Cardinals: This stat shows Yadier Molina is one of best catchers in MLB history

This stat shows that St. Louis Cardinals franchise stalwart Yadier Molina is one of best catchers in MLB history.

There has been a debate among St. Louis Cardinals Twitter and the rest of baseball Twitter for some time now whether Yadier Molina is a Hall of Famer. To me, he is, and it’s not particularly close. Just look at his numbers:

In 2152 career games, Molina has hit .279/.330/.402 with 171 home runs and 998 RBI. He has won nine Gold Glove Awards and made 10 All-Star appearances. That’s not to mention that he is one of the best defensive catchers of all time, highly regarded for his pitch calling and framing abilities, as well as his ability to throw out runners (369 career caught stealing or 40 percent).

On Tuesday, in a win against the Miami Marlins, the Cardinals won their 1192th game with Molina behind the plate. He passed Carlton Fisk for second all-time in wins among MLB catchers.

It only adds to his Hall of Fame case. It’s also a testament to Molina’s longevity – he has played 19 seasons, all with the Cardinals – which rarely happens in this era. It makes him the unquestioned best catcher in team history and combined with Adam Wainwright, the best duo in team history – and in the running to be the best battery mates in MLB history should both remain healthy in 2022.

It’s why the Cardinals are being careful with Molina’s workload this year, trying to ease him in and keep him fresh throughout the 162-game season. His importance to the team, especially the pitching staff, cannot be overstated. When he retires, the responsibility of Andrew Knizner and/or Ivan Herrera to step up and fill that void will be massive.

That’s not a problem that the Cardinals have to worry about yet, as Molina continues to build an already strong Hall of Fame resume that should make him a lock for Cooperstown.