Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina have punched their tickets to permanent Redbird status, voted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. The two modern-era icons will go in alongside veteran-era selection Bill Sherdel, giving fans a class that spans more than a century of Cardinals baseball history. All three will be honored at ceremonies and added to the Cardinals Hall of Fame gallery later this season.
Fan vote and Red Ribbon pick
As reported by FOX2, fans used the club's online ballot to elect Pujols and Molina as the modern-era inductees, while the organization's Red Ribbon Committee tapped Bill Sherdel as the veteran-era choice. The modern ballot originally included George Hendrick and Brian Jordan and was opened to fan voting in late February, the team said when it launched the process. MLB.com noted that fans could cast their votes online through April 17 ahead of a May reveal of the full class.
Pujols' résumé
Albert Pujols arrives with a résumé that barely needs introduction. He is an 11-time All-Star and three-time National League MVP who finished his career with 703 home runs, including crucial production during the Cardinals' World Series titles in 2006 and 2011, according to Wikipedia. Those numbers, paired with the years he spent as the centerpiece of the Cardinals' lineup, made him an obvious favorite on the fan ballot. His late-career return to St. Louis only deepened his status in franchise lore.
Molina's case
Yadier Molina spent all 19 of his major league seasons in a Cardinals uniform and built a reputation as one of the game's elite defensive catchers. He won nine Gold Gloves and appeared in 10 All-Star Games, per his career page on Wikipedia. Beyond the hardware, Molina drew steady credit for his pitch-calling, game management and leadership, often cited as stabilizing forces for Cardinals pitching staffs and postseason runs. For a lot of long-time fans, his name on the ballot felt like an automatic checkmark.
What comes next
The Cardinals said the full 2026 induction class will be honored at the team's Hall of Fame induction ceremony later this season, with the on-field enshrinement set for Saturday, Sept. 12, according to MLB.com. The club plans to release details on the in-stadium ceremony, related museum events and any public programming as the date draws closer. Fans who participated in the voting will see their choices enshrined both in the Hall of Fame gallery at Ballpark Village and during the on-field festivities.
Why it matters to St. Louis
Putting Pujols and Molina into the Hall together neatly links two of the Cardinals' most successful eras and gives St. Louis a chance to collectively say thank you. Pujols' offensive firepower and Molina's defensive command frame a stretch that delivered multiple pennant runs and the 2006 and 2011 World Series titles. Their induction also shines a spotlight on the Cardinals Hall of Fame gallery at Ballpark Village, which has evolved into a living, growing museum of team history.
About Bill Sherdel
Bill "Wee Willie" Sherdel, the Red Ribbon Committee's veteran-era selection, pitched for the Cardinals from 1918 through 1930 and again in 1932 and sits among the franchise's early leaders in wins and innings pitched, according to Wikipedia. His inclusion weaves a deeper historical strand into the 2026 class and ensures that a pre–World War II figure is represented in the team's displays. The Red Ribbon panel traditionally names one veteran from the club's earlier decades each year to keep those eras visible for fans, historians and researchers.
