Throwback Thursday: Souvenir Department

Thanks again to Dennis Murray, here's a time machine trip back to March 2005. Coming off their first pennant in 17 years, the Cardinals had hopes for the upcoming season. The cover features baseball card-like images of nine St. Louis stars... And then toward the back of the program, I found this feature on prospects. Rated as the organization's best is young catcher Yadier Molina. Needless to say, the Cardinals had found a franchise mainstay -- and likely future Hall of Famer -- in the youngest of the catching siblings.
The second page is symbolic of what every organization goes through trying to identify future stars. #2 Adam Wainwright will go down among the greatest Cardinal pitchers ever. But when was the last time you heard the names Blake Hawksworth and Chris Lambert? Brendan Ryan and Chris Duncan had their moments in the majors, but were what the stats-driven folks would call "replacment level." So let this page serve as a barometer -- and a warning to temper down expectations -- when the Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and Red Sox talk about building from within.

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