6 Baseball Players who Played for Orioles and Cardinals
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Baltimore Orioles and St Louis Cardinals.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both the Orioles and the Cardinals.
Popular Choices
The following players are likely to be popular choices. Either they’ve played for both the Orioles and Cardinals recently, they’re well-known All-Stars who made an impact on both clubs or maybe even both.
Matt Wieters
Matt Wieters played 14 years in the majors and is best known for his time as a catcher with the Baltimore Orioles. However, he also had a couple of years with both the Nationals and Cardinals on the back end of his career.
He’s known for his solid defensive skills behind the plate, winning two Gold Glove Awards (both with Orioles). Wieters made four All-Star appearances in his career, and his ability to handle pitching staffs coupled with his switch-hitting power made him a valuable asset on Major League rosters.
Wieters will likely be a popular choice because he’s a good player who spent 8 years with the Orioles and finished his career (somewhat recently) with the Cardinals.
Matt Wieters has previously been the Most Popular pick on a previous (Grid 91 & 104) Orioles / Cardinals square.
Rare Choices
Rare choices are players that are probably remembered as either ran Oriole or Cardinal, but not necessarily both.
Bobby Bonilla
Bobby Bonilla was a big-hitter whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001, playing for 8 different teams over that time. You may know him as a Pirate, Met or Marlin but he also played for the Orioles, Braves, Cardinals, Dodgers and White Sox.
Bonilla helped the Marlins grab a World Series ring in ’97. He hit over 280 home runs and 400 doubles during his career. He was a six-time All-Star.
But what he’s most famous for is his contract with the Mets, who still pay him over a million bucks every July 1 (known as “Bobby Bonilla Day”) due to a deferred payment deal. So even though there were some bumps, Bonilla definitely made a mark in baseball, both on and off the field.
Todd Zeile
Todd Zeile had a long career in Major League Baseball, playing for 11 different teams over 16 years from 1989 to 2004. Primarily a third baseman, Zeile also displayed his versatility by playing first base and catcher.
He finished his career with a .265 batting average, racking up 2004 hits, 253 home runs, and 1110 RBIs. Zeile hit a home run in his first and last career at-bats, becoming the only player to do so in MLB history.
He appeared in the postseason six times throughout his career, reaching the World Series with the Mets in 2000.
Ultra Rare Choices
These players are probably not going to be remembered as playing for either team by most fans. Either they weren’t there very long or they’re a lesser-known ’90s baseball player (that’s my wheelhouse) or, again, maybe both.
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer was a steady pitcher in baseball for an impressive stretch from 1986 to 2012. He made a name for himself with teams like the Mariners and Phillies, but also had stops with the Cubs, Orioles, Rangers, Rockies, Cardinals and Red Sox.
Over his career, he snagged over 260 wins, proving that you don’t need a blazing fastball to get the job done. Moyer was an All-Star once and was also a big part of the Phillies’ World Series win in 2008.
What’s really cool about him is that he pitched in the majors until he was 49, which is just amazing.
Heathcliff Slocumb
You may remember Heathcliff Slocumb as a relief pitcher with the Phillies and Red Sox in the 90s, but he was a bit of a journeyman playing for 8 teams over the course of 10 years. (Cubs, Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Mariners, Padres, Indians (now Guardians), Orioles)
He was a solid reliever with some good seasons and even an all-star appearance while with the Phillies in 1995.
However, he might be best known in baseball lore for being traded from the Red Sox to the Mariners in 1997 for Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek, a deal that later appeared very lopsided in Boston’s favor.
Pat Hentgen
Most of us will remember Pat Hentgen as a starter for the Blue Jays where he spent 10 seasons of his career, but he also played for the Cardinals and Orioles at the end of his career.
Hentgen was a workhorse on the mound, leading the majors in complete games, innings pitched and batters faced back-to-back years in 1996 and 1997. In ’96, he also won 20 games and took home the Cy Young Award.
Hentgen was a three-time All-Star and was instrumental in the Blue Jays’ 1993 World Series championship.
