This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2019
Yadier Molina has been the best defensive catcher in baseball for well over a decade. His streak of eight straight Gold Gloves ended in 2016, but as any MLB player or coach will tell you, Yadi still reigns behind the dish. Calling games and throwing out baserunners from his knees may be his specialties, but the guy can flat out hit, too. You don't make the N.L. All-Star team nine times in the last ten years without putting up impressive offensive numbers. A St. Louis Cardinal through and through, the .284 career hitter who regularly catches 120-140 games per season has batted over .300 five times and finished 4th or better in MVP voting twice. Offered here is a near complete set of Molina's game used catching gear dating to the 2017 season, including his chest protector and two leg pads. All that's missing is the mask.
The red Rawlings chest protector has "YADI" and his uniform number "4" stamped in yellow on the navy blue neck guard. The reverse side is custom-taped to Molina's liking with an embroidered Puerto Rican flag on the upper back strap. a second "YADI CP" stamping appears on the center support strap. The accompanying pair of red leg pads are equipped with a hard plastic exterior with extra knee protection and padded internal support. "YADI LG" and "ENHANCED BY poron Xrd" are stamped into the reverse of the knee section. The chest protector shows a bit more use than the leg pads, with some scratches on the front. Based on the style and Puerto Rico flag sewn in, it seems likely that this was a set Yadi used during the 2017 World Baseball Classic with Team PR as well as Spring Training with the Cards that March. He can be seen wearing the same style (and possibly the same one) in Getty 650639440. The light evidence of use indicates he probably did not wear this gear for a long period; otherwise, there would be much more wear. Comes from a reliable collector with ties to several pro sports franchises.
As a funny side note, this looks to be the same style chest protector Yadi was using on April 6, 2017 when this happened: