Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright is a retired professional baseball pitcher who enjoyed an 18‑season career entirely with the St. Louis Cardinals, during which he became one of the most iconic and enduring players in franchise history. A towering 6′7″ right‑hander, Wainwright was selected 29th overall in the 2000 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by his hometown Atlanta Braves, bypassing college, before being traded to St. Louis in December 2003. He debuted in the majors on September 11, 2005, quickly establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Cardinals’ rotation.

Known affectionately as “Uncle Charlie,” Wainwright’s career highlights include winning two World Series titles (2006, 2011), earning three All‑Star selections (2010, 2013, 2014), two Gold Gloves (2009, 2013), and a Silver Slugger Award in 2017—rare honors for a pitcher. He led the National League in wins (19), innings pitched, and starts in both 2009 and 2013, and twice notched 20-win seasons in 2010 and 2014. Despite ranking among the league’s best, he finished as Cy Young runner-up on multiple occasions. In 2023, his final season, Wainwright earned his milestone 200th career win on September 18 and retired with a 200‑128 record, a 3.53 ERA, and 2,202 strikeouts.

Off the field, Wainwright demonstrated equal commitment to community and character. He founded Big League Impact, a fantasy‑football‑based fundraiser supporting numerous charities, earning baseball’s prestigious Roberto Clemente Award in 2020. Upon retirement, he transitioned smoothly into broadcasting—joining MLB Network and FOX Sports as an analyst—and explored a budding country‑music career, recording songs and performing publicly during his farewell weekend at Busch Stadium.