After 14 seasons, three-time MLB All-Star Matt Carpenter is retiring. The 2009 draftee spent 12 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, one with the New York Yankees, and one with the San Diego Padres. His career was filled with memorable moments before he entered free agency this offseason and found no suitors.
Getting the Best of Kershaw in the Playoffs
In the 2014 NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Carpenter had potentially the most memorable hit of his career. The Cardinals were down two runs in the seventh inning with the season’s NL Cy Young and MVP winner Clayton Kershaw on the mound. With two outs and the bases loaded, Carpenter came to the plate.
Carpenter would swat a deep double to clear the bases and put the Cardinals ahead by one run late in game one of the series. The Cardinals would go on to beat the Dodgers 3-1 in the series before eventually losing in the NLCS to the San Francisco Giants. Carpenter batted .375 in the series with the Dodgers and hit three home runs.
In seven Postseason runs, Carpenter hit six home runs and drove in 21 runs. He made it to the World Series once with the Cardinals, losing to the Boston Red Sox in six games in 2013.
Arguably the Best Game Ever in Wrigley
Spending so much of his career with the Cardinals, Carpenter was no stranger to the Cubs. The rivalry between the two midwestern teams is important to both fan bases. The rivalry is why July 20th of 2018 will always be memorable for Cardinals fans.
Carpenter entered Wrigley that day and totaled 16 bases against the Cubs, the most ever from a leadoff hitter. He hit three home runs and two doubles in the game before the 7th inning. Another accomplishment nobody had ever done.
The seven RBI game is Carpenter’s career high for a single game. In his career, Carpenter slashed .256/.350/.444 in Wrigley Field. Three of his 14 home runs at the ballpark came in that game.
A Magical Second Half in the Bronx
After leaving the Cardinals in 2021, Carpenter signed with the Yankees midseason in 2022. He ended up powering the team to the Postseason. Carpenter took advantage of the short porch in Yankee Stadium and slugged 15 home runs in 47 games down the stretch. He slashed .305/.412/.727, and the performance helped extend his career by two full seasons.
The Yankees went on a playoff run, beating Cleveland in the ALDS before ultimately losing to the Houston Astros in the ALCS. Carpenter’s WAR with the Yankees of 2.4 was by far the best of his last six years in the League. That, plus his clean-shaven mustache, made him a fan favorite in New York during his one season there.
Main Photo Credits: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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