Pujols and Molina to Enter Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2026

Key facts

• Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina elected to St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame by fan vote.
• Induction ceremony set for September 12, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
• Pujols:.296 avg, 703 HR, 3,384 hits, 3 MVP awards, 11 All-Star selections, 2 World Series rings.
• Molina:.277 avg, 176 HR, 2,168 hits, 9 Gold Gloves, 10 All-Star selections, 2 World Series rings.
• Bill Sherdel also inducted via veterans committee; he won 153 games for Cardinals from 1918-1930.
• Pujols and Molina become eligible for National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028.

A Foregone Conclusion Made Official

The St. Louis Cardinals announced Friday that Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina have been elected to the team's Hall of Fame, a decision that surprised no one who has followed the franchise over the past two decades. The two legends, who together anchored the Cardinals to World Series championships in 2006 and 2011, will receive their red jackets during a ceremony on September 12, 2026. To accommodate the expected massive crowds, the induction will take place at Busch Stadium rather than the usual Ballpark Village location. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Cardinals.tv.

Two Icons, Unmatched Careers

Pujols, widely regarded as one of the greatest right-handed power hitters in baseball history, spent the majority of his career in St. Louis. He finished with 703 home runs, fourth most in MLB history, along with 3,384 hits, a.296 batting average, and 2,218 RBIs. A three-time National League MVP and 11-time All-Star, he also won Rookie of the Year, two Gold Gloves, and six Silver Slugger awards. Molina, who spent all 19 of his major-league seasons with the Cardinals, built a reputation as one of the finest defensive catchers ever. He won nine Gold Glove Awards and four Platinum Gloves, was a 10-time All-Star, and earned a Silver Slugger in 2013. His career numbers include a.277 average, 2,168 hits, 176 home runs, and 1,022 RBIs.

Veterans Committee Adds Bill Sherdel

Alongside Pujols and Molina, the Cardinals Hall of Fame class of 2026 includes left-handed pitcher Bill Sherdel, who was selected by the team's Red Ribbon Committee. Sherdel played for the Cardinals from 1918 to 1930 and again in 1932, winning 153 games. He was a member of National League pennant-winning teams in 1926 and 1928, and won the World Series in 1926. Other nominees who did not make the final cut included Brian Jordan and George Hendrick, both impactful players in their eras but overshadowed by the towering legacies of Pujols and Molina.

Fan Vote Decides the Modern Era Inductees

The Cardinals Hall of Fame process relies on fan voting for modern-era players, and the results were never in doubt. Pujols and Molina were elected by the fans, while Sherdel's selection came through the veterans committee, which considers players from earlier eras. The team revealed the new members during a live broadcast on Cardinals.tv on Friday. Pujols and Molina will be formally inducted later this season, though the exact date of the ceremony is set for September 12, 2026.

What Comes Next: Cooperstown in 2028?

With their Cardinals Hall of Fame inductions secured, attention now turns to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Both Pujols and Molina will become eligible for election in 2028, five years after their retirement. Pujols played his final season in 2022, while Molina retired after the 2022 season as well. Given their career achievements, many observers consider their eventual enshrinement in Cooperstown all but certain. Pujols' 703 home runs rank fourth all-time, and his three MVP awards place him among the game's elite. Molina's nine Gold Gloves and reputation as a defensive mastermind make him a strong candidate for first-ballot induction.

A Celebration of Two Eras

The 2026 ceremony will honor not only two modern legends but also a link to the franchise's early history in Bill Sherdel. For Cardinals fans, the day will be a rare opportunity to celebrate the careers of Pujols and Molina together, two players who defined an era of sustained success. Their numbers — 3,080 games played by Pujols, 2,224 by Molina — tell only part of the story. The Cardinals organization expects a massive turnout, and the decision to hold the event at Busch Stadium reflects the magnitude of the moment. As one observer put it, the only question that remains is whether Pujols and Molina will enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028 — and the answer seems just as obvious as Friday's announcement.

The bottom line

• Pujols and Molina will be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame on September 12, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
• Pujols finished his career with 703 home runs, 3,384 hits, and three MVP awards; Molina won nine Gold Gloves and two World Series.
• Bill Sherdel, a left-handed pitcher from the 1920s, will also be inducted via the veterans committee.
• Both Pujols and Molina become eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028.
• The fan vote made the decision official, but the outcome was widely expected given their iconic status in St. Louis.