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Former Cardinals Ace Adam Wainwright Makes Savannah Bananas Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Connor Greene | Last updated Jul 19, 2025 6:00 AM ET

For the first time since his retirement, longtime Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright took the mound at Busch Stadium on Friday night, but not in a Cardinals uniform.

“Uncle Charlie” made his Savannah Bananas debut in front of a sold-out crowd, entering late and earning a standing ovation after retiring a batter to end the inning. It was his first appearance at Busch since September 2023, when he notched his 200th career win, becoming just the third pitcher in franchise history to hit that mark.

The Bananas are a touring exhibition team known for blending baseball with entertainment and often bring in former MLB stars for guest appearances. Wainwright, 43, joins that list, alongside other ex-MLB names like Corey Kluber and Jake Peavy.

“I don’t know if Jessie [with Big League Impact] reached out first or if the Cardinals asked for me to be a part of it,” Wainwright said postgame. “But I’m grateful. This is exactly right up my alley.”

Wainwright gave up a single but quickly retired the next batter with a flyout, tipping his cap to the fans as he left the mound.

“When the crowd gets into it, you can’t help but feel it,” he said. “This is the best baseball town in the world.”

Adam Wainwright after pitching for the #SavannahBananas: "Yeah, it was awesome. When the crowd gets into it, you can't help but feel it. ... It's the best baseball town in the world. I was blessed to play here for 18 years. Being back at Busch Stadium felt right." #STLCards pic.twitter.com/JUlwDOpzEn
— Joey Schneider (@joeyschneider95) July 19, 2025

A three-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Wainwright retired after 18 seasons with 200 wins, 2,202 strikeouts, and a 3.53 ERA—all with the birds on the bat.

These days he stays busy as a FOX analyst, country musician, and father. He plans to call Sunday’s Red Sox-Cubs game at Wrigley and will headline his Big League Bash concert July 27 in Chesterfield.

It may have only been one inning, but for fans, it was another memorable night seeing No. 50 pitch again at Busch.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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