14 years ago on this date, the St. Louis Cardinals made a very impactful trade to boost their chances at a postseason run.
On July 24, 2009, the Cardinals acquired a marquee player that they had been targeting for quite some time.
The star in question was outfielder Matt Holliday.
Holliday came to the Cardinals from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for a haul of prospects.
From there, the Cards took off and won their first NL Central title since 2006.
Holliday became a cornerstone in the team’s lineup along with Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick.
On Twitter, Bally Sports Midwest recalled this historic day in Cardinals history.
The #STLCards acquired a guy who would go on to become a Cardinals Hall of Famer on this day in 2009. pic.twitter.com/IGBfWMvjnl
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) July 24, 2023
Holliday became a free agent at the end of the season, but re-signed in the offseason.
He was a key piece on the team’s 2011 World Series championship roster.
During his time in St. Louis, he was an All-Star four times and he helped guide the team to six postseason appearances in eight years.
His best season with the Cardinals came in 2010.
That year, Holliday hit 28 home runs, drove in 103 runs, and hit for an average of .312, his highest mark in a Cardinals uniform.
Holliday departed for the New York Yankees after the 2016 season and ultimately finished out his career with the Colorado Rockies, the team he had made his Major League debut with.
Last season, the slugger was inducted into the Cardinals Hall of Fame.
During his time in St. Louis, he played alongside greats such as Pujols, Yadier Molina, Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, Carlos Beltran, and Lance Berkman.
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