#10 – C/1B/3B Joe Torre
Joe Torre is the second catcher to make this list, although he played more first and third base with the Cardinals. Over six seasons with St. Louis, Torre hit 98 home runs while slashing .308/.382/.458, good for a 132 wRC+ en route to four All-Star Game appearances, an MVP award, and ultimately a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Torre’s time with the St. Louis Cardinals was his incredible 1971 season that earned him the National League MVP Award. Over 700 plate appearances and 161 games, Joe Torre slashed .363/.421/.555 while leading the league in batting average, hits, RBIs, and total bases. He was easily one of the best offensive players of the season with a 173 wRC+, and in spite of the Cardinals’ second place finish, Torre won his first and only Most Valuable Player award.
Although that season was far and away Joe Torre’s best in his career, he was never a slouch at the plate, and consistently put up good numbers, and it’s that consistency — combined with a number of truly exceptional seasons — that helped him break into the top ten Cardinal hitters ever. We all know what Torre went on to do with the rest of his career, despite our wishes that he be best known for his Cardinals’ days.
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