New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals players: who played for both
Who played for both the Mets and Cardinals?
144 players played for both the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals between 1962 and 2025, including Keith Hernandez, Ken Boyer, Todd Zeile and Jose Oquendo. 63 of them played for the Mets first and 77 for the Cardinals first; 4 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Bob Miller is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Cardinals first, then the Mets from 1962.
- Ryan Helsley is the most recent: Cardinals first, then the Mets from 2025.
- Keith Hernandez played the most games across the two: 880 for the Mets and 1,165 for the Cardinals.
- 31 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Todd Zeile.
- Most common positions on this list: P (64), OF (32), C (13), SS (13).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Mets and the Cardinals. The surname is enough. 0 / 144
All 144 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Mets | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Hernandez | 1B | 1983–1989 (880 g) | 1974–1983 (1165 g) |
| Ken Boyer | 3B | 1966–1967 (192 g) | 1955–1965 (1667 g) |
| Todd Zeile | 3B | 2000–2001, 2004 (441 g) | 1989–1995 (757 g) |
| Jose Oquendo | 2B | 1983–1984 (201 g) | 1986–1995 (989 g) |
| Joe Torre | C | 1975–1977 (254 g) | 1969–1974 (918 g) |
| Carlos Beltran | OF | 2005–2011 (839 g) | 2012–2013 (296 g) |
| Tom Herr | 2B | 1990–1991 (97 g) | 1979–1988 (1029 g) |
| Vince Coleman | OF | 1991–1993 (235 g) | 1985–1990 (878 g) |
| Bernard Gilkey | OF | 1996–1998 (380 g) | 1990–1995 (593 g) |
| Wayne Garrett | 3B | 1969–1976 (883 g) | 1978 (33 g) |
| Garry Templeton | SS | 1991 (80 g) | 1976–1981 (713 g) |
| Gregg Jefferies | 1B | 1987–1991 (465 g) | 1993–1994 (245 g) |
| Tommie Agee | OF | 1968–1972 (661 g) | 1973 (26 g) |
| Jim Hickman | OF | 1962–1966 (624 g) | 1974 (50 g) |
| Harrison Bader | OF | 2024 (143 g) | 2017–2022 (523 g) |
| Joe McEwing | OF | 2000–2004 (502 g) | 1998–1999 (162 g) |
| Joel Youngblood | OF | 1977–1982 (610 g) | 1977 (25 g) |
| Mike Jorgensen | 1B | 1968, 1970–1971, 1980–1983 (492 g) | 1984–1985 (131 g) |
| Ruben Tejada | SS | 2010–2015, 2019 (586 g) | 2016 (23 g) |
| Bobby Bonilla | 3B | 1992–1995, 1999 (515 g) | 2001 (93 g) |
| Roger Cedeno | OF | 1999, 2002–2003 (452 g) | 2004–2005 (132 g) |
| Fernando Vina | 2B | 1994 (79 g) | 2000–2003 (488 g) |
| Fernando Tatis | 3B | 2008–2010 (258 g) | 1998–2000 (300 g) |
| Eli Marrero | C | 2006 (25 g) | 1997–2003 (525 g) |
| Jason Isringhausen | P | 1995–1997, 1999, 2011 (113 g) | 2002–2008 (401 g) |
| Rafael Santana | SS | 1984–1987 (483 g) | 1983 (30 g) |
| Mike Phillips | SS | 1975–1977 (241 g) | 1977–1980 (231 g) |
| Ron Hunt | 2B | 1963–1966 (459 g) | 1974 (12 g) |
| Tommy Pham | OF | 2023 (78 g) | 2014–2018, 2024 (385 g) |
| Jerry Buchek | 2B | 1967–1968 (197 g) | 1961, 1963–1966 (224 g) |
| Ron Taylor | P | 1967–1971 (269 g) | 1963–1965 (142 g) |
| Timo Perez | OF | 2000–2003 (372 g) | 2006 (23 g) |
| Ray Sadecki | P | 1970–1974, 1977 (165 g) | 1960–1966, 1975 (217 g) |
| Charley Smith | 3B | 1964–1965 (262 g) | 1966 (116 g) |
| Jesse Orosco | P | 1979, 1981–1987 (372 g) | 2000 (6 g) |
| Marlon Anderson | 2B | 2005, 2007–2009 (257 g) | 2004 (113 g) |
| Ted Martinez | SS | 1970–1974 (353 g) | 1975 (16 g) |
| Rick Ankiel | OF | 2013 (20 g) | 1999–2001, 2004, 2007–2009 (344 g) |
| Miguel Cairo | 2B | 2005 (100 g) | 2001–2003, 2007 (255 g) |
| Jose Vizcaino | SS | 1994–1996 (334 g) | 2006 (16 g) |
| Donn Clendenon | 1B | 1969–1971 (281 g) | 1972 (61 g) |
| Ty Wigginton | 3B | 2002–2004 (288 g) | 2013 (47 g) |
| Neil Allen | P | 1979–1983 (223 g) | 1983–1985 (105 g) |
| Al Jackson | P | 1962–1965, 1968–1969 (235 g) | 1966–1967 (92 g) |
| Don Hahn | OF | 1971–1974 (318 g) | 1975 (7 g) |
| Craig Paquette | 3B | 1998 (7 g) | 1999–2001 (305 g) |
| Ryan Helsley | P | 2025 (22 g) | 2019–2025 (275 g) |
| Braden Looper | P | 2004–2005 (131 g) | 1998, 2006–2008 (146 g) |
| Jose Cardenal | OF | 1979–1980 (37 g) | 1970–1971 (237 g) |
| Johnny Lewis | OF | 1965–1967 (226 g) | 1964 (40 g) |
| Lance Johnson | OF | 1996–1997 (232 g) | 1987 (33 g) |
| Bobby Smith | OF | 1962 (8 g) | 1957–1959, 1962 (255 g) |
| Chris Cannizzaro | C | 1962–1965 (249 g) | 1960–1961 (13 g) |
| George Altman | OF | 1964 (124 g) | 1963 (135 g) |
| Fernando Salas | P | 2016–2017 (65 g) | 2010–2013 (187 g) |
| Jim Lindeman | OF | 1994 (52 g) | 1986–1989 (184 g) |
| Jim Beauchamp | 1B | 1972–1973 (108 g) | 1963, 1970–1971 (125 g) |
| Jerry Morales | OF | 1980 (94 g) | 1978 (130 g) |
| Pete Falcone | P | 1979–1982 (145 g) | 1976–1978 (78 g) |
| Vinegar Bend Mizell | P | 1962 (17 g) | 1952–1953, 1956–1960 (199 g) |
| Mike Difelice | C | 2005–2007 (42 g) | 1996–1997, 2002 (167 g) |
| Steven Matz | P | 2015–2020 (122 g) | 2022–2025 (84 g) |
| Shawon Dunston | SS | 1999 (42 g) | 1999–2000 (160 g) |
| Adam Ottavino | P | 2022–2024 (192 g) | 2010 (6 g) |
| Alberto Castillo | C | 1995–1998 (92 g) | 1999 (93 g) |
| Eddie Bressoud | SS | 1966 (133 g) | 1967 (52 g) |
| Genesis Cabrera | P | 2025 (6 g) | 2019–2023 (175 g) |
| Jim Dwyer | OF | 1976 (11 g) | 1973–1975, 1977–1978 (170 g) |
| Danny Frisella | P | 1967–1972 (158 g) | 1976 (18 g) |
| Michael Wacha | P | 2020 (8 g) | 2013–2019 (165 g) |
| Bob Miller | P | 1962, 1973–1974 (99 g) | 1957, 1959–1961 (70 g) |
| Hobie Landrith | C | 1962 (23 g) | 1957–1958 (145 g) |
| Jimmie Schaffer | C | 1965 (24 g) | 1961–1962 (138 g) |
| Kelly Stinnett | C | 1994–1995, 2006 (131 g) | 2007 (26 g) |
| Chuck Taylor | P | 1972 (20 g) | 1969–1971 (126 g) |
| Abraham Nunez | 3B | 2008 (2 g) | 2005 (139 g) |
| Clint Hurdle | OF | 1983, 1985, 1987 (59 g) | 1986 (78 g) |
| Tracy Stallard | P | 1963–1964 (75 g) | 1965–1966 (60 g) |
| Gary Kolb | OF | 1965 (40 g) | 1960, 1962–1963 (90 g) |
| Ricky Bottalico | P | 2004 (60 g) | 1999 (68 g) |
| Roger Craig | P | 1962–1963 (88 g) | 1964 (39 g) |
| Juan Acevedo | P | 1997 (25 g) | 1998–1999 (100 g) |
| Harry Parker | P | 1973–1975 (96 g) | 1970–1971, 1975 (25 g) |
| Manny Aybar | P | 2005 (22 g) | 1997–1999 (99 g) |
| Gary Bennett | C | 2001 (1 g) | 2006–2007 (119 g) |
| Mike Torrez | P | 1983–1984 (48 g) | 1967–1971 (71 g) |
| Duke Carmel | OF | 1963 (47 g) | 1959–1960, 1963 (71 g) |
| Bob McClure | P | 1988 (14 g) | 1991–1992 (103 g) |
| Mike Matthews | P | 2005 (6 g) | 2000–2002 (109 g) |
| Rich Folkers | P | 1970 (16 g) | 1972–1974 (98 g) |
| Jack Heidemann | SS | 1975–1976 (66 g) | 1974 (47 g) |
| Darren Bragg | OF | 2001 (18 g) | 1999 (93 g) |
| Bob Johnson | SS | 1967 (90 g) | 1969 (19 g) |
| Dominic Leone | P | 2023 (31 g) | 2018–2019 (70 g) |
| Don Shaw | P | 1967–1968 (47 g) | 1971–1972 (53 g) |
| Rick White | P | 2000–2001 (79 g) | 2002 (20 g) |
| Andrew Brown | OF | 2013–2014 (87 g) | 2011 (11 g) |
| Gary Rajsich | 1B | 1982–1983 (91 g) | 1984 (7 g) |
| Ed Bauta | P | 1963–1964 (17 g) | 1960–1963 (80 g) |
| Wilson Delgado | SS | 2004 (42 g) | 2002–2003 (55 g) |
| Darren Oliver | P | 2006 (45 g) | 1998–1999 (46 g) |
| Rich Rodriguez | P | 2000 (32 g) | 1994–1995 (57 g) |
| Ken MacKenzie | P | 1962–1963 (76 g) | 1963 (8 g) |
| Butch Metzger | P | 1978 (25 g) | 1977 (58 g) |
| Lee Guetterman | P | 1992 (43 g) | 1993 (40 g) |
| Craig Anderson | P | 1962–1964 (57 g) | 1961 (25 g) |
| Mark Clark | P | 1996–1997 (55 g) | 1991–1992 (27 g) |
| Jorge Sosa | P | 2007–2008 (62 g) | 2006 (19 g) |
| Dennis Ribant | P | 1964–1966 (76 g) | 1969 (2 g) |
| Allen Watson | P | 1999 (14 g) | 1993–1995 (59 g) |
| Phil Maton | P | 2024 (31 g) | 2025 (40 g) |
| Gordie Richardson | P | 1965–1966 (50 g) | 1964 (19 g) |
| T. J. McFarland | P | 2023 (3 g) | 2021–2022 (66 g) |
| Preston Wilson | OF | 1998 (8 g) | 2006–2007 (58 g) |
| Chasen Shreve | P | 2020, 2022 (42 g) | 2018–2019 (23 g) |
| Miguel Batista | P | 2011–2012 (39 g) | 2011 (26 g) |
| Mike DeJean | P | 2004–2005 (46 g) | 2003 (18 g) |
| Rigo Beltran | P | 1998–1999 (28 g) | 1997 (35 g) |
| Tom Grieve | OF | 1978 (54 g) | 1979 (9 g) |
| Jose Quintana | P | 2023–2024 (44 g) | 2022 (12 g) |
| Ray Burris | P | 1979–1980 (33 g) | 1986 (23 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 1999 (19 g) | 2011 (29 g) |
| Benny Ayala | OF | 1974, 1976 (45 g) | 1977 (1 g) |
| Raul Valdes | P | 2010 (38 g) | 2011 (7 g) |
| Rick Ownbey | P | 1982–1983 (21 g) | 1984, 1986 (22 g) |
| Andy Hassler | P | 1979 (29 g) | 1984–1985 (13 g) |
| Joe Grzenda | P | 1967 (11 g) | 1972 (30 g) |
| Bill Pulsipher | P | 1995, 1998, 2000 (35 g) | 2005 (5 g) |
| Jack Lamabe | P | 1967 (16 g) | 1967 (23 g) |
| Chuck Carr | OF | 1990–1991 (16 g) | 1992 (22 g) |
| Rob Johnson | C | 2012 (17 g) | 2013 (20 g) |
| Shawn Gilbert | OF | 1997–1998 (32 g) | 1998 (4 g) |
| Luis Alvarado | SS | 1977 (1 g) | 1974, 1976 (33 g) |
| Jacob Barnes | P | 2021 (19 g) | 2023 (13 g) |
| Bob Heise | SS | 1967–1969 (26 g) | 1974 (3 g) |
| Herb Moford | P | 1962 (7 g) | 1955 (14 g) |
| Blaine Boyer | P | 2011 (5 g) | 2009 (15 g) |
| Tommy Moore | P | 1972–1973 (7 g) | 1975 (10 g) |
| Brandon Waddell | P | 2025 (11 g) | 2021 (4 g) |
| Ricardo Rincon | P | 2008 (8 g) | 2006 (5 g) |
| Mark Little | OF | 2002 (3 g) | 1998 (7 g) |
| Rick Wilkins | C | 1998 (5 g) | 2000 (4 g) |
| Ali Sanchez | C | 2020 (5 g) | 2021 (2 g) |
| Joe Hudson | C | 2024 (1 g) | 2019 (1 g) |
From the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0), 1876–2025. A season counts when the player played at least one regular-season game for the franchise.Cardinals seasons include the St. Louis Brown Stockings (1882), St. Louis Browns (1883–1898) and St. Louis Perfectos (1899).
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Questions
How many players have played for both the New York Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals?
144 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1962 to 2025, including Keith Hernandez, Ken Boyer, Todd Zeile and Jose Oquendo. A player counts when he played at least one regular-season game for each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Bob Miller: St. Louis Cardinals first, then the New York Mets from 1962.
Who has played for both recently?
Harrison Bader, Tommy Pham, Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, Adam Ottavino and Genesis Cabrera and 4 more, with a season for one of the two in 2024 or 2025.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the Lahman database links every team-season to a franchise. Cardinals seasons include the St. Louis Brown Stockings (1882), St. Louis Browns (1883–1898) and St. Louis Perfectos (1899).
Careers from the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with MLB or any team. Credits