Saying Goodbye to a St. Louis Icon: Matt Carpenter Retires from Baseball
Baseball legend formally declares his departure from the sport, setting sights on potential Hall of Fame induction with St. Louis Cardinals.
In an emotional revelation on the Sports Spectrum podcast, the ever-resilient Matt Carpenter, a future St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famer, announced his retirement from the game he's deeply passionate about. Despite speculations that he could land another major league spot this season, Carpenter, a 13th-round pick from Texas Christian University back in 2009, decided to hang up his cleats after an exceptional 13-year career.
Cardinals' Legend Matt Carpenter Retires, Set for Hall of Fame Induction
While Carpenter didn't enter the majors as a top prospect destined for stardom, he rose through the ranks with dedication and determination, showcasing his immense talent in his full rookie year in 2012. He displayed a remarkable .294/.365/.463 slash line, placing sixth in National League Rookie of the Year voting and recording a 124 wRC+.
Carpenter shone particularly bright in 2013, finishing fourth in National League MVP voting due to his exceptional .318/.392/.481 slash line, 11 home runs, 55 doubles, 78 RBI, and 126 runs. The prowess he displayed not only earned him a 7.2 fWAR season but also propelled the Cardinals to a World Series appearance.
Throughout the 2012-2014 period, Carpenter served as one of the Cardinals' most crucial players during their run of three National League Championship Series appearances and a World Series appearance. He was honored as an All-Star three times during this stretch, received one Silver Slugger award, and placed top-12 in MVP voting three times.
In a 12-season stint with the Cardinals, Carpenter boasted a .261/.366/.466 (.812 OPS) batting line, smacking 159 home runs, 308 doubles, 767 runs, and driving in 659 RBIs. Once Carpenter becomes eligible for the Cardinals Hall of Fame, his first-ballot induction seems inevitable.
In 2024, fans were privileged to witness one last season with Carpenter as he returned to the Cardinals in a supporting role. Following his 2022 and 2023 seasons with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres, respectively, it marks the end of an era for one of the Cardinals' most influential players of the past decade.
Here's to Carpenter, a true paragon of sportsmanship and an exemplary role model, for exemplifying unparalleled dedication and endurance throughout his extraordinary big league career. We eagerly await updates on his post-playing career ventures!
Data Point: Matt Carpenter played 1,388 games for the Cardinals between 2011 and 2021, with an additional 59 appearances in 2024. His best year with the club was 2013, where he led the major leagues in runs (126), hits (199), and doubles (55).
[1]: Source: Baseball-Reference[3]: Source: Baseball Almanac
Matt Carpenter's best year with the Cardinals came in 2013, a season where he led the major leagues in runs (126), hits (199), and doubles (55). Despite this incredible performance, Carpenter's career with the Cardinals stretches back to 2011 and ends only temporarily in 2021, with a brief return in 2024, shortly before his retirement from professional baseball – a career that was also spent with the MLB.
