-1980)

Ted Simmons arguably could’ve been the starting catcher for the all-time Redbirds. Through 21 years, Simmons played in 2,456 games, had 2,473 hits along with a .285 career batting average. He tacked on 248 career home runs, 1,389 runs batted in and a .348 on-base percentage. He also ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage.

Simmons was an eight-time All-Star and is one of the best switch-hitters of all time. He batted above .300 seven times, hit 20 home runs six times, and batted in 90 or more runs eight times. He also established a National League record for home runs by a switch hitter (182) that has been broken recently.

Simmons also held major league records for catchers with 2,472 hits and 483 doubles but Ivan Rodriguez has broken those. Simmons still ranks second all-time among catchers with 1,389 RBI and tenth with 248 home runs. He also ranks eighth all-time among major league catchers with 122 caught shutouts in his career.

Ted Simmons was the best catcher in Cardinals history until Yadier Molina entered the scene. Even now, he still is arguably the best catcher but with Molina improving as he ages, Simmons moves to the backup role on the all-time roster.

Backup Infielder: Red Schoendienst (1945-1956; 1961-1963)

Red Schoendienst is one of the best second basemen ever. He is rivaled by other incredible second basemen like Rogers Hornsby and Ryne Sandberg.

Schoendienst actually began his major league career as the Cardinals’ left fielder. He was moved to second in 1946 and he helped them win their third World Series in five years. He also won the 1946 Home Run Derby. Schoendienst quickly became known for his incredible reflexes and sure hands.

The National League’s second basemen were led by Red for seven seasons in almost every single category. He also was notorious for never making errors. In 1950, he handled 320 consecutive chances without an error. His 1956 fielding percentage of .9934 was an all-time record for 30 yeares until Ryne Sandberg broke it.

Shoendienst seemed to show up when it mattered. He was incredibly reliable and he became a clutch player for the Cardinals and the National League. In the 1950 season’s All-Star Game, he hit a home run in the top of the 14th inning to win it. It was the first All-Star game ever to go to extra innings.

With the popularity of “utility” players in today’s game, Schoendienst seems like the perfect guy. He’s played shortstop, left field, and second base in his career. And with his near perfect defensive ability, he is an asset anywhere on the field. Schoendienst is a Cardinal favorite and the Hall of Famer makes the all-time roster.

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Backup OF: Joe Medwick (1932-1940; 1947-1948)

Joseph Medwick made his debut with the Cardinals in 1932 in left field. “Ducky” as they called him, was known for swinging at nearly every pitch thrown. Despite that, in 1934, he hit .319 with 18 home runs and 106 RBI. His career took off from there.

In 1936, Medwick set a National League record with 64 doubles that still stands today. He also holds the major league record for consecutive seasons with 40 or more doubles. Medwick went on to win the National League Triple Crown in 1937 as well as the National League MVP award. He remains to this day, the last National League player the win the Triple Crown.

Medwick was also known for playing harder than most. He is the only player known to this day to be thrown out of a game for his own personal safety. In the seventh game of the 1934 World Series, Medwick slid into third base on a triple pretty hard. He was ordered out of the game after the Detroit fans began pelting Medwick with garbage.

Ducky was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968. He was made a member of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014. With his hard-nosed attitude and his top tier talent to hit the ball into the gap, he makes the Cardinals all-time roster.

Backup OF: Willie McGee (1982-1990; 1996-1999)

Willie McGee carries some of the best St. Louis Cardinals memories with him every day. He primarily played center and right field and was awarded the Gold Glove three times. The switch-hitter also won two Silver Slugger award and the National League MVP in 1985. A four-time All-Star, McGee gathered 2,254 hits during his career. In 1985, McGee ranked first in the National League in batting average (.353, the second-highest mark by a switch hitter in NL history), hits (216) and triples (18).

McGee was thrown into the spotlight at age 23 while St. Louis was trying to win a World Series. In Game 3 of the 1982 World Series, McGee displayed one of the best performances in World Series history. He hit two home runs and made an unbelievable defensive play in center field. He capped off the game with a leaping grab of a home run in the ninth inning that secured the Cardinals victory. McGee became just the third rookie to hit two home runs in a World Series game.

