St. Louis Cardinals: Carlos Beltran finally got his ring

After twenty long, grueling MLB seasons, one of the best switch hitters of all-time and former member of the St. Louis Cardinals has a World Series ring.

Carlos Beltran had quite the career heading into the 2017 season, including the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, 9-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove winner, and a 2-time Silver Slugger. An MVP award was not the former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder’s biggest non-accomplishment, it was a World Series ring.

During the offseason, Beltran decided to go back to the team where he put on an impressive playoff performance facing the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals.

Beltran put together a postseason for the ages, hitting eight home runs and stealing six bases while hitting .435. Despite his playoff greatness, the Cardinals would take down Beltran in the 2004 NLCS and once again defeat Beltran in the 2006 NLCS when he was on the New York Mets.

As a Met, Beltran experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Beltran would be an All-Star in each of first three seasons. But after his fourth season in New York, injuries hit him hard his next two seasons.

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Off to San Francisco Beltran went before the 2011 trade deadline, but no postseason action followed. The off-season came and Beltran signed with the team that crushed his World Series dreams twice in the St. Louis Cardinals.

There, Beltran experienced a sort of renaissance as he hit thirty-two home runs in his first season, his most since 2007.

Once again, Beltran performed in the postseason in 2012, but his former team, the Giants, defeated the Cardinals. Next season, Beltran finally got to the promised land, the World Series.

Beating the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers, Beltran and the Cardinals squared off against the Boston Red Sox. Even though Beltran hit .294 with three RBI, it was not enough as the Red Sox bested the Cardinals once again in the Fall Classic.

Back to New York Beltran went, but this time he was wearing pinstripes. 2015 and 2016 featured first round exits as a member of the Yankees and Texas Rangers. Following that 2016 season, the Houston Astros decided to give the 40-year-old veteran a chance and serve as a leader for their young core.

His prime years behind him, Beltran was able to hit fourteen home runs and drive in fifty-one and was once again in the postseason. Beltran may have not gotten the playing time he once got (21 total plate appearances), but the Astros conquered the powerhouse of the Los Angeles Dodgers and what was once a dream became a reality for Carlos Beltran.

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Beltran has said that he might play another season. But no matter what 2018 holds, what a career it has been for Carlos Beltran.