When it comes to the Pirates honoring retiring catcher Yadier Molina and first baseman Albert Pujols, I’m of two minds.
On the one hand, I can’t stand the St. Louis Cardinals. During the 2013-2015 run for the Pirates, it was the Cardinals who prevented the Bucs from advancing to the NLCS.
In my opinion, the Cardinals are the Yankees of the National League. They’re second behind the Yankees, by a large margin, in World Series Championships with 11.
The Yanks have 27.
The Cards would go on to win the World Series in 2013 and are usually leading or toward the top of the NL Central.
So, if you don’t agree with the Pirates honoring two players that tortured the organization for years, I totally understand.
But, I think the what the Pirates was the right thing to do and is bigger than baseball.
Both Pujols and Molina are Latin-born players, where Pirates legend Roberto Clemente is a hero to almost every player.
Both are former Clemente Award-winners. Pujols in 2008 and Molina in 2018.
MLB says the award goes to the player that "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.”
On hand for the ceremony Tuesday night at PNC Park were former Pirates player and Pittsburgh native Sean Casey and former Pirates pitcher Oliver Perez, with his son, who Molina faced in his first at-bat on June 3, 2004.
Also on hand were Clemente’s sons, Roberto Jr. and Luis.
The Pirates also honored the retiring players with custom bases from PNC Park with paintings from talented Pittsburgh-based painter Cody Sabol.
Baseball should also be a game about respect and the Pirates did right by Pujols and Molina…even if I despise what they did the Bucs on the field.