Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina made history on Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis.

Molina became the first backstop in MLB history to catch 2,000 games exclusively with one team when he camped behind the plate for a matinee against the Washington Nationals.

Cardinals starting pitcher and longtime Molina teammate Adam Wainwright gave the crowd a chance to acknowledge their franchise catcher after throwing the first pitch, circling the mound as Molina received a standing ovation.

It is a remarkable achievement that speaks both to Molina's longevity as well as his status as a franchise staple.

Molina made his MLB debut with the Cardinals back in 2004 and took over full-time catching duties the following season. He has since built a resume as one of the best catchers in MLB history, making nine All-Star teams and winning nine Gold Glove Awards while also helping to lead the Redbirds to a pair of World Series titles in 2006 and 2011.

There was at least a bit of doubt as to whether Molina would re-sign with the Cardinals this winter. He had previously been weighing retirement, only to signal his intent to play another season in 2021. Molina appeared to have a decent market with a number of teams entering the offseason with catching needs. The veteran also initially hoped for a multi-year deal.

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Ultimately, however, Molina chose to head back to St. Louis on a one-year, $9 million pact, giving him the chance to reach the 2,000 games mark with the Cardinals.

Molina currently ranks sixth all-time in games caught. He figures to pass both Jason Kendall and Hall of Famer Gary Carter to move into fourth later this season.