Most perennial All-Star baseball players are typically honored after they retire—through statues, induction into their team’s Hall of Fame, or having awards named after them. It’s rare for players to receive such tributes while still active, and even rarer for that recognition to take the form of a golden seat in the stadium.
The St. Louis Cardinals have chosen to celebrate Nolan Arenado’s outstanding defense in a one-of-a-kind way. On May 4th and again on May 25th, Arenado dove into the stands along the third base line to make incredible catches.
Following the second incident, Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold tweeted, “Paint the seat GOLD by next home stand. Or at least put a band-aid on it.” The team took his suggestion seriously.
With the help of the team mascot, Fredbird, the Busch Stadium operations crew painted gold the exact seat Arenado crashed into during his May 25th play.
That dramatic catch came in the ninth inning of a tight 4-3 game, with runners on second and third and just one out. Arenado’s effort prevented further scoring and helped reliever Phil Maton escape the inning without damage.
Just weeks earlier, on May 4th, Arenado had made a similar play. In the eighth inning against the Mets, he chased a foul ball hit by Juan Soto, making a tough over-the-shoulder catch near the stands. His grab helped reliever Michael McGreevy close out the inning, and the Cardinals eventually secured a 5-4 win.
During that first play, Arenado accidentally collided with a young girl in the crowd, though she appeared unharmed. He handed her the ball afterward as a gesture of goodwill.
The second play was more physically punishing for Arenado. He slammed into an armrest and experienced difficulty breathing afterward. “It was pretty bad,” he said. “I’ve never really felt that before… but [the pain] went away, thank God.” He took a couple of days off to recover.
This season, Arenado has been playing with renewed energy, driven by a young roster and a desire to earn back the full support of the Cardinals fanbase. Though his offensive performance hasn’t met his own expectations, his defense remains elite.
Arenado, who has earned ten Gold Gloves and six Platinum Glove awards, has built a reputation for spectacular fielding. It’s only appropriate that his defensive brilliance is being honored while he’s still on the field.