Prior to Sunday afternoon’s game against the rival Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina was presented with the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, as well as the Platinum Glove Award, both awarded to him from the 2015 season.
This marks Molina’s eighth Gold Glove Award, and his fourth Platinum Glove Award.
Molina, 33, has set an Major League Baseball record among catchers, passing Bob Boone with the most Gold Glove Awards.
His manager knows how much that award means as well.
“That’s a special award,” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who was a four-time Gold Glove Award winner. “For me, anyhow. I’ll never forget the first time they told me. That’s something a catcher, I believe, takes as much pride in as maybe a player at any other position. That’s a completely biased viewpoint. I just know how much goes into that spot.”
Interesting to note that Molina keeps track of every Gold Glove Award he wins… on his arm. Matheny was asked on Sunday if the veteran catcher has tattooed number eight on there yet.
“There are so many of them on there, I didn’t count” Matheny said. “I think they are all accounted for.”
The first 30,000 fans who arrived at Busch Stadium received a replica Molina jersey, and they were able to witness the beloved catcher receiving the awards. Molina was a healthy scratch on Sunday, instead making way for Eric Fryer to start for the Cardinals.
Since taking the place of his current manager, the veteran Molina has established himself as a dominate force in baseball, with the best percentage of throwing out runners attempting to steal. And while he was initially a light, struggling hitter in the early goings of his career, his strengths at the plate have increased greatly since his legendary moment in game seven of the 2006 NLCS against the Mets.
He isn’t getting any younger, but Molina is still far from losing his touch.
