On this Day: St. Louis Cardinals sign Carlos Beltran

One of the most important signings of this decade for the St. Louis Cardinals, Carlos Beltran put pen to paper on a two year, $26 million dollar contract on December 23, 2011.

Carlos Beltran would become an instrumental piece in two deep playoff runs during his time with the St. Louis Cardinals, but longer tenured fans know that this signing meant so much more than that.

Beltran is notorious for smacking the Cardinals around in 2004 and 2006 as part of two of the greatest playoff series in the modern St. Louis Cardinals era. As Tony La Russa said in the 2006 World Series film, “Carlos Beltran hit 20 home runs off [the Cardinals] in 10 at-bats.”

Honestly, LaRussa wasn’t that far off from describing Beltran’s 2004 NLCS showing against the Cardinals. Beltran slashed 417/.563/.958, hit 4 HR’s, drove in 5 RBI’s while scoring 12 runs in 32 PA’s. On top of the insane power and hitting prowess demonstrated, Beltran also put pressure on the bases when the Cardinals let him on, picking up 4 steals while not being caught once.

While he didn’t scorch the Cards nearly as hard in 2006, his line was still one to be feared. He eclipsed 1.000 OPS once again with a .296/.387/.667 line, while adding 3 home runs, 4 RBI’s, and 8 runs scored. That series was of course finished off in dramatic fashion, with Beltran taking center stage.

While both of those series ended in Cardinals victories, the fans who were in the moment remember those series as some of the most exciting, dramatic, and hard fought series that the St. Louis Cardinals have ever been a part of.

The bomb heard around the world hit by Albert Pujols against Brad Lidge? 2004 NLCS, Game 5.

Edmonds’ iconic game winning 12th inning shot? Just a game after that.

Rolen’s magic home run off of Rodger Clemens to break a crucial tie? That was made even bigger because it was Game 7 of that same series.

The home run that gave So Taguchi a place in the Cardinals history books? That was to win Game 2 of the 2006 NLCS.

Whatever the case may be, Carlos Beltran was one of the deadliest hitters on two teams who’s postseason battles with the Cardinals produced iconic moment after iconic moment. So when the St. Louis Cardinals signed him, fans were ecstatic. He was headed towards the twilight of his career, but fans were optimistic that Beltran could be an excellent complimentary piece on a team coming off a dramatic World Series win.

For the most part, Beltran met the expectations that fans had for him when he signed. He slashed a solid .269/.346/.495 in 2012, while hitting an impressive 32 homers and driving in 97 runs. He was no slouch that postseason either, slashing .357/.440/.714 while hitting 3 home runs and 6 RBI’s. He also showed his legs were still a threat in the form of 3 stolen bases in the 2012 postseason.

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It took about 15 games for Beltran to get going in 2013, but he was a major contributor for the Cardinals when he did, despite his home run count dropping from 32 to 24 in the 2013 season. He finished the season with a .296/.331/.491 slash line while maintaining solid RBI production, tacking on 84.

But looking beyond the stats, it was apparent that Beltran was beginning to slow down. His power was diminished, and he was using his experience and contact form to produce. While he has been a solid hitter throughout his career, he did so with a blistering, powerful swing. Now, he just didn’t have the bat speed to work like that.

I think this only became truly apparent because of the sting that came with the 2013 World Series loss. Beltran didn’t manage a single extra base hit in that World Series, though he did hit .296. Whatever the case may be, 2013 was Beltran’s last in St. Louis. He signed a 3 year, $45 million contract with the Yankees, and retired after finally winning his first ring with the Astros in 2017.

The St. Louis Cardinals have had a very unique relationship with Carlos Beltran over the years, but it has been one that has built a mutual respect between the two. While Beltran has been known as one of the most fearsome hitters to face the Cardinals, his time with both with and against the team will be fondly remembered.