The Hall of Fame case for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright

Saturday marked the end of an era for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina played their final game in the majors, a disappointing 2-0 loss to eliminate them from the Wild Card round. Both legends are heading off into the sunset, their final stop before they end up in Cooperstown in just a few short years.

Can Adam Wainwright join St. Louis Cardinals teammates in Hall of Fame?

It is possible that the same will be the case for a third Cardinals legend. The 2022 campaign was supposed to be the last for Adam Wainwright as well, although he has left the door slightly open for a return next year.

If this is the end, Wainwright is leaving behind a solid career. He posted a 195-117 record with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.216 WHiP, striking out 2147 batters with 695 walks in his 2567.1 innings. Wainwright was a three time All Star and two time Gold Glove winner, finishing in the top three of the NL Cy Young vote four times.

But is it a Hall of Fame caliber career? There are some people that feel Wainwright will join his legendary teammates in Cooperstown at some point in time, a trio of Hall of Famers all departing the Cardinals at the same time.

His career just does not stack up to that level. Wins may not matter as much these days, but his 195 wins would make him just the seventh player to be inducted as a starting pitcher with fewer than 200 victories. Likewise, his 42.4 bWAR is lower than the likes of Javier Vazquez, Al Leiter, and Frank Viola.

This adds up to a solid career, and one that would be worthy of the Hall of Very Good, but not the Hall of Fame. It is possible that he ends up as one of those players who hangs around the ballot for his decade of eligibility, getting a boost because of his time in St. Loius, but the only way he ends up in Cooperstown will be with a ticket.

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright may have ended a solid career. It just was not the type of career that was worthy of the Hall of Fame.