Kolten Wong thanks Cardinals, fans in heartfelt tribute

Kolten Wong said goodbye to the St. Louis Cardinals in a heartfelt tribute.

It has been a couple weeks since Kolten Wong signed a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, putting an end to his 10-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals. During his free-agent process, it was reported that there were hard feelings after his $12.5 million club option was declined.

On Tuesday, Wong put those concerns to rest. In a heartfelt tribute on The Players’ Tribune, as well as a nearly three-minute long video on his Twitter account, Wong thanked the Cardinals and the fanbase for what he described as “the perfect fit for Alissa and me.” Here is an excerpt from his story:

“When I got drafted, I couldn’t even point to St. Louis on a map. I’d only seen Busch Stadium in video games. That was it. Then, two years later, I’m suiting up and jogging onto the field there. Looking out at that ARch, and that sea of red…. It took my breath away. There was just this absolute beauty to everything about it. A specialness. To this day, it still gives me goosebumps. And now, almost a decade later, this place that I couldn’t find on a map, that I knew nothing about, this city is…

“HOME.”

The entire story, along with the video tribute, is worth your time and recommended reading/viewing. It underscores the impact that Wong made both on the field and away from it, indicating just how tough it will be to replace him. But it is a challenge that the Cardinals not only have to deal with, but they now have to regularly face him when they play the Brewers. He has already poked fun with legendary pitcher Adam Wainwright and as the dates the two are set to face one another draw closer, it is highly likely that smack talk gains steam.

There will likely be tributes, a “Thank you” video on the scoreboard and much more when Wong comes back to St. Louis for the first time. Rightfully so. He ended his story stating how “I just hope that I made you proud.”

He sure did.