St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals 10-time All-Star Yadier Molina sets record for most putouts by a catcher

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 6/14/22

Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is widely regarded as one of the best catchers in MLB history, and thus, was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017. St. Louis Cardinals icon Yadier Molina will be 40 years old in July and is likely nearing the end of his big league career.

"Yadi" will almost certainly join Rodriguez in the Hall of Fame someday, but on Tuesday afternoon, he broke a record by the 1999 AL MVP that had stood since he retired 11 years ago.

Yadi stands alone at the top!

14,865 putouts as a catcher.

The most all-time in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/tvXlSRsy5y
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 14, 2022

Among Molina's best arguments for enshrinement into Cooperstown are his 10 All-Star honors, nine Gold Glove Awards, two World Series titles and one Silver Slugger Award. Eight of his Gold Gloves came in consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2015, a span in which he also made seven straight All-Star games.

The younger brother of former MLB backstops Bengie and Jose Molina wasn't the only Cardinals legend etching his name into the record book on Tuesday.

Albert Pujols, who is making his 1,340 appearance at first base for the #STLCards today, lined a 96-mph fastball into left field for a single. He is now tied with Jim Bottomley for first in franchise history in games played at first base.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) June 14, 2022