Whether it be for McGee’s spectacular plays in the outfield or for his clutch performances in the World Series, he is a part of the Cardinals all-time roster. And he is very well deserving.

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Starting Pitcher: Chris Carpenter (2004-2012)

Chris Carpenter may be the second Cardinals pitcher that most fans think of when it comes to all-time greats. He won a Cy Young Award with the Cardinals as well as two World Series championships. Furthermore, he was a three-time All-Star.

Carpenter’s career started off pretty rocky. He was a first-round draft pick for the Toronto Blue Jays but was plagued by injuries. He was released in 2002 and the Cardinals signed him. Emerging as the ace in 2004, Carpenter turned his career around. He went on to win a Cy Young in 2005, lead the starting rotation to a World Series title in 2006, and foster another rotation in 2011 to another title. Carpenter’s injuries were deemed to be career-threatening in some situations. But he always returned.

In nine seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Carpenter won 95 regular-season games and earned a 3.07 ERA. During that period, his .683 winning percentage led all Major League pitchers. Additionally, in 18 postseason starts, Carpenter won 10 games with a 3.00 ERA. Currently, Carpenter is third on the Cardinals all-time strikeouts list behind Dizzy Dean and Bob Gibson. He will join them in the rotation on the Cardinals’ all-time roster.

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Starting Pitcher: Dizzy Dean (1930; 1932-1937)

Dizzy Dean, aka “Dizzy,” played for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 30s for the “Gashouse Gang.” The Gang was a nickname for the team during this time period. Dizzy was best known for his 1934 season where he won 30 games and led the Cardinals to the National League Pennant and the World Series win. He finished the season 30-7 with a 2.66 ERA. He is the only pitcher to win 30 games in the post-1920 live-ball era.

Dizzy quickly became a fan favorite because of his tendency to brag about his dominance and make predictions about his performances. He once made a bet that he could strike out Vince DiMaggio four times in one game. In DiMaggio’s first three at-bats he struck out. In the fourth, he popped up to the catcher who intentionally dropped it due to Dizzy’s command. Dizzy then struck him out and won the bet. After his incredible 1934 season, Dizzy won the National League MVP award.

The four-time All-Star led the league in complete games and in strikeouts four consecutive times in his career. His career ended abruptly due to an injury that occurred during the 1937 All-Star game. But that didn’t keep him from the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 1953 and became a baseball broadcaster. If he didn’t get injured, who knows how great he could’ve been. Either way, he still is one of the best and is definitely on the all-time Cardinals roster.

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Starting Pitcher: Jesse Haines (1920-1937)

Jesse Haines is the right-handed knuckleballer that makes the all-time roster. He was a fixture in the St. Louis Cardinals starting rotation in 1920. Despite a 13-20 record, Haines had a 2.98 ERA and pitched 300 innings. Additionally, Haines was a part of three World Series championship teams.

“Pop” as they called him, is known for throwing a no-hitter in 1924. It was more than 50 years before another St. Louis pitcher threw a no-hitter. Haines was also known for being calm and collected off the field but becoming a raging bull while on the mound. He was named “Pop” because he had such an influence on younger players. And since he threw a knuckleball, his career extended until he was 43 years old.

Haines won 20 games or more three times for the St. Louis Cardinals. And he also won three World Series (1926, 1931, 1934). In the 1926 World Series, he went 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA. Haines retired with a 210-158 record, 981 strikeouts, 3.64 ERA, and 3208 2/3 innings. In 1970, Haines was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of fame in 2014. He currently ranks second in franchise history in shutouts. The knuckleballer helps round out this incredible Cardinals all-time rotation.

Starting Pitcher: Adam Wainwright (2005-Present)

The current Cardinals ace is the final choice for the all-time rotation. Adam Wainwright began his career as a closer and has been a part of many important, high-pressure moments in including the final out of the 2006 World Series. After converting to a starter, he narrowly missed out on a Cy Young Award in both 2009 and 2010.

