Yadier Molina debuted a new catcher’s mask that commemorated his 325th start for the St. Louis Cardinals alongside pitcher Adam Wainwright.
History is being made for the St. Louis Cardinals ever since they returned from the All-Star break. Albert Pujols’ surge post-Home Run Derby has got him close to 700 career home runs. But on Wednesday, Sept. 14, there was more history being made, as this was the 325th time that St. Louis’ battery of pitcher Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina started a game together.
Prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Molina commemorated the occasion by debuting a new mask, which featured their images and the No. 325.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 14, 2022
Yadier Molina commemorates 325th start with Adam Wainwright with catcher’s mask
To start the game, Wainwright threw a pitch to Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, which he did not swing at. Molina caught the ball, and threw it towards the Cardinals dugout, where it will no doubt be heading to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Yeah that ball is going straight to the Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/LYo758QOv9
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 14, 2022
The 325th start for Molina and Wainwright is the most of pitcher-catcher batteries in the Modern Era. That record was previously held by Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan of the Detroit Tigers, who started 324 games from 1963 until 1975.
Molina and Wainwright have 212 wins together in the previous 324 starts.
Last year, Molina announced that he would be retiring from baseball at the conclusion of the 2022 season. This season, the Cardinals are on pace to make it into the postseason, and it could turn into one final ride to the World Series.
Cardinals fans are just going to be watching history for the remainder of the season. From Pujols’ chase for 700 home runs to Molina and Wainwright setting the battery record. They certainly hope that this will turn into a World Series title.