St. Louis Cardinals: Top five batting seasons of the decade

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Luis Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 18, 2009 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 7-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 18: Luis Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 18, 2009 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 7-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Cardinals
ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 1: Tommy Pham #28 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on July 1, 2018 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

Tommy Pham, LF, 2017 – 530 PA, .306/.411/.520, 23 HR, 25 SB, 144 OPS+

Pham started the 2017 season in AAA (much to his dismay) and didn’t get his first plate appearance until May, but he still makes the list. Joining the 20/20 club in his first season as a starter, Pham became an important figure in the lineup, but just as polarizing off the field for his outspoken nature.

I, personally, found his personality to be refreshing, speaking his mind when he felt necessary. But he struck a nerve with a lot of other fans. After struggling to start the 2018 season, he was shipped to Tampa Bay for a (so far) underwhelming return, as he continues to tear it up in Florida.

Matt Holliday, LF, 2010, – 675 PA, .312/.390/.532, 45 doubles, 28 HR, 149 OPS+

Holliday was traded to St. Louis during the 2009 season and signed a club-record contract (until Paul Goldschmidt in 2019) for seven years following that season. He was worth every penny.

Holliday was remarkably consistent during his tenure in St. Louis, with his peak coming in his first full season with the team in 2010. He topped 40 doubles and was the Robin to Pujols’ Batman that season, but took over the lineup anchor after 2011 when Pujols left.