ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - In the last 16 years these guys have earned their place among the all-time St. Louis Cardinals greats. But their era together may be over.
As of publishing on Nov. 9, neither Yadier Molina nor Adam Wainwright have made it clear what their 2021 will look like. Split up? Retirement? Reunite in St. Louis? Reunite elsewhere?
In an exclusive interview that was recorded before the start of the 2020 season, former Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan sat down with the Cardinals legends for a half hour to discuss their near two decades wearing the birds on the bat together.
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One of the most special moments in the interview is when the pair are asked to explain the biggest thing they've learned from their battery mate. Molina was quick to start:
"I think to be a better person, that's what he teach me. To be a better person, a better teammate, a better family man. I mean, I'm so glad to be next to him. I look at this man like my brother and he know it. He knows it.
"Outside the lines he teach me a lot so I'm just thankful to have him."
They hugged each other before it was Wainwright's turn to answer. He replied:
"What Yadi has shown me is that no matter how great you are, you gotta keep working. The professionalism that comes with Yadier - you know everybody that comes over here, they say, 'I got here at 6 a.m. and when I got here (Yadier) was in the cage doing these little receiving drills with his bare hand and he's been there. He's already sweating...'
"Yadi never stops trying to get great at this game."
Earlier in the conversation they also get to talk about the people – besides each other – who helped them the most in their careers. For Wainwright it was a former veteran teammate and for Molina is was a man who is talked about among the most influential coaches in Cardinals history – Dave Ricketts.
Ricketts was no where near a Hall-of-Fame caliber player, but was prized for his ability to teach. He worked with Molina from his very first days in the organization:
"Dave Ricketts was the person that changed my life. Knowing the game, calling games and learning the position of catcher, Dave Ricketts did a good job ... He gave me a tough time, but he cared and at that time I didn't understand that but I'm so thankful and so glad that I was with him at that time."
Wainwright explained that it was pitcher Jason Marquis, who was traded along with him from Atlanta to St. Louis, that was his biggest mentor:
"The story I don't do a good enough job of telling is that Jason Marquis really took me under his wing and he'd make me go to the field with him. And after practice everyday we would hang out and we would talk and he would never let me pay for anything and made sure I was on time."
Here are some of the other topics you'll want to watch for in the 30-minute interview:
Molina describes his home run in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS vs Mets:
The catcher says his entire home county of Puerto Rico was rooting for the Mets in that series becuase they had multiple players born there, like Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado. He says the entire county, except for his immediate family, fell silent after that home run.
Wainwright says his best season was his rookie year in 2006
Not to say that it has been all downhill from there, but Wainwright does admit that many of the best "moments" of his career came in his first big league season. Winning a World Series being the top of the list.
Will they come back to St. Louis after their careers?
The answers probably isn't a surprise, but they both say they plan to come back to St. Louis to teacher, mentor, coach, be around fans and with the organization for a long time after their playing careers end.
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