Cardinals fans share their favorite memories of the team at the last home game of the regular season

Fans came from as far as Japan to see Cardinals legends Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina, and Adam Wainwright play one last game together at Busch Stadium.

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Sunday, October 2—the last Cardinals home game of the regular season. Three hours before first pitch, thousands of people were already surrounding Busch Stadium, forming lines at each gate that stretched for blocks in every direction. Some had arrived to get their hands on the giveaway item, a canvas print of Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina. All ventured out to witness, in person, their homegrown legends—Molina, Wainwright, and Albert Pujols—play baseball together for perhaps the last time. 

On this special day, fans were feeling extra emotional. After 19 years, this would be Molina's final opportunity to pair with Wainwright and close the book on the duo’s all-time record of 328 starts as a pitcher-catcher battery. It would also be the last regular season home game for the incomparable Pujols, who returned to the Redbirds for one last go, and really blew the cover off all expectations, becoming one of the most productive DHs in the National League. The Cardinals gave both men a fitting, formal, and tearful send-off. 

During a pregame ceremony, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones proclaimed October 4, 2022, as Yadier Molina Day and October 5, 2022, as Albert Pujols Day. Molina wept during his speech, speaking Spanish to thank his family, particularly his mother. Pujols was equally emotional, and Wainwright spoke, too, praising his friends and expressing thanks for having been a Cardinal during this historic stretch. 

We spoke to several Cardinals fans, a player, and even Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak, and asked them about their favorite highlights from the 2022 season and how they feel about Molina and Pujols retiring. Click on their photos to find out what they said: 

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