When a player spends a long time with one team and later leaves, the fanbase will typically give that player a standing ovation when he returns as a visiting player.
Such was the case over the weekend when Mookie Betts made his return to Boston.
Fans of the St. Louis Cardinals hold their players in high regard, even after they depart for new teams.
The San Diego Padres are in town this week, which marks a return to St. Louis for former Cardinals Matt Carpenter and Michael Wacha.
Wacha isn’t pitching in this series, but Carpenter was in the lineup for the Padres in their series opener, and when he stepped to the plate, he got a standing ovation from the Busch Stadium faithful.
Bally Sports Midwest tweeted the video of Carpenter’s ovation.
St. Louis shows love for Matt Carpenter. 👏❤️ #STLCards
TV: Bally Sports Midwest
Stream: https://t.co/WJbJcS2yzd pic.twitter.com/yqAgjWr0w6— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) August 29, 2023
Carpenter made his Major League debut in 2011 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Cardinals system.
By 2013, he was already an All-Star, and he helped guide them to their 19th National League pennant.
Carpenter played multiple positions during his time in St. Louis, splitting most of his time between first base, second base, and third base.
After 2013, he earned two more All-Star selections as a Cardinal.
His best season with the team was 2018.
That year, he hit 36 home runs and forced his way into the MVP conversation.
He even had a salsa named after him when it was revealed that he had made his own salsa before his hot streak.
Carpenter left the team after the 2021 season, but is still held in high regard by the fans in St. Louis.
NEXT: Stats Show How Valuable George Springer Is To The Blue Jays
