St. Louis Cardinals: Former Players Who Could Go To Cooperstown

Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

JD Drew, Right Field

J.D. Drew was a 1st round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1998.  He worked his way through the minors to make his debut in September of that same year going hitless in two at-bats against the Chicago Cubs.

In 1999 he became a starter and hit .242 in 104 games.  The following season he hit his stride playing in 135 games with a .295 batting average.  It wasn’t until the 2001 season when Drew hit the most homers in a Cardinals uniform at 27.  That number stood until he hit thirty-one playing for the Braves in 2004.

Defense was a bright spot for Drew.  Over the course of his career he was the league leader among right fielders in fielding percentage.  That never led to a Gold Glove for him, though he did get an all-star election in 2008 and even won the MVP of that game.

He was able to win a World Series ring in 2007 as the starting right fielder for the Boston Red Sox.  During that season Drew hit .270 with eleven home runs and sixty-four RBI in 140 games.  While he was not the main contributor to that lineup, he provided enough to help the Red Sox bring home a championship with a WAR of 2.1.

It is highly unlikely to see JD Drew in the Hall of Fame.  Most likely he won’t see a second ballot.  He was a tremendous talent, but never played more than 146 games in a season.  All of his injuries derailed his Cooperstown hopes.

If he somehow does make the Hall of Fame, it is also unlikely for him to list the St. Louis Cardinals as his primary team.  He did spend the most time in St. Louis with six years, but in his five years in Boston he was able to make the All Star game, and win a World Series.  Those were the two big moments of his career, so it is likely Boston will be the hat he decides to wear in Cooperstown should he get the necessary votes.