World Series a mainstay for Molina brothers
- Yadier and Bengie Molina have reached the World Series with the Cardinals a total of four times
- Yadier first made it as rookie in 2004%2C two years after Bengie
- Jose Molina reached the World Series in 2002 with the Angels
BOSTON -- Technically, it is possible to hold a World Series without a Molina. Practically, though, it has rarely happened in recent years.
Two of the catching Molina brothers — five-time All-Star Yadier and oldest brother Bengie, who's no longer playing — are members of the St. Louis Cardinals organization that has reached the World Series for the fourth time in the last decade.
Yadier first made it as rookie in 2004, two years after Bengie and middle brother Jose reached baseball's ultimate stage with the then-Anaheim Angels, who beat the San Francisco Giants for the 2002 championship.
Since then, Yadier has played in the 2006 and 2011 Fall Classics, and he'll start behind the plate tonight in Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox.
Bengie, now an assistant hitting coach with the Cardinals, also made it with the 2010 Texas Rangers.
Jose, now with the Tampa Bay Rays, played in the 2009 World Series with the New York Yankees.
So, including this edition, that's nine Molinas in 12 World Series since 2002, including at least one in four of the last five.
"We've been blessed," Yadier said. "It's good to be a Molina these 10 years. We prepare and we work hard to be here."