Carlton, Andujar, Freese among candidates for Cards HOF

JUPITER, Fla. -- Three World Series champions while with the Cardinals and two other franchise fixtures highlight the players on the ballot for potential induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame, presented by Edward Jones.

Steve Carlton, Joaquin Andujar and David Freese, standout players who led the Cardinals to World Series titles in 1967, 1982 and 2011, respectively, are on the ballot to potentially be inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame. So, too, is right-handed pitcher Matt Morris (1997-2005 with the Cardinals) and shortstop Edgar Renteria (1999-04). The Cardinals, winners of a National League-most 11 World Series crowns, have 50 members in the Cardinals Hall of Fame.

Fans can begin voting for the player they most want to see in the Cardinals Hall of Fame on Saturday by visiting Cardinals.com/HOF. The voting continues through April 21. The player who receives the most votes will be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with a veteran player chosen by the franchise’s Red Ribbon Committee and a Cardinals organization selection. The new Hall of Fame inductees will be announced in May, while the induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, Aug. 20, before the Cardinals host the Mets at Busch Stadium.

To qualify for induction into the Cards Hall, players must have played for the franchise for at least three seasons, and he must be retired from MLB baseball for three seasons. Matt Holliday, Julian Javier and the late Charles Comiskey were in the 2022 induction class.

Carlton, a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and considered by many to be one of the best left-handed pitchers in AL/NL history, is on the ballot for a fifth time. He spent the first five years of his career with the Cardinals (1965-71), finishing 20-9 in 1971 and ranking second in the NL in ERA (2.17) in '69. He still ranks eighth in franchise history in strikeouts (951), and he’s tied for third with 13 10-strikeout games. He was 14-9 with a 2.98 ERA on the 1967 Cardinals team that won the franchise’s eighth World Series title.

Andujar is in his first year on the ballot. He was a top performer on the Cardinals' pitching staff from 1981-85, helping the franchise win the 1982 World Series and come within an out of doing so again in '85. He was 68-53 with 37 complete games and 13 shutouts in his time with the Cardinals. He tied for the MLB lead in wins in 1984 (20) and finished second in the NL in victories in '85 (21). He won a Gold Glove in 1984 and finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in 1984 and ’85.

Freese, who went to high school in Wildwood, Mo., and St. Louis Community College in Kirkwood, Mo., will forever be remembered for the Cardinals' run to the 2011 World Series title. Freese hit one of the biggest home runs in World Series history when his walk-off blast in the 11th inning propelled the Cardinals into a Game 7, which they won to defeat the Rangers. Two innings earlier, Freese had a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Freese is one of just nine players in AL/NL history to be named MVP of the World Series and LCS in the same year.

Morris, who is in his eighth year on the ballot, compiled a 101-62 record with 18 complete games and eight shutouts for the Cardinals. Renteria, also in his eighth year on the ballot, ranks second in team history in home runs and stolen bases among shortstops. He also is third in extra-base hits, RBIs and batting average among the franchise’s shortstops. He won three Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Gloves in his Cardinals career.