Perennial All-Stars in baseball typically retire with a statue, nomination to the organization’s Hall of Fame, or team award named in their honor. Not many players that are active get this kind of notoriety. Only a select few are honored with a golden seat at the home stadium.
St. Louis Cardinals paint a seat gold at Busch Stadium to recognize Nolan Arenado’s defensive heroics
In the most unusual way possible, the St. Louis Cardinals have chosen to commemorate Nolan Arenado’s defense. Arenado crashed into the stands on the third base line on May 4th and May 25th.
Derrick Goold, the beat reporter for the Cardinals for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, wrote on Twitter/X following the second collision into the stands, “Grow the seat by the next home stand. Or at least cover it with a band-aid.
The Cardinals did, however, pay attention.
The operations staff at Busch Stadium managed to paint the seat that Arenado fell into on May 25th with a little assistance from the always reliable and mysterious Fredbird.
On May 25th, in the top of the ninth inning of a 4-3 game, Arenado caught a foul ball that sent him flying into the seats. Ketel Marte was up to bat and there were runners on second and third base with one out. Phil Maton left the inning without being hurt after Arenado’s grab helped calm him down a little.
Arenado had also raced into the seats to collect a fell ball only three weeks before. To get reliever Michael McGreevy out of the inning in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets, Arenado ranged into foul territory and made an over-the-shoulder basket catch. With two outs and nobody on, Juan Soto struck the ball. This game would end up being won 5–4 by the Cardinals.
Arenado struck a little girl in the stands on the first catch on May 4th, although she seemed to be uninjured. As a peace gesture, Nolan handed her the foul ball.
Arenado said that he struck his side on the armrest on his second catch, putting his life and limb at jeopardy. It was difficult since it was really nasty and I was having problems breathing there for a long. It was difficult since I had never experienced that [type of agony] before. But, thank God, [the anguish] subsided. After that catch, he needed a few days off to recuperate.
A youthful squad and an attempt to win back the Cardinals’ supporters’ confidence and respect have given Arenado new life this season. Fans should grow even more fond of him because of his dedication to his art. Although his attacking output hasn’t been as strong as he would have liked, his defense has remained dependable.
Throughout his career, Nolan Arenado, a ten-time Gold Glover and six-time Platinum Glove winner, has continuously produced outstanding throws and catches. Given that he is still playing, it is only appropriate that his defensive prowess be honored.
