St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina did something that has only been accomplished 25 times in 90 years.
With five runs batted in during the St. Louis Cardinals’ Friday night victory over the San Diego Padres, Yadier Molina accomplished a feat that is quite rare – just the 25th time it was accomplished by a Cardinals catcher in the last 90 years.
Molina’s log from Friday night:
- First inning: RBI double
- Second inning: Two-RBI single
- Fourth inning: RBI double
- Sixth inning: RBI single
With six of the 25, Ted Simmons is the leader with the most five or more RBI games. In 1942, Ken O’Dea set the team single-game record with seven RBI.
As pointed out below, the Cardinals are are perfect 25-0 in games when the catcher plated at least five.
St. Louis Cardinals, catchers, game, five or more RBI, 1920-current
| Player | Date | Opp | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB |
| Yadier Molina | 9/17/2010 | SDP | W 14-4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Eli Marrero | 4/20/2000 | SDP | W 14-1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Hector Villanueva | 6/3/1993 | CIN | W 9-2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Tom Pagnozzi | 5/26/1991 | NYM | W 14-4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Tony Pena | 8/22/1989 | ATL | W 10-5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Darrell Porter | 5/10/1983 | SFG | W 8-4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Darrell Porter | 9/17/1981 | MON | W 7-4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Ted Simmons | 9/25/1980 | PIT | W 10-2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Ted Simmons | 5/9/1980 | LAD | W 15-7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Ted Simmons | 6/11/1979 | LAD | W 9-7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Joe Ferguson | 1976-09-15 (1) | NYM | W 7-0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Ted Simmons | 5/17/1975 | SFG | W 17-2 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Ted Simmons | 7/2/1973 | PHI | W 7-4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Ted Simmons | 6/27/1973 | PIT | W 15-4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Hal Smith | 5/9/1959 | CHC | W 11-1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Hal Smith | 5/8/1957 | NYG | W 13-4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Del Rice | 1950-07-19 (1) | NYG | W 18-4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Del Wilber | 8/2/1948 | NYG | W 21-5 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Walker Cooper | 1943-08-22 (1) | BSN | W 6-1 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Ken O’Dea | 1942-05-03 (1) | BRO | W 14-10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| Mickey Owen | 7/24/1937 | BRO | W 20-2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Spud Davis | 9/11/1935 | PHI | W 10-2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Spud Davis | 7/7/1934 | CIN | W 10-4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Frank Snyder | 9/19/1927 | PHI | W 12-5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Verne Clemons | 8/23/1921 | NYG | W 10-7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Thanks to researcher Tom Orf for providing the table above.
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So I guess that five RBI by your catcher more or less guarantees a win, eh?
I hope that the suggested call ups listed on the main site actually happen. I’d be interested to see how the two new guys could handle major league pitching.
Lohse collected his 4th W last night. His 2009 and 2010 seasons have been marred by an unusual injury caused by being hit by a pitch. He will be needed in 2011-12, so we will hope that he builds some positive momentum this month.
Westbrook and Brad Penny have similar records for the Cards, 9 starts, virtually the same IP and ERA. Since Jake stayed healthy all season, he should be costly in free agency this winter, though the soft economy could lower his salary from his last deal. We could really use Westbrook for 2011, but I don’t know that the budget can fit him in.
P J Walters gave up 3 homers while Memphis got eliminated. I used to think PJ could become another Tewksbury, a mainstay during the early 1990s. Yet Tewksbury did not pitch for Dave Duncan.
Molina has caught most games. He has a tremendous work ethic.
Nutlaw, good point about winning.
Just a clarification on your other point. Those aren’t projected callups. They are callups I have learned about but are yet to be formally confirmed by the team.
And yet there are fans on other sites who still consider Molina to be an offensive liability. What does he have to do, win the Triple Crown?
Like many catchers, Molina is not a star hitter. But he puts the ball in play and as a result sometimes good things happen. Yadier is a defensive star and holds his own with the bat.
If Albert needs a day off, Hamilton could collect a start.
Craig could start in RF against a southpaw.
Descalso needs to be added to the fall roster, so he gets a cup of coffee now. He will probably begin next year back at Memphis, but could get the call as the need arises.
Walters, insurance in case need for another starter arises.
Mather, TLR likes to maintain continuity with guys who were up earlier.
Thursday night McClellan threw 21 pitches. Saturday late afternoon, Kyle threw 40. No surprise he ran out of gas. If overused at this rate all season, McClellan would collect 150 innings as a reliever. Ryan Franklin should have pitched the 9th.
In any event, congratulations to Ludwick and David Eckstein.
Too bad MacLane was DFA.I wish he would have gotten a callup.Steven Hill should have gotten a callup also.A RH bat with pop off the bench.Oh well.
One of the things i disagree with TLR about is his not bringing up all the guys who could help.Iunderstand the money part of the callups.I just think its dumb to not use all your assets if available.MacLane could have gotten a chance at LH bullpen (since Reyes probably won`t be back) and Hill could have been helpful off the bench.