Future Hall of Famer



Yadier Molina is not just the best of the three catching brothers who've made the majors, he is nearly a lock for Cooperstown.

Rugged, dependable and consistent, he's been behind the plate for a pair of Cardinals World Championship teams. In the last 13 seasons, you can book him for a .260 or better average (five times over .300) and rock solid defense. Most crucially are those defensive skills that have held up -- at the most taxing position on the field -- even as he approaches his 38th birthday in July.

Determined to stay an everyday player, his 1947 games caught are the 7th most in baseball history -- and more than 350 ahead of the second most among active players, Russell Martin. And that 1947 total is more than such icons as Johnny Bench, Yogi Berra and the soon-to-be inducted Ted Simmons.

A recent mlb.com article ranks the greatest catchers in Cardinals history. Simmons ranks second; Tim McCarver, Tom Pagnozzi and Mike Matheny round out the Top 5. But there's no doubt that Yadi ranks number-one -- and no other St. Louis player will ever wear number 4 after he retires.

When I saw him against the Mets at Port St. Lucie on March 11th, he was raring to go, rounding into shape for what (hopefully) will be his 17th year in the majors -- all with St. Louis.

Yadier Molina's already built a strong case for the Hall of Fame. The question is really whether or not he gets in on the first ballot.

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