How long has Yadier Molina been the catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals? So long that when he was knocking on the doorstep of the major leagues, Joe Girardi was wrapping up his playing career with the franchise.
Girardi played in 16 games for the Cardinals in 2003, the final season of his 15-year major league career. Molina, a fourth-round pick in 2000, would make his major league debut the next season. So with Molina becoming the first catcher in MLB history to play 2,000 games with the same team, Girardi, who has managed three teams since his time in St. Louis, was asked to reflect on the accomplishment.
"I was there when he basically first came up and I saw him playing and he was such a great defensive player at a young age," Girardi said Wednesday. "Obviously, I ended up managing his brother, Jose, and saw Bengie play...and it's just a great family tree of catchers who really know what they're doing back there.
"But to play 2,000 games at any point as a catcher - I don't care how many uniforms you're in - is absolutely incredible. He's a Hall of Fame player that has had a magnificent career, and you could see at that early age how good of a player he was. I'm happy for him."
Molina, now 38, returned to the Cardinals on a one-year/$9 million deal this past offseason, so he'll at least have the rest of this season to add to his record of most games caught with one franchise. Given that he entered last winter looking for a multi-year deal, it seems fair to assume that the nine-time All-Star would like to continue playing in St. Louis beyond this season.
As things come full circle to a degree, Molina and the Cardinals will travel to Citizens Bank Park this weekend for a three-game set against Girardi's Philadelphia Phillies.
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