Most likely Cardinals player to get into the Hall of Fame next

Scott Rolen was elected into the National Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Who will be the next  St. Louis Cardinal elected to the Hall of Fame? 

The best third baseman of his generation was inducted into the National Hall of Fame on Tuesday. Rolen received 76.3 percent of the vote, five votes above the 75.0 percent threshold.

Rolen was elected to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2019. He was the 1997 National League Rookie of the Year, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, and a seven-time All-Star. He was a Silver Slugger winner in 2002.

He helped the Cardinals to the 2006 World Series Championship. He helped the Cardinals to the National League pennant in 2004.

In addition to the Cardinals, Rolen played for the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Reds.

Who will be the next Hall of Famer from the Cardinals?

The next Cardinals to be eligible for induction to the National Hall of Fame, based on their retirement, is Matt Holliday in 2024. Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina will be eligible in 2028. To be elected, the player must receive 75 percent of the vote.

While Pujols is likely to receive an induction in his first season of eligibility, Molina could be the victim of pettiness from voters.

In his career, Pujols hit .298/.374/.544 with an OPS of .918. He had 3,384 hits, 703 home runs, 1914 runs scored, and 2218 RBI.

He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2001, a three-time MVP, an 11-time All-Star, a two-time Gold Glove winner, and a six-time Silver Slugger. He was the 2004 NLCS MVP and was essential to the Cardinals World Series championships in 2006 and 2011.

Pujols spent 11 seasons with the Cardinals before signing with the Angels. He was released by the Angels in 2021 and then picked up by the Dodgers. Pujols returned to the Cardinals for a memorable final season in 2022.

Pujols is an absolute legend and will add to that legend when inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Molina is one of the best backstops ever to play the game and did so with the Cardinals for 19 seasons. Molina was a 10-time All-Star, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, a four-time Platinum Glove winner, and a Silver Slugger. He also played a huge role in the Cardinals’ 2006 and 2011 World Series championships. He was a rookie during the Cardinals’ 2004 World Series run.

Holliday will be eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame for the first year in 2024. He was the NLCS MVP in 2007 for the Colorado Rockies. He helped the Cardinals to their 2011 World Series championship. He was a seven-time All-Star and a four-time Silver Slugger winner.

In his career, he hit .299/.379/.510 with an OPS of .889 with 316 home runs and 1,220 RBI. Holliday was a tremendous hitter but was injury prone, which may have held him back in some seasons.

David Freese, the 2011 NLCS, and World Series MVP from the Cardinals, is eligible in 2025 based on his retirement. While he is beloved by Cardinals fans, he likely would not receive enough votes to gain election.

Which former Cardinals are no longer eligible?

Jim Edmonds was dropped from the Hall of Fame ballot after only receiving 2.5 percent of the vote in his first year of eligibility in 2016.

Edmonds was selected to the 2014 inaugural class of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Edmonds was a four-time All-Star, an eight-time Gold Glove winner, and a Silver Slugger winner in 2004. He helped the Cardinals win the 2006 World Series championship and played a vital role in the Cardinals’ 2004 NL Pennant win.

In addition to the Cardinals, he played for the Angels, Padres, Cubs, Brewers, and Reds.

Edmonds is a Cardinals fan favorite, but the love doesn’t seem to extend to the National Hall of Fame Voters.

Ken Boyer was a legendary third-baseman for the Cardinals during the 1960s. He had a 15-season career in which he hit .287/.349/.468 with an OPS of .810. He had 282 home runs and 1,141 RBI. He was the 1964 NL MVP. He had five Gold Glove Awards and was named an NL All-Star 11 times.

He fell short of induction when he was first eligible. He fell short in the Golden Era Committee in 2022. He is one player Cardinals fans would love to see earn induction to the Hall of Fame. Boyer passed away in 1982. Boyer’s number 14 was retired in 1984. He was a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2014.