Legendary Cardinals Photo Shows A Changing Of The Guard

On Thursday night, Paul Goldschmidt took home the National League MVP Award, becoming the first St. Louis Cardinals player to win the award since Albert Pujols won it back in 2009.

Goldschmidt enjoyed a season in which he hit for a .317 average with 35 home runs and 115 RBI, even coming to within range of the Triple Crown.

While that was not to be, Goldschmidt still had an entertaining season and had all of Cardinal Nation excited every time he came to the plate.

On Twitter, ESPN posted a cool photo of Goldschmidt being congratulated by Pujols after a home run.

But photoshopped into Pujols’ hand was a torch to represent the changing of the guard in St. Louis.

From one @Cardinals legend to the next Cardinals MVP. Goldschmidt can officially take the MVP torch 👏 pic.twitter.com/B6Dq1yUQ3H

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 17, 2022

Passing The Torch

Pujols of course retired at the end of the 2022 season, putting together a solid campaign of his own, reaching the 700-home run mark.

And so, now he passes the torch down to the next Cardinals MVP.

Pujols was once the franchise’s star first baseman, winning three NL MVP Awards and earning 10 All-Star selections prior to leaving for the Los Angeles Angels.

The 42-year-old returned to St. Louis for his final season and provided a spark that the Cards lineup desperately needed.

But his presence certainly helped Goldschmidt along the way.

Now, with Pujols and Yadier Molina both retired, the torch is in the hands of Goldschmidt as a new era of Cardinals baseball begins.

Fans at Busch Stadium will certainly have some fun next year chanting “MVP” every time Goldschmidt comes to the plate.