Number 15: An Iconic Number for the Cardinals
The number 15 has been an iconic number for the St. Louis Cardinals throughout the team’s history. From the early days of Rogers Hornsby and Enos Slaughter to the modern era with players like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, the Cardinals have had some of the greatest players to ever don the number 15.
Rogers Hornsby
The iconic number 15 was first worn by Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby, who is widely considered one of the greatest hitters in Major League Baseball history. Hornsby played for the Cardinals from 1915 to 1926 and from 1933 to 1937, and he was a two-time National League MVP (1925, 1929). During his time in St. Louis, Hornsby hit .330 or higher in seven seasons, including a career-high .424 in 1924. He also had a career-high 42 home runs and 152 RBI in 1925. Hornsby was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942.
Enos Slaughter
The next great Cardinal to wear number 15 was Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter, who wore the number from 1938 to 1953. During his time in St. Louis, Slaughter made nine All-Star teams and won the World Series in 1946. He also won the National League batting title in 1942 with a .318 batting average. Slaughter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
Tim McCarver
From 1960 to 1969, number 15 was worn by Tim McCarver, who went on to become one of the most recognizable faces in baseball broadcasting. During his playing days, McCarver was a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals. He also won two Gold Glove Awards during his time in St. Louis.
Tom Herr
From 1980 to 1988, number 15 was worn by Tom Herr, who had a long and successful career with the Cardinals. Herr was a two-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He had a career-high .304 batting average with the Cardinals in 1985 and was also part of the 1982 World Series-winning team.
Ozzie Smith
One of the most iconic players to wear number 15 for the Cardinals was Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith, who wore the number from 1991 to 1996. Smith is widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive shortstops of all-time and won 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 1980 to 1992. He was also a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals. Smith was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Albert Pujols
The most recent player to wear the iconic number 15 for the Cardinals was future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, who wore the number from 2001 to 2011. During his time in St. Louis, Pujols was one of the greatest players in baseball and was a three-time MVP, a nine-time All-Star, and a two-time World Series champion. He also won two Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards while with the Cardinals.
Other Notable Cardinals to Wear Number 15
In addition to the Hall of Famers, several other notable Cardinals have worn number 15 throughout the years. Here is a list of some of the other players who have worn the iconic number:
- Ray Jablonski (1956-1959): Jablonski was a three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Cardinals.
- Vince Coleman (1985-1990): Coleman was a two-time All-Star and won three consecutive stolen base titles with the Cardinals.
- Ray Lankford (1990-2000): Lankford was a three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Cardinals.
- Yadier Molina (2004-present): Molina is a nine-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner with the Cardinals.
Legacy of Number 15
The number 15 has been worn by some of the greatest players in Cardinals history, and it has become an iconic number for the franchise. From Rogers Hornsby and Enos Slaughter to Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, the number 15 has been worn by some of the greatest players ever to play the game.
Conclusion
The number 15 has been an iconic number for the Cardinals throughout the team’s history. From Hall of Famers like Rogers Hornsby and Ozzie Smith to modern stars like Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina, the number 15 has been worn by some of the greatest players to ever play the game.