Adam Wainwright made the Cardinals 2006 Opening Day roster and hit a home run in his first Major League at-bat. This was the beginning of a special season. The Redbirds won the division in 2016 and beat the heavily favored Mets in a dramatic seven-game series. Wainwright was asked to step in for closer Jason Isringhausen after an injury shut him down late in the season. Wainwright’s defining moment was against Carlos Beltran with the bases loaded to get to the World Series. He then struck out the final batter to win the World Series.

Since that season, Wainwright has been an effective starter when healthy. Wainwright won 20 games in 2010 and finished second in the Cy Young voting. He missed all of 2011 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In 2013, he finished second in the Cy Young voting again. He followed it up with a third-place finish in 2014 for the Cy Young award. In 2015, Waino missed almost the entire season due to an ACL injury. Now, he is finding his way back as the Cardinals try to make the postseason.

Wainwright is arguably the face of the Cardinals’ recent success. He was such a major factor in 2006 and the team’s success in the last 10 years. He wasn’t able to pitch in 2011 but his impact in the clubhouse was surely felt. He is a leader now and he would be on this all-time roster.

Closer: Bruce Sutter (1981-1984)

Bruce Sutter is one of the first pitchers to use a splitter. He has recorded 300 career saves and won a National League Cy Young award in 1979. Sutter is in the Hall of fame because he was the most “lights-out” closer of the late 70s and early 80s.  

Being baseball’s most dominant reliever for a period of time, he became the only pitcher to lead the National League in saves five times. He also had five consecutive All-Star appearances. In 1981 he recorded 25 saves with a 2.62 ERA. Following it up in 1982, Sutter registered 36 saves and finished third in Cy Young voting. The Cardinals also won the 1982 World Series and Sutter had two saves in the series.

Sutter once held the major league record for most saves in a season with 45 in 1984. But his record was broken two years later. His National League record was broken seven years later. During Sutter’s record-breaking season, he pitched a career-high 122.2 innings. Sutter threw more than 100 innings five times in his career.

The Baseball Hall of Fame accepted Sutter in 2006. He was the fourth relief pitcher to be inducted. Sutter is also a part of the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame. As one of the most dominant relievers ever, the Cardinals all-time roster needs him in the closer position.

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Relief pitcher: Jason Isringhausen (2002-2008)

Jason Isringhausen and the St. Louis Cardinals from the early 2000s went on a run that left little hope in the hearts of fans of other National League Central clubs. The Cardinals were a heavy favorite through the early 2000s and Izzy was the lock-down closer during their success.

With Isringhausen as the closer, the Cardinals reached the World Series twice and won it once. He is one of the most dominant closers in Cardinals history. He amassed 217 saves as a Cardinal which is a franchise record that still stands today.

Isringhausen also averaged 31 saves a season over seven years with the Cardinals. In 2004, he led the league with 47 saves. After he recorded his 300th save, Izzy retired. The two-time All-Star is part of this all-time roster because he has been the most consistent closer for the St. Louis Cardinals in the past 50 or so years. Not only that, but the achievements he has with the Cardinals despite all the injuries is impressive enough. If Izzy didn’t have such a high number of injuries, his name may be in the Hall of Fame discussion.

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Relief Pitcher: Lee Smith (1990-1993)

You may be asking yourself, “Why is a Cubs closer on this roster?” Well the easy answer is that he was a better Cardinal than he ever was as a Cub despite playing for Chicago longer.

In just under four seasons in St. Louis, Lee Smith racked up 160 saves while finishing 245 games in the process. During his 18 year big-league career, the right-hander closed out 478 contests, which ranks third all-time.

Many fans may think he belongs on the Cubs’ all-time roster. But that isn’t the case. He appeared in 458 games over eight season for the Cubs. He earned 180 saves in the process. While playing for the St. Louis Cardinals, Smith played in 245 games and recorded 160 saves. A much better, impressive ratio. Plus, during the 1991 season for the Cardinals, Smith set a new National League record by closing 47 games. He finished second in Cy Young Award voting for his performance. Smith went on to lead the league in saves four times in his career (three times in the NL, once in the AL).

It wasn’t until Izzy came along that any Cardinals reliever topped his 160 saves with St. Louis, and for that reason, he comes in at No. 2.

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Relief Pitcher: Todd Worrell (1985-1992)

Todd Worrell may be the most underrated reliever in Cardinals history. He is definitely the most overlooked. And it is quite a shame. Worrell was the first relief pitcher to save at least 30 games in his first three full seasons.

In the ’86 campaign he racked up the innings, pitching over 100 frames of 2.08 ERA ball while earning a league-leading 36 saves. In four full seasons with the Cardinals, Worrell hit the 30-save mark three times before leaving for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struggled before re-finding his form. Injuries thwarted his once-promising time in St. Louis and, for the most part, he’s largely overlooked these days.

That being said, for a brief time Worrell was one of the most consistent relievers in the league, giving the Cardinals a dependable answer at the back-end.

Relief Pitcher: Mort Cooper (1938-1945)

Mort Cooper was born in Missouri and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1933. Cooper was a starter and a reliever during his time with the Cardinals. He wasn’t promoted until 1938 and had a 12-6 record as a 1939 rookie. He struggled in 1940 and 1941 going a combined 24-21. It wasn’t until 1942 that Coop hit his stride. He helped the team win the World Series in 1942 and won the National League Most Valuable Player. The three-time All-Star posted a 1.78 ERA with 10 shutouts during the 1942 season. He also had a 22-7 record.

Additionally, Cooper followed 1942 up with a very strong 1943. With a 21-8 record, Cooper produced a 2.30 ERA. He also helped the team to another World Series title in 1944. Despite going 22-7 with a 2.46 ERA, Cooper didn’t make the All-Star Game. But in the 1944 postseason, Cooper went 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA and won his second World Series championship before being traded.

His time with the Cardinals ended due to contract holdouts. Cooper and his brother demanded that the Cardinals raise their salaries. The Cardinals responded by trading him. Despite that, Cooper is still one of the best overall pitchers in Cardinals history. He was a starter that was relied on as a reliever as well. He was extremely close to making 40 appearances a season almost every year even though he started 30+ games. With the final pitching spots being rounded out, Cooper stakes his claim because of his MVP and two World Series wins.

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Relief Pitcher: Al Hrabosky (1970-1977)

Al Hrabosky is another Cardinals fan favorite. He may not be the most dominant Cardinals pitcher of all time, but he is certainly one of the most memorable and the most colorful.

Nicknamed the “Mad Hungarian,” he sported an oversized Fu Manchu and long hair. Hrabosky was known for stomping the back of the mound, working himself into a frenzy and then pitching to batters. The fans would roar and cheer him on as he did this for every batter. But batters typically did not approve of his antics.

He pitched for 13 seasons total and eight with the St. Louis Cardinals. He did an adequate job as a reliever for the Cardinals but his best year was 1975. In 1975, he went 13-3 along with 22 saves and a 1.66 ERA. He finished top-three in Cy Young voting and top-eight in National League MVP Award voting.

Hrabosky is currently the Cardinals color commentator for regular season games, and w.ould be a welcomed addition to the all-time roster. Even if it is just for his mound antics.

Relief Pitcher: Lindy McDaniel (1955-1962)

Lindy McDaniel finishes out the Cardinals’ all-time 25 man roster. McDaniel debuted as a 19-year-old for the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1955. He played for 21 seasons and earned an All-Star appearance in 1960. In 1959, 1960, and 1963, Lindy led the league in saves and was reliever of the year for the National League in 1960 as member of the Cardinals.

In 1960, Lindy had his top overall year as a Cardinal. He went 12-2 as a reliever with 22 saves and an ERA of 1.29. The All-Star also finished third in Cy Young Award voting and fifth in National League MVP voting.

Next: Angels All-Time 25-Man Roster

McDaniel pitched for the Cubs, Giants, and Yankees before retiring. But his best seasons were with the Cardinals. The two-time All-Star was a reliever that was relied upon to not only come in late in games, but get them the win. 12 wins and 2 losses is rare for a reliever and the righty averaged over 60 appearances a season and over 130 innings pitched. He’s the perfect innings eater for the Cardinals’ all-time roster that contains a number of closers.