The St. Louis Cardinals announced that their future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina has agreed to return for one more season before retiring. The one-year contract will extend Molina’s tenure with the organization to 19 years, the most in franchise history after Stan Musial, who played in 22 seasons.
“On behalf of the Cardinals and our fans, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Yadier Molina will continue his franchise legacy for another season in 2022,” Cardinals chairman, Bill DeWitt Jr., shared in a public statement, “Yadi has continued to play at an All-Star level this season, and has already established himself among the greatest players to have ever worn the birds on the bat.”
The 39-year-old has carved out quite the resume, one that features ten All-Star appearances, nine Gold Glove Awards, and two World Series rings. In addition to his on-field exploits, Molina has also been commended for his many humanitarian contributions. He was the recipient of the 2018 Roberto Clemente Award after his nonprofit charity Fundación 4, dedicated to helping underprivileged children in Puerto Rico, raised over $800,000 in relief following Hurricane Maria.
