St. Louis Cardinals: Rogers Hornsby belongs on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
While the first three entrants into our version of Mount Rushmore may not have much debate surrounding them, adding the fourth face to the mountain is where it gets tricky.
Could this be Yadier Molina? What about Albert Pujols? Maybe Lou Brock? There are plenty of possibilities, but we are going with Hornsby here because of what he did for the franchise as a player and manager.
As a player, Hornsby’s prodigious talent at the plate was nothing short of extraordinary. His exceptional batting skills, exemplified by his .358 career batting average, remain a testament to his hitting prowess. Hornsby’s ability to consistently drive in runs and his knack for getting on base were instrumental in the Cardinals’ triumphs during the late 1910s and early 1920s.
With Hornsby slashing .317/.388/.463 during the regular season, the team advanced to the World Series and won the franchise’s first-ever title, downing the New York Yankees.
During his 23-year playing career, Hornsby was a member of the Cardinals for 13 seasons, logging a .995 OPS and 177 OPS+ during that time.
Oh, and Hornsby was also the manager of that 1926 team, the second of two seasons he would be at the helm for the Cardinals, leading them to a 153-116 mark. In his Hall of Fame career, he would manage six teams over 14 seasons.