As much as Cardinals cornerstones Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina were celebrated for setting the AL/NL record for their 325 starts as a battery, it is their shared journey that is worthy of the most praise and admiration.

From the injuries that nearly derailed their lengthy careers to the blossoming of their teamwork during the 2006 run to a World Series title to their brief dalliances with free agency before ultimately returning to St. Louis, and their unbreakable bond en route to baseball immortality, Wainwright and Molina’s journey toward becoming the most durable battery in AL/NL history is as impressive as the destination itself.

In a joint venture between Cardinals Insider and Cardinals Magazine, the club released a 41-minute, documentary-style video recap on Cardinals.com on Friday titled "Chase to 325" that details the path traveled by the 42-year-old pitcher and the 40-year-old catcher on their way to baseball history.

It was in a start at Busch Stadium against the rival Brewers on Sept. 14, 2022, that Molina and Wainwright passed Tigers greats Mickey Lolich and Bill Freehan to eclipse a batterymates mark that had stood for 47 years. Along the way, Wainwright and Molina passed five Hall of Fame duos.

“It would be great to be known as ‘The Battery,’” Wainwright says in the documentary. “Not one of the greatest batteries, but ‘The Battery.’ Like you hear in commercials. … ‘Just like Wainwright and Molina, Molina and Wainwright, or whatever.’ If they wanted to do that forever, I’d be all right with that. That’d be really cool.”

Because of the numerous factors that go into setting such a record -- good health, loyalty between players and organizations, career longevity and combined success -- it is a common assumption in baseball circles that no battery will ever surpass the 328 starts (or 213 wins) reached by the duo. Molina started at least 120 games 12 times in his 19-year career, while Wainwright has made at least 30 starts 10 times in his 17-year career.

“Let’s take a moment and take this in,” manager Oliver Marmol is shown telling the team before a champagne toast in the clubhouse. “This is a record that won’t be touched again.”

Wainwright will pitch in 2023, but not to Molina, who retired after the 2022 season. Wainwright has said this season will be his last.

Remarks Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak in the documentary: “When you think about storybook endings with two guys who have meant so much to each other, made each other better and stayed in one set of uniforms -- meaning the birds on the bat and the St. Louis Cardinals -- I think it’s remarkable.”