5 of the past decade's most lovable Cardinals personalities

The clubhouse of the St. Louis Cardinals looks to be in a good spot this season after apparently being in shambles in 2023, and President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak stressed the need for more leadership entering this year. To that end, he brought in Matt Carpenter and Brandon Crawford as players and Daniel Descalso as a bench coach, and players have complimented the presence and leadership that the veterans have provided thus far in 2024.

Manager Oli Marmol said in 2023 that the Cardinals needed to "weed out" those who prioritized themselves over the team. Exactly who those players were is mostly speculation, but with Jack Flaherty and Tyler O'Neill the sources of some controversy over the past few seasons, it's likely not a coincidence that the Cardinals let go of them before beginning the 2024 season.

A team's record shouldn't be understated as a reason for a clubhouse's morale, either. The Cardinals in 2024 are far superior to their 2023 iteration, and members of a winning team will obviously be more loose and relaxed than those who play for a basement dweller.

There's no doubt that leadership is required for a clubhouse to coalesce, but what's also needed are players who keep the team in good spirits. Baseball is a grueling marathon, and in a 162-game season, it's imperative that someone be there to help clubhouses remain loose.

Several members of recent Cardinals teams have possessed the ability to keep an atmosphere relaxed, and they've also appealed to fans of the team. These five Cardinals were among the easiest to root for thanks to their personalities.

Lars Nootbaar

It's dangerously easy to fall head over heels for Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar. His surname alone is marketing gold, not to mention frequently heard in the Busch Stadium seats. His wagging tongue on outfield plays evokes memories of Ronnie Belliard, and in the dugout, he is always fired up in support of his teammates and has produced "Noot News" broadcasts with them.

In fact, Nootbaar's personality is so infectious that it managed to spread overseas. Nootbaar played for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and seemed to be equally as beloved within Team Japan's clubhouse as he is with the Cardinals, as he led the team in some festivities before one of the games.

Nootbaar even took a piece of the Cardinals with him to the World Baseball Classic, electrifying the Japanese crowd with the Cardinals' "pepper grinder" celebration. The baseball scene in Japan became smitten with Nootbaar during the festivities, as the celebration went viral and Nootbaar became a household name in the baseball world.

The Cardinals need Nootbaar to stay healthy, which he's had trouble doing in recent seasons. His presence on the field should help the Cardinals get in the win column, and his enthusiasm will certainly pump up the fans, who are pining for the opportunity to shout "NOOOOOT!" once again.

Adam Wainwright

Though more muted than most of his cohorts on this list, Adam Wainwright wormed his way into beloved status not just because of his exploits and influence on the field, but also because of his generosity and humility off of it.

The career-long Cardinal has made his presence felt in the community with his philanthropy work, founding Big League Impact in 2013 and raising over $9.3 million for charitable causes since then. He was also a profound inspiration to eventual major league utility player Mauricio Dubon when Wainwright partnered with the nonprofit organization Water Mission to provide clean water to impoverished communities. According to Wainwright, the Roberto Clemente Award that he received in 2020 in recognition of his community efforts is his most cherished accomplishment.

Wainwright's final season in 2023 didn't have many highlights on the pitching side, but he displayed his musical chops by singing the national anthem before the Cardinals' home opener, much to the surprise of his teammates. His first album, "Hey Y'all," released earlier in 2024.

Despite being a pitcher, Wainwright could hit a bit, holding a lifetime .192 average and hitting 10 home runs. With the Cardinals long ago eliminated from playoff contention, Wainwright got his wish to hit one more time and received two at-bats in the final games of 2023, where he grounded out sharply to third and struck out.

Wainwright had a playful side to him as well. He executed a prank on former Cardinal Skip Schumaker in 2018, creating a jersey out of Schumaker's street clothes and autographing the shirt.

Wainwright also displayed his humor in his retirement papers, stating his reason for retirement as "I got a puppy!"

One of the most selfless and authentic players ever to brandish a Cardinals uniform, Wainwright was admired by fans and teammates alike during his playing career and is now providing his valuable insight as an analyst for FOX Sports.

Jose Martinez

Jose Martinez hit over .300 with the Cardinals in 2017 and 2018, but he fell from grace rapidly after being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays along with Randy Arozarena in 2020. Still, during three seasons with the Cardinals, Martinez captivated his teammates and fans with his energy and effervescence.

Martinez seemed to be permanently smiling, which is all the more notable given his nomadic minor league trek of 887 games with 11 different teams before he finally debuted with the Cardinals in 2016. Once he received his opportunity, he brought a loud bat and an infectious personality to the Cardinals, and he took it all in when he finally made it to the playoffs.

Martinez's exploits included throwing balls into the upper decks of Busch Stadium to provide souvenirs for unsuspecting fans andengaging in different types of handshakes with several members of the Cardinals. The appropriately nicknamed "Cafecito" also created his own brand of coffee in 2019, and it received Adam Wainwright's seal of approval.

Martinez is no longer in the major leagues, but his contagious grin and upbeat demeanor look to have had a lasting effect on those who played with him.

Joe Kelly

When someone tells the media that he's a distant relative of notorious gangster "Machine Gun" Kelly and then reveals it was a lie after it was published in all the media guides, he's going to be seen as a bit of an oddball. But that was just a taste of Joe Kelly, who would become one of baseball's most charming eccentrics.

In 2013, Kelly disguised himself as a grandfather as he interviewed famed rapper and St. Louis native Nelly.

Kelly burst onto the national scene in the 2013 NLCS, where he engaged in a standoff with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Scott Van Slyke after the national anthem had finished playing and the teams were ready to take the field.

The best years of Kelly's career would come after he had departed St. Louis, and he would continue to bring a unique personality to the game. In 2020, while Kelly was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, his mockery of a complaining Carlos Correa spawned an internet meme — and, eventually, a mural.

After a game early in 2021, Kelly did business with a musician, trading his jersey for a mariachi jacket. Soon afterward, the Dodgers visited the White House to celebrate their 2020 World Series victory. There, Kelly decided to show off his fashion sense, dressing up in the jacket and eliciting concerns from Secret Service agents, as he described in his book, "A Damn Near Perfect Game: Reclaiming America's Pastime."

A New York Times article dug into Kelly's past and revealed some details about a rough childhood, including a father who grappled with alcoholism. Kelly's book also discusses his past along with his thoughts about the current state of baseball.

Whether it's been with the Cardinals, the Red Sox, the Dodgers or the White Sox, Kelly has provided a distinctive disposition that makes him a fan favorite.

Baseball teams need a multitude of personalities to keep their squads humming, and the players who make sure nobody gets too tightly wound are a key cog for any team that wants to go on a run. At the same time, they need players whom fans can gravitate toward. These five players have been among the best Cardinals over the past decade at capturing fans' and the Cardinals' hearts.