A Familiar Face and Number Return to the St. Louis Cardinals Dugout at Busch Stadium
This weekend, fans at Busch Stadium will be greeted by a familiar face and number in the St. Louis Cardinals dugout. The team has announced that former player and fan favorite, Albert Pujols, will be joining the coaching staff for a special series against the Chicago Cubs.
Pujols, who spent 11 seasons with the Cardinals and helped lead them to two World Series championships, will be serving as a guest hitting instructor for the weekend. This news has sparked excitement among fans, who have been eagerly anticipating the return of the beloved slugger.
Known for his powerful swing and clutch performances, Pujols left a lasting impact on the Cardinals organization and the city of St. Louis. His return to the dugout is sure to bring back fond memories for both players and fans alike.
But Pujols isn’t the only familiar face making a comeback this weekend. The number 5, which Pujols wore during his time with the Cardinals, will also be making a reappearance. The team has announced that they will be retiring the number in honor of Pujols’ contributions to the franchise.
This weekend’s series against the Cubs is already shaping up to be a memorable one for Cardinals fans. With Pujols back in the dugout and his number being retired, it’s sure to be an emotional and exciting experience for all involved. So
A Familiar Face and Number Return to the St. Louis Cardinals Dugout at Busch Stadium
Former franchise stalwart and longtime backstop Yadier Molina, a 10-time All-Star, nine-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time World Series champ, is back in the St. Louis Cardinals dugout this weekend as a temporary bench coach. Molina, who spent 19 years with the Cardinals, is lending his expertise as the team hosts their rival, the Chicago Cubs.
On Friday night, Molina helped lead the Cardinals to a 5-0 victory, and he will be back in the dugout on Saturday night. This is Molina’s first time back at Busch Stadium since longtime Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright’s retirement ceremony in 2023.
In December 2023, Molina joined the organization as a special assistant to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. However, due to family reasons, he was unable to fulfill that role as expected, according to MLB.com.
This weekend, Molina reached out to the Cardinals about helping out, and the organization made it happen. Oliver Marmol, who managed Molina in his final season with the Cardinals, invited him to join him in the dugout, and Molina gladly accepted the offer.
“The idea is to come here and help the catchers, give them advice and make them better,” Molina said on Friday, per MLB.com. “I just want to be here to help. I’m not coming here to try and make things different. I just want to help the young guys however I can, and I just want to enjoy the game.
“I don’t miss playing; I miss being at the field. But just being here, and being back in St. Louis, that means a lot to me. In this town, they care about me and care about my family. It’s going to be a big night for me, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Molina, now 43, has been involved in coaching since his retirement in 2022. He notably managed Puerto Rico to the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic and will return to that role for the 2026 WBC. However, he plans to wait at least another year before taking on a full-time MLB coaching position.
“That’s the plan,” Molina said, per The Associated Press. “After he finishes school, that’s probably when I start coaching in the major leagues.”
While Molina will only be with the Cardinals for 48 hours this weekend, he has expressed interest in contributing at other points during the season, possibly as early as two weeks from now during the team’s road trip to Florida. The Cardinals have yet to make the playoffs since Molina’s retirement, and they are currently one game above .500 and 4.5 games back from an NL wild-card spot.
