• Faith: Christian
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  August 30, 1981

Adam Wainwright has the respect of anyone who played with him because he is one of the rarities who spent his entire career with one team—the St. Louis Cardinals—for 18 years. However, his illustrious career didn’t begin that way, as the Atlanta Braves selected him 29th overall in the Major League Baseball draft.

For three years, Wainwright was in the minor leagues. That’s when he was traded to the Cardinals for outfielder J.D. Drew. Two years later, in 2005, he made his major league debut as a relief pitcher.

Until 2018, the man known lovingly as “Uncle Charlie” hurled his nasty curveball in any capacity, which is starter, short- and long-relief, and closer. He finished his career with 2,202 strikeouts, two Gold Gloves, three All-Star appearances, four Top-3 finishes for the Cy Young award, and 200 wins on the bump. Those metrics were quantified with the St. Louis Cardinals, a feat few can accomplish.

Born in Brunswick, Georgia, to Bill (a lawyer) and Nancy Wainwright (a real estate agent), Adam grew up in a broken home. Seeing his parents separate at age seven and his father move to Florida, Adam and his brother Trey lived independently with their mother. She placed both boys in Glynn Academy in Brunswick. Adam was an athletic leader, and Trey mastered the books; he is now a lawyer in Atlanta.

In high school, Adam gained recognition for his impressive 90MPH fastball and exceptional batting skills, occasionally achieving a .500 batting average. He also excelled in football, earning All-State honors as a wide receiver during his junior and senior years and All-Region accolades as a placekicker—several colleges and universities, including Georgia Tech, extended offers for academic and baseball scholarships.

Eventually, MLB became his full-time passion, and Wainwright skipped college to go straight to the minor