In a television special on FOX Sports Midwest, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that Chris Carpenter, Joe Torre, Terry Mooreand Sam Breadon will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame presented by Edward Jones on Saturday, August 27, at FOX Sports Midwest Live! in Ballpark Village. This is the third induction class since the team dedicated the Cardinals Hall of Fame with an Inaugural Class on Opening Day in St. Louis in 2014. The 2016 Induction Class was selected via a formal process which includes fans, baseball experts and the team.
“I look forward each year to seeing who our fans and the Red Ribbon panel will elect into the Cardinals Hall of Fame,” said Bill DeWitt Jr., Cardinals Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “These are truly outstanding individuals whose achievements have earned them the honor of being permanently recognized in our Hall of Fame, along with some of the greatest names in Cardinals history. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of these remarkable men in August during Induction Weekend.”
The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame was established as a way to recognize the exceptional careers and significant achievements of the greatest players in Cardinals history, as well as those who have made exceptional contributions to the organization. To be eligible, players must have played for the Cardinals for at least three seasons and must be retired as a player from Major League Baseball for at least three years. The eligible pool of players is divided into two categories, ‘modern players’ and ‘veteran players.’ If a player retired more than 40 years prior to the induction year, he is classified as a veteran player.
Each member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame is permanently enshrined in the new Cardinals Hall of Fame Gallery presented by Edward Jones that is located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation in Ballpark Village, just outside the entrance to the team’s new museum. The Hall of Fame Gallery is free and open to the public.
Chosen by the fans, Carpenter and Torre were the top two vote-getters in the online Cardinals Hall of Fame balloting presented by Edward Jones. The ballot, which also included Cardinals legends Keith Hernandez, Jason Isringhausen, Mark McGwire, Matt Morris, Edgar Renteria, and Scott Rolen, was selected by a Red Ribbon Panel of Cardinals baseball experts through a secret ballot process. More than 33,000 votes were cast by Cardinals fans over the six-week voting period.
In addition to nominating modern players for fan balloting, the Red Ribbon Panel of Cardinals baseball experts also elected legendary outfielder Terry Moore, a veteran player, for induction using a secret ballot process. Moore played for the Cardinals from 1935 through 1942, and again from 1946 through 1948. His three year gap away from the club was due to his service in the military during World War II. A career Cardinal, Moore won World Series Championships with the club in both 1942 and 1946.
Independent of the Red Ribbon Panel selection process, the Cardinals organization retains the right to annually induct an individual who has been an important figure in Cardinals history. This year’s selection is Sam Breadon, who served as President and majority owner of the Cardinals from 1920 through 1947. Under his ownership, Cardinals teams won nine National League pennants and six World Series Championships.
The 2016 Cardinals Induction Class will be formally enshrined at a ceremony on Saturday, August 27during the 2016 Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.