From Stan Musial vs. Ernie Banks to Mark McGwire vs. Sammy Sosa, the rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs has spanned generations and included several superstars on both teams. The Cubs enjoy an all-time edge against the Cardinals, with a record of 1,278-1,226. However, in recent years, the Cardinals have won more frequently.
However, from 2014 until 2024, the Cubs had an ace under their sleeve that thwarted the Cardinals almost every time they tried to use it. But, after a one-year absence from Chicago, one of history’s most notorious Cardinals murderers looks to be ready to call it quits.
Kyle Hendricks is expected to retire after 2025
Hendricks’ stats versus the Cardinals are unquestionably among the finest of any pitcher in history. In 185 innings, the right-hander has a 14-4 record and a tiny 2.53 ERA. As of April 1, this was the fourth-lowest qualifying period versus the Cardinals during the expansion period.
The Texas Rangers picked Hendricks in 2011, and he was sold to the Cubs at the deadline the following year in exchange for Ryan Dempster. It worked out nicely for Chicago, as Hendricks played 11 seasons with the Cubs until signing as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels after the 2024 season. He has a career 3.79 ERA and led the majors in that statistic during the Cubs’ 2016 championship run, pitching to a 2.13 ERA.
In an era dominated by high velocity and strikeouts, Hendricks has been a throwback. Throughout his career, Hendricks has kept his fastball in the mid-80s, which is agonizingly slow in today’s game, but he has restricted hard contact and walks, with a lifetime 33.8% hard-hit rate (league average is 39%) and only 2.1 walks per nine innings.
With pitchers like Hendricks gradually vanishing across baseball in favor of flamethrowers seeking high strikeout statistics, it’s a sad to see him depart as the sport becomes even more homogenized. However, if you are a Cardinals fan, you may feel some relief as one of the team’s all-time greats finally retires.
