Yadier Molina: "I am here because of him. He made me into a catcher."

St. Louis Cardinals: Beyond the HOF- Saluting Unsung Heroes

Tony LaRussa said, “There have been some truly great Cardinals who have come through the organization, but I don’t know anyone greater or more beloved than him.” To whom is Tony referring? It could be Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson, Ozzie Smith, or a host of other HOF players, but he wasn’t. This beloved Redbird isn’t even in the MLB Hall of Fame. LaRussa was speaking of Dave Ricketts, a teaching pillar of the Cardinal Way. Mr. Ricketts, and that is how he is often referred to by his proteges like Yadier Molina, spent approximately three decades with the Redbirds. His enormous impact upon the way they played the game and lived their life is chronicled in this and following episodes. This episode features former Cardinal and All-Star catcher Terry Kennedy, who speaks at length of his reverence for Mr. Ricketts.