Paul Goldschmidt, First Base, St. Louis Cardinals


Date of Birth: 9/10/1987
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware
College: Texas State University
Nickname: Goldy

Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, was drafted out of college by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009. He played in the minor leagues for almost three seasons (2009-2011) and ended with a .317 batting average. He first played with the Diamondbacks towards the end of the 2011 season, playing in 48 games with the team.

In 2012, his rookie season, Goldschmidt batted .286 with 147 hits, 43 doubles (career high), 20 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 145 games. The 2013 season, however, was a much stronger one, with 182 hits, 36 doubles, 36 home runs, 125 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and a .302 batting average in 160 games. In 2013, Goldschmidt led the National League in home runs and RBIs and he won a Silver Slugger award and the NL Hank Aaron award. He also won a Gold Glove for his fielding at first base.

Goldschmidt played in 109 games in 2014. He finished the season with 122 hits, 39 doubles, 19 home runs, 69 RBIs, and a .300 batting average.

Goldschmidt had a strong 2015 season with highs in hits (182), stolen bases (21), and batting average (.321). In 159 games, he also had 38 doubles, 33 home runs, and 110 RBIs. Defensively, as a first baseman, he made 123 assists, 129 double plays, 1,378 putouts, and 5 errors in 157 games. He had a .997 fielding percentage.

Goldschmidt received his second Gold Glove and his second Silver Slugger award in 2015.

Goldschmidt had another strong season in 2016, batting .297 in 158 games. He had 172 hits, 33 doubles, 24 home runs, a career high 32 stolen bases, and 95 RBIs. Defensively, as the Diamondbacks first baseman in 157 games, he made 116 assists, 127 double plays, 1,378 putouts, and 4 errors.

Goldschmidt continued playing well in 2017, winning his third Silver Slugger award and his third Gold Glove. He finished the season with 166 hits, 34 doubles, 36 home runs, 18 stolen bases, 120 RBIs, 147 strikeouts to 94 walks, and a .297 batting average in 155 games. Defensively, as the Diamondbacks' first baseman in 151 games, he made 103 assists, 116 double plays, 1,254 putouts, and 4 errors. In 16 at-bats in 4 postseason games, he had 3 hits and 5 RBIs. He two home runs, one in the Wild Card game and the second one in Game 2 of the NLDS.

Goldschmidt had another good season in 2018, finishing with 172 hits, 35 doubles, 33 home runs, 83 RBIs, and a .290 batting average in 158 games. Defensively, as the Diamondbacks' first baseman in 155 games, he made 110 assists, 131 double plays, 1,323 putouts, and 6 errors.

Goldschmidt won his fourth Silver Slugger award in 2018.

The Diamondbacks traded Goldschmidt to the Cardinals on December 5, 2018. He signed a five-year, $130 million contract extension with the Cardinals on March 22, 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 155 hits, 25 doubles, 34 home runs, 97 RBIs, 166 strikeouts to 78 walks, and a .260 batting average in 161 games. Defensively, as the Cardinals' first baseman in 159 games, he made 111 assists, 145 double plays, 1,256 putouts, and 5 errors. In the postseason, he had 10 hits, 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, 11 strikeouts to 2 walks, and a .270 batting average in 37 at-bats in 9 games.

Goldschmidt played in 58 games in 2020. He finished the season with 58 hits, 13 doubles, 6 home runs, 21 RBIs, 43 strikeouts to 37 walks, and a .304 batting average. Defensively, he played 52 games at first base. In the postseason, he batted .231 in 13 at-bats in 3 games.

Goldschmidt batted .294 in 158 games in 2021. He finished the season with 177 hits, 36 doubles, 31 home runs, 99 RBIs, and 136 strikeouts to 67 walks. He won his fourth Gold Glove as a first baseman. In 153 games, he made 106 assists, 111 double plays, 1,144 putouts, and 2 errors. In the postseason, he had 1 hit in 3 at-bats in 1 game.

Career batting statistics for Goldschmidt through 2021 include:

  • 1,469 games played
  • 1,572 hits
  • 341 doubles
  • 280 home runs
  • 140 stolen bases
  • 927 RBIs
  • 1,404 strikeouts to 837 walks
  • .293 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Goldschmidt at first base through 2021 include:

  • 1,434 games played
  • 962 assists
  • 1,129 double plays
  • 12,129 putouts
  • 46 errors
  • .996 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Goldschmidt married his wife Amy in October, 2010.

In September, 2013, Goldschmidt earned a BS degree in management from the University of Phoenix.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Paul Goldschmidt
ESPN - Paul Goldschmidt