Money, greed and ego have turned baseball loyalty into a dying breed. Few if any baseball players of great magnitude spend their entire career with one club. Often, they are chasing the next best thing. Loyalty to The Birds on the Bat is one attribute that has spoiled some St. Louis fans. It’s why the celebration of Adam Wainwright is so special.
Loyalty is not a one-way street in St. Louis. It’s a head on collision when an organization keeps a player not just because they are good but also because they are of good character. Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals check all the boxes.
Selected in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Atlanta Braves, high school baseball star Wainwright could envision one day pitching close to home at then-Turner Field. After all, it was just a short four-and-a-half-hour drive from his hometown of Brunswick, Georgia. Fatewould have other ideas.
In 2003, the Braves organization were in search of an outfielder/hitter and the Cardinals were looking to trade outfielder J.D. Drew. Walt Jocketty, the St. Louis GM at the time, reminisced in 2019 with legendary Cardinal Mike Shannon and Mike Claiborne of the Cardinals broadcast team about how the deal came together. Jocketty recalled the two teams’ front office representatives met in a hotel room at the 2003 Winter Meetings. The goal was to finalize the deal of Drew for Wainwright. Jocketty and the Cardinals got the deal done and Wainwright was a Redbird. Jocketty shared three words with his team as they left the room; “We got ‘em.” Now 18 and a half years later the Cardinals still got ‘em.
The tall, lanky right-hander nicknamed “Uncle Charlie” for his signature curve ball has spent his entire big-league career with the Cardinals. In doing so, Wainwright is part of an exclusive list of players. According to Major League Baseball records, only 185 players had a career or 10 or more years with the same team. That’s 185 out of the 20,000 plus players in the history of baseball. Fewer than 10% of those who reach the bigs play for at least a decade.
If Wainwright puts away the glove after the 2022 season, only 18 players in baseball history will have had a longer career with one team. Only three of the 18 are pitchers. All are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The last pitcher to reach Wainwright’s rarified air is Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox and he retired in 1946.
In 2013, Wainwright talked about why he was signing a five-year extension to stay with the Cardinals.
“I feel like my heart is in St. Louis,” Wainwright said. “I love it there. I love driving to the field, seeing the Arch, driving up and seeing Busch Stadium. It’s a treat to work there every day and is something that continues to catch me off-guard. It makes me feel like I am way too blessed, more than I deserve.”
When Wainwright signed that extension after a 19-9 season, few thought that he would be pitching meaningful baseball when it ran out. Not only did the Cardinals get their money’s worth but they still have the ace, albeit no longer a 15-20 win ace. Over that eight-year span, heading into the 2022 season, the ageless one is 95-48. The last three seasons his ERA has consistently moved south.
Wainwright signed a new one-year deal following last year’s impressive 3.05 ERA and 22 quality starts. His 68.75% quality start rate was third best in MLB. His reasoning was even more succinct for staying than it was in 2013.
“I don’t want to be anywhere else,” said Waiwright. “Who am I kidding.”
In 2022, he has been just as consistent. At the 2021 All-Star break, Waino was 7-6 with 10 quality starts. Over his 22 starts this season, his 8-8 record is deceiving. Not only does he have 12 quality starts but 16 of his 22 starts have gone six or more innings. Nine of his starts have gone seven or more innings. His run support in his eight losses equals just two runs per game. Games in which the run support is three or more, the right-hander is 8-3.
The marriage between St. Louis and Wainwright has lasted in large part for the same reason that general manager John Mozeliak has spent his career with the organization. They reward hard work and success. Mozeliak has worked his way from scouting department assistant to the decision maker on St. Louis’ baseball operations.
In St. Louis, it’s more about the Birds on the Bat then the name on the back. Wainwright epitomizes that philosophy, and he produces. It’s a match made in heaven – Baseball Heaven.
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