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Edgar Renteria’s case for the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame

By Russ Robinson |
Edgar Renteria #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals runs between bases during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 9, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the Cubs 12-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Edgar Renteria #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals runs between bases during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 9, 2004 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cardinals defeated the Cubs 12-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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The five nominees for the 2022 Cardinals Hall of Fame have been announced. All five are deserving, but here is my case for Edgar Renteria.

The St. Louis Cardinals recently released the five nominees for their team Hall of Fame. The nominees are pitcher Steve Carlton, outfielder George Hendrix, outfielder Matt Holliday, pitcher Matt Morris and shortstop Edgar Renteria.

This is Hendrix’s and Holliday’s first year on the ballot, while it’s Carlton’s fifth, and the seventh for Morris and Renteria. The voting starts on March 5th and goes through April 15th. The player with the most votes will be inducted into the Cardinal Hall of Fame during a ceremony on August 27th.

A legitimate case can be made for each of these nominees, and all will likely be eventually inducted. The Cardinals website gives you the highlights of their individual careers, so I won’t repeat them here.

Of the five nominees, I don’t know who is most deserving, However, I want to make the case for Edgar Renteria’s induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame. So, allow me to expand on his six-year career with the Cardinals.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1996: Edgar Renteria #16 of the Florida Marlins in action against the San Francisco Giants during an Major League Baseball game circa 1996 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Renteria played for the Marlins in 1996-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1996: Edgar Renteria #16 of the Florida Marlins in action against the San Francisco Giants during an Major League Baseball game circa 1996 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Renteria played for the Marlins in 1996-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

The Case for Edgar Renteria

In my opinion Edgar Renteria is one of the best shortstops in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals. Certainly, the best since Ozzie Smith.

Renteria’s three Silver Slugger Awards (2000, 2002, 2003) are the most in franchise history by a shortstop. His two Gold Gloves (2002,2003) are second in franchise history and the last won by a Cardinals shortstop. He is the only shortstop in team history to win Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards in back to back years. Additionally, he was named to three All Star teams (2000, 2003, 2004) during his six years in St. Louis.

Renteria’s batting average of .330 in 2003 is a franchise single season record for shortstops, as is his 47 doubles he hit in that season. His 100 RBIs in 2003 ranks second among all shortstops in franchise history for a single season. The Columbian native also ranks first all time for Cardinals shortstops in OPS, second in steals, and the top three in hits, extra base hits, home runs, RBI, and average.

There is not another shortstop in Cardinals history who had such productive back to back seasons(both offensively and defensively) as Renteria did in 2002 and 2003. If fact, Mark Tomasik of the RetroSimba site called Renteria’s 2003 season “perhaps the best overall season produced by a Cardinal shortstop.”

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1996: Edgar Renteria #16 of the Florida Marlins bats against the San Francisco Giants during an Major League Baseball game circa 1996 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Renteria played for the Marlins in 1996-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – CIRCA 1996: Edgar Renteria #16 of the Florida Marlins bats against the San Francisco Giants during an Major League Baseball game circa 1996 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. Renteria played for the Marlins in 1996-98. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

A final word on Edgar Renteria

It’s too bad only one can be inducted in 2022 to the Cardinals Hall of Fame. I suspect the popular choice among fans will be Matt Holliday, and I can understand why. Holliday is deserving.

Nevertheless, I will vote for Edgar Renteria for all the reasons above. Also, he’s been on the ballot for seven years and, in my opinion, as deserving as anyone else.

It’s almost easy to forget about Renteria. I don’t know if he ever comes back to St. Louis for team reunions or not, but I have never heard if he did.

From 1999 to 2004, Renteria wore a Cardinals uniform. He played with some of the other Cardinals Hall of Famers such as Scott Rolen, Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, and Chris Carpenter.

In the end, I don’t believe there is a more deserving candidate for the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Next. Adam Wainwright has a heartfelt message for St. Louis Cardinals fans. dark

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