Four different pieces of player gear from the 2023 MLB London Series will be immortalised in Cooperstown, Major League Baseball has announced.
Baseball made a much-anticipated return to British shores as the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals faced off at the London Stadium last weekend. In front of two packed-out crowds, the NL Central rivals split the two-game series.
The Cubs took a convincing win in the first matchup between the teams on Saturday night. Ian Happ’s two-Home Run performance led the way for Chicago as they picked up a dominant 9-1 victory. Justin Steele also impressed for the Cubbies with 8K’s from the mound.
However, the Cards responded on the following day, pulling off a 7-5 win to split the series. This time, former Cubs catcher Willson Contreras came back to haunt his old team, going 4-for-4 with an RBI. Cardinals left-fielder Brendan Donovan knocked in two runs as well.
Aside from the on-field action, though, the 2023 MLB London Series demonstrated the growing passion for the game internationally. Now, in celebration of the success of the series, the Baseball Hall of Fame will receive some mementos to display.
The 2023 MLB London Series items heading to Cooperstown
Four fascinating pieces of equipment from the games in London will be enshrined at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.
Firstly, the ball from the opening pitch of Saturday’s game will make its way to Cooperstown. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright was the star responsible for the pitch, delivering a ball to the Cubs’ lead-off hitter, Mike Tauchman.
While the ball was collected to be remembered forever in the H.O.F., Wainwright will want to forget the game himself. The Cardinals legend endured a day to forget. He gave up seven runs before being hooked at the top of the fourth inning.
Ian Happ – one of the Cubs that hit so well against Wainwright – has donated an artifact to the Hall of Fame. His batting gloves from his two-homer performance will stay at the National Baseball Museum.
The Chicago Cubs outfielder opened the scoring in London on Saturday with a bomb to centre field. He then followed this Home Run up with another homer in the very next inning.
Two more Cardinals pieces going to the Hall of Fame
The third item coming from Game 1 of the 2023 MLB London Series is Paul Goldschmidt’s hat. Goldschmidt, by playing in this international series, made a piece of individual history.
The 2022 NL MVP became the first Major League star to play a regular-season game in five different countries. Incredibly, Goldschmidt has played in the US (of course), Canada, Australia, Mexico, and now England.
With such a historic MLB first, the Hall of Fame undoubtedly took the Cardinals’ First Baseman’s hat from the London game for their collection.
Finally, the fourth item enshrined in Cooperstown will be Nolan Arenado’s jersey from the Cardinals’ win. Although the elite third baseman did not have his finest stretch in London, his jersey will mark another historic stat.
As a result of their win on Sunday, St. Louis became the first “home” team to win a game in London. The Cubs were the “away” outfit for this series and won game 1. Then, in the inaugural London Series in 2019, the Boston Red Sox lost both matches to the New York Yankees.
These four items from the 2023 MLB London Series will ensure that this momentous weekend across the pond is etched into Baseball history.
Featured image credit: Getty
