Former Cardinals star announces retirement, will sign one-day contract

The St. Louis Cardinals are a franchise that is rich in tradition and has had several great teams from each generation to celebrate.

Sometimes, even players that weren't household names become fan favorites, and their contributions to the organization and the city of St. Louis are remembered for years to come.

One such player that wasn't a superstar but was a favorite among fans was first baseman Matt Adams, who played with the team from 2012-17 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves and later returning for the second half of the 2018 season.

On Sunday, the longtime veteran slugger made an announcement on his Instagram account.

"After 15 incredible years of playing professional baseball, it is with tremendous gratitude and emotion that I share my decision to transition to the next chapter of my career," Adams announced.

Nicknamed "Big City" by David Freese, Adams broke into the Major Leagues in 2012 and had some truly memorable moments in a Cardinals uniform. His biggest moment came in Game 4 of the 2014 NLDS.

In that game, St. Louis trailed Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 in the seventh inning before Adams hit a three-run homer that put St. Louis on top. The Cardinals won 3-2 and advanced to the NLCS with their win.

After his time in St. Louis ended, Adams joined the Washington Nationals and was a key part of their 2019 World Series championship team that swept the Cardinals in the NLCS.

The veteran first baseman will sign a one-day contract with the Cardinals to retire a member of the team on Wednesday. Prior to their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 36-year-old will be honored with a ceremony.

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