What if the St. Louis Cardinals were members of The Avengers?

Are there other groups and teams out there that resemble the St. Louis Cardinals? It turns out that The Avengers have a lot of baseball-counterparts.

The St. Louis Cardinals are an impressive group of athletes with a wide array of skills. It might seem strange, but there’s another group out there that is just like them. That’s right, this is a slideshow of the St. Louis Cardinals as members of Marvel’s Avengers.

Oddly enough, the members of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have a lot of similarities to the members of the Cardinals. If the 26-man roster of the Cardinals was used to fill the cast of the Avengers, who would play who?

For those that haven’t seen the movies, please note that there are a few spoilers ahead. There are only current members of the Cardinals on this list. I hope you enjoy!

ST LOUIS, MO – SEPTEMBER 14: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after giving up a two-run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Jack Flaherty: Falcon

Jack Flaherty’s ability as a pitcher is probably much greater than Falcon’s as an Avenger. However, just like Flaherty is following Wainwright as the next ace of the Cardinal’s rotation, Falcon has recently taken over the Captain America mantle. It’s definitely not a stretch to picture a nasty Flaherty slider as Falcon soaring through the air, raising havoc on any opponent.

We have no idea what’s in store for Falcon. He’ll never be the same as Captain America, but he has a chance to carve out a unique path of his own towards greatness. In other words, his potential is through the roof. We’ve already begun to witness Flaherty’s exceptional ability, but in the same way as his superhero-counterpart, there is much excitement for the future.

Yadier Molina: Iron Man

It feels odd calling any baseball player but Cal Ripken Jr. “Iron Man,” but in terms of a comparison to the MCU-Robert Downey Jr. version, Yadier Molina is a good fit. One of the original members of their crew, both Yadi and Iron Man aren’t afraid to stir the pot. Their competitive fires to be the best are unrivaled, and they both take matters into their own hands in order to get the job done.

In terms of abilities, what better analogy does Yadi’s laser behind the plate have besides actual lasers being shot out of his hand? Actually, there’s a good chance that a throw down to second from Molina might be faster than a shot from one of Iron Man’s repulsors. No sign that this has been tested yet. Also, catcher’s gear could be like a suit of armor? Anyway, here’s a video of Iron Man fighting:

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 24: Tyler O’Neill #41 of the St Louis Cardinals gets ready in the batters box against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 24, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

Tyler O’Neil: Hulk

Watch this clip. Then try to explain to me how Tyler O’Neil isn’t the Hulk.

He’s got a hard-hit rate in his career of 41% and max exit velocity in his career of 113.1 MPH. Neither of these marks is top of the league, but after battling injuries and inconsistent playing time, O’Neil has shown his potential for tremendous power.

There remain some questions about strikeouts, but even The Hulk has his weaknesses (i.e. Avengers: Infinity War– very strange). The Hulk is at his best for the Avengers when he’s allowed to go out and swing away. A fully realized Tyler O’Neil would be a similarly great boost of power for the Cardinals.

Kolten Wong: Black Panther

Black Panther immediately established himself as an Avengers standout, bursting onto the screen in Captain America: Civil War, and then playing crucial roles in practically every MCU movie since.

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Kolten Wong’s rise has been slightly slower, struggling for consistent playing time early on, before breaking out offensively and winning a Gold Glove last season. They each took different paths, but both Wong and Black Panther have succeeded with similar skill sets.

From his left-handed stroke at the plate to the way in which he covers the entire right side of the infield, Kolten Wong has displayed catlike-reflexes in every aspect of his game. Like Black Panther, Wong seems to absorb energy and then release it at big moments to crush the opposition.

As Black Panther continues his rise as one of the leaders of the Avengers, so too does Wong establish himself as a key member of the Cardinals. In case anyone forgot how good this guy is, just take a look at this clip:

JUPITER, FL – MARCH 07: Matt Carpenter #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks off the field against the Houston Astros during a spring training baseball game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. The Cardinals defeated the Astros 5-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Matt Carpenter: Hawkeye

The most underrated of the Avengers, Hawkeye is also one of the most important. He’s counted on not only for his attacking prowess but for his leadership and his experience in battle. He has a very one-sided skillset, and though he disappears at times, the group runs smoothest when he’s at his peak. Sound familiar? That’s because Hawkeye is a lot like Cardinals veteran Matt Carpenter.

Here’s some of Carpenter’s best moments:

And here’s a clip of Hawkeye fighting people:

Bow and arrow, baseball bat– same idea. Carpenter has definitely struggled in recent years. Like when Loki took over Hawkeye in the first Avengers movie, it seems as if Carp just can’t get out of this trance at the plate. Luckily, we know that Hawkeye eventually turns it around. The Cardinals are counting on Carpenter to do the same.

Miles Mikolas: Star-Lord

Star-Lord, a.k.a Peter Quill, is a midwestern boy who made a name for himself in a faraway galaxy. While Miles Mikolas went to Japan and not outer space, he too had to travel away before finding his superstar ability. Similarly, Star-Lord never backs down from a big opponent and often talks a big game. Mikolas showed that he is willing to do the same:

It’s a little bit of a stretch to say that Miles Mikolas’ mustache is similar to the cool space-mask that Star-Lord wears. However, both Mikolas and Star-Lord are deadly accurate with their right arms– one shoots lasers and one throws fastballs, but you get the idea.

Also, Guardians of the Galaxy compared to Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is a lot like Miles Mikolas year one vs Miles Mikolas year two. The first one was incredible, and the second was solid if unspectacular. A crucial member of the Cardinals rotation here’s to Mikolas returning to his Cy Young form.

SAN DIEGO, CA – JUNE 30: Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals makes a diving catch on a ball hit by Franmil Reyes #32 of the San Diego Padres during the third inning of a baseball game at Petco Park June 30, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Harrison Bader: Spiderman

Let’s see… a young guy, moves through the air quickly and is being promoted by the league as a future star and leader of the organization? Harrison Bader is clearly Spider-Man. The MCU desperately wants Spider-Man to be the face of their next phase. While this edition of Peter Parker has shown that he is definitely able to do so, Bader has some work to do. That being said, his defensive prowess is reminiscent of the first section of this clip:

Spider-Man is probably more beloved than Harrison Bader is at the moment. If Bader can produce consistently at the plate, however, he has the defensive ability, highlight-reel plays, and charisma to become a next-level superstar. There’s a long line of great St. Louis center fielders. Cardinal fans would rejoice if Bader joins them.

Paul Goldschmidt: Thor

Last but not least, Paul Goldschmidt is Thor. Except for the long-haired version of Noah Syndergaard, there are few ballplayers who resemble this mighty Avenger. Goldschmidt says it how it is, and he carries a big stick. In fact, check out this story about Goldschmidt’s connection to his bat. Seems like Goldy is trying to steal Thor’s thunder a bit (pun intended).

When the Cardinals had failed to make it back to the playoffs, they traded for Paul Goldschmidt. When the Avengers get back together in Endgame, it is Thor they go and recruit to lead them. Arizona is like Asgard– Goldschmidt established himself as a force to be reckoned with, and now he’s ready to lead the team. Every team needs a slugger who strikes fear into the other side, and just like Thor, Paul Goldschmidt is a powerful presence for the Cardinals.

I think the Avengers might be better at baseball than the St. Louis Cardinals would be at fighting villains. That being said, the comparisons between the two teams are very strong. If John Mozeliak has some Nick Fury-type moves up his sleeve, that would be even better.

What other groups do the St. Louis Cardinals bear a resemblance to? We seem to be getting closer to a season, but until then, let’s see what other comparisons are out there. As always, stay safe out there, and go Cards.