Cardinals Hall of Fame announcement Wednesday

The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame is expanding from its initial 22 members to 25 or 26.

Fan voting for the two modern era players who will make up part of the first new St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame class ended one week ago, on April 22. The winners will join one or two other inductees to make up the 2014 contingent to formally enter the Hall on August 16.

The three or four new additions will be announced on Wednesday afternoon prior to the Milwaukee series finale. The ceremony, presided over by Bill DeWitt Jr. and Bill DeWitt III, will air as part of FOX Sports Midwest’s Cardinals pre-game show starting at 12:30 PM CT.

The two players from the modern era were chosen by internet voting from among eight nominees – Jim Edmonds, Bob Forsch, Keith Hernandez, Willie McGee, Mark McGwire, Matt Morris, Ted Simmons and Joe Torre. In interim voting results announced by the club earlier, McGee and Edmonds were leading.

They will join a veteran era player, one who retired more than 40 years ago. This inductee was chosen via a Red Ribbon Committee secret ballot. My guess is shortstop Marty Marion, 1944 National League Most Valuable Player and seven-time NL all-star, will be the inductee.

The Cardinals also reserve the option to annually add an individual of their choosing to the Hall. Examples could include coaches, front office personnel and broadcasters. There are many worthy candidates, but none more so than organizational coaching legend George Kissell, in my opinion.

The three or four members of the 2014 class will join the 22 initial inductees. They are those whose numbers have been retired by the club and/or are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Plaques for the inductees are located in the Cardinals Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation within Ballpark Village. The Hall is free and open to the public. There is an admission charge for the adjoining Cardinals Museum.

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