The St. Louis Cardinals have unveiled their 2026 Hall of Fame ballot, and it’s a star-studded lineup that Cardinals fans will recognize instantly. The modern-era nominees are George Hendrick, Brian Jordan, Yadier Molina, and Albert Pujols—a group that spans decades of Cardinals history, from clutch World Series moments to franchise-defining excellence.
Fan voting is underway now at cardinals.com/HOF and runs through April 17, 2026. The top vote-getter(s) will join the Cardinals Hall of Fame, with the induction ceremony set for September 12, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
This is the Cardinals’ team-specific Hall of Fame (presented by Edward Jones), separate from Cooperstown. To qualify, players need at least three seasons with the Cards and must have been retired from MLB for at least three years. The ballot focuses on “modern players” this cycle—no veteran candidates were highlighted in the announcement.
Let’s break down each nominee and why they’re on the ballot:
George Hendrick (OF, 1978–1984)
Hendrick was a reliable power bat during his seven seasons in St. Louis, slashing .294/.345/.470 with 122 homers and 582 RBI across 893 games. He earned All-Star nods and Silver Slugger honors, finished with an .815 OPS, and even picked up MVP votes in four straight years (1980–83). The highlight? He drove in the winning run in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series against the Brewers. “Silent George” still ranks high on the franchise’s all-time game-winning RBI list since 1980.
Brian Jordan (OF, 1992–1998)
A first-round pick who balanced football and baseball early in his career, Jordan became a key piece of the Cardinals’ mid-90s resurgence. He hit .291/.339/.474 with 84 homers and 86 steals over 643 games. His breakout 1996 season—.310 average, 17 HR, 104 RBI, 22 SB—earned him eighth in NL MVP voting and helped clinch the NL Central title. In 1998, he posted career highs with .316 and 25 homers. Jordan’s clutch hitting (a then-franchise-record .422 with RISP in ’96) made him a fan favorite during a drought-breaking playoff run.
Yadier Molina (C, 2004–2022)
One of the greatest defensive catchers ever and a Cardinals lifer for 19 seasons, Molina’s resume is stacked: 2,168 hits (third in franchise history), 1,022 RBI (sixth), 176 homers (ninth), and 41.7 bWAR over 2,226 games. The 10-time All-Star collected nine Gold Gloves, four Platinum Gloves, and a Silver Slugger while anchoring the 2006 and 2011 World Series champions (plus NL pennants in 2004 and 2013). His postseason numbers are franchise-best: 104 games and 102 hits. Yadi’s impact went far beyond the stats—he was the steady heartbeat of those title teams.
Albert Pujols (1B, 2001–2011, 2022)
The Machine needs no introduction. Pujols’ first Cardinals stint was legendary: three NL MVPs (2005, ’08, ’09), a .326/.417/.614 line, 469 homers (second in team history), 1,397 RBI (second), and 88.7 bWAR over 1,814 games. He added two Gold Gloves and six Silver Sluggers, starring on the 2006 and 2011 champions. After a brief return in 2022 (earning NL Comeback Player of the Year), his franchise rankings remain elite across the board. Few players have defined an era like Pujols did in St. Louis.
This ballot features two inner-circle legends in Pujols and Molina alongside two solid contributors from earlier eras in Hendrick and Jordan. Fan votes often favor the most recent and iconic names, so expect heavy support for the 2006/2011 core. Still, Hendrick and Jordan have passionate cases from their respective generations.
Head to cardinals.com/HOF to cast your vote—fans get to decide who gets the call this year. The full class will be revealed in May, leading up to the big ceremony in September.
For more on the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum (located in Ballpark Village), check out cardinals.com/museum. It’s free to visit and packed with over 22,000 pieces of memorabilia celebrating Cardinals history.
