Adam Wainwright promised his kids a puppy when he retired. Cardinals delivered on final day
St. Louis Cardinals' Adam Wainwright is gifted a puppy as he his honored during his retirement ceremony before the Cardinals' final regular season baseball game Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane
ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright promised his children he would get a family dog when he retired from baseball.
He didn't have to. The St. Louis Cardinals presented the Wainwrights a Lagotto Romagnolo puppy during a 35-minute ceremony before the 42-year-old pitcher's final game with the team on Sunday. Wainwright's wife Jenny named the puppy Louie.
The Wainwrights have four daughters: Baylie Grace (17), Addison (14), Macy James (11) and Sadee Faith (5) along with 4-year-old son Caleb Adam.
Wainwright went 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA in 18 major league seasons, all with the Cardinals. He got his 200th win in in his final pitching appearance against Milwaukee on Sept. 18.
Former teammate, friend and longtime catcher Yadier Molina was among a host of players participating in the ceremony. Wainwright and Molina were batterymates in a major league-record 328 games.
Wainwright was not expecting Molina and he buried his head in his hands when Molina came onto the field.
Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Ozzie Smith, Chris Carpenter, Jason Isringhausen and former manager Tony La Russa were among the ex-Cardinals who attended. Carpenter, Pujols and Molina made speeches.
St. Louis Cardinals' Adam Wainwright speaks as he his honored during his retirement ceremony before the start of the Cardinals' final regular season baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Scott Kane
“I love you all so much,” an emotional Wainwright told the sold-out crowd.
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