Uncle Charlie goes yard, over and over and over and over
Adam Wainwright may have thrown his last pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2023 (and the Savannah Bananas in 2025), but don’t tell his bat that. On his 44th birthday, Wainwright stepped onto the stage at MLB’s Home Run Derby X (HRDX) in Des Moines and reminded everyone that pitchers can rake, too. And boy, did he put on a show.
Waino’s first swing at the HRDX spotlight turned into pure birthday magic. Suiting up for the Cardinals squad alongside fellow fan favorite Rick Ankiel and softball star Taylor Shumaker, Wainwright lit up Principal Park with a jaw-dropping 21 points in the opening round — 13 homers, many sailing deep into the Iowa night. Not a bad way to celebrate blowing out 44 candles.
“This is exactly what I wanted to do on my birthday — hit bombs,” Wainwright said, grinning ear-to-ear. And hit bombs he did.
Adam Wainwright and Company Beat the Cubs at the HRDX
The Cardinals trio took down the rival Cubs, led by Jake Arrieta and Ben Zobrist, in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. St. Louis jumped out early thanks to Wainwright’s fireworks, and Ankiel and Shumaker kept the momentum rolling. The Cubs had their shot in the final round, but Arrieta couldn’t complete the comeback. Cardinals win — just like old times.
From there, it was on to the finals against a stacked Yankees squad featuring Nick Swisher, Jocelyn Alo, and Noah Bridges. Wainwright delivered again with 12 more homers, setting the tone before Swisher unleashed a wild rally capped by a monster bat flip that even knocked the HRDX trophy off its stand. But in the end, the Cardinals held strong, and Wainwright walked away not just with bragging rights, but with the HRDX MVP award tucked in as a birthday bonus.
For Waino, this is nothing new. His career has always carried a flair for the dramatic. He won his 200th game in his final MLB start, clubbed a home run in his first-ever at-bat, and even made cameo pinch-hit appearances during his farewell weekend in St. Louis. It’s no surprise that nearly two years into retirement, he’s still finding ways to keep the fans entertained.
The Birthday Boy Went OFF
“Every time I play on my birthday, something special happens,” Wainwright said. His career numbers back it up: a 2-0 record with a 1.50 ERA in four birthday starts, plus a career highlight reel of clutch moments on and off the field.
This weekend’s HRDX slugfest just added another chapter. Between leaping catches in the field, tape-measure shots at the plate, and a Cardinals win over the Cubs, Wainwright reminded fans why he’s one of the most beloved figures in St. Louis baseball history.
The win also means the Cardinals squad is headed to the Home Run Derby X Finals in Salt Lake City this September. And if Wainwright, Ankiel, and Shumaker keep swinging like they did in Iowa, the redbirds could very well bring home the HRDX crown.
For Cardinals Nation, it’s one more chance to cheer for their legend. And for Adam Wainwright, it was the perfect birthday gift: one more night under the lights, hitting bombs, and proving that even in retirement, Waino still knows how to put on a show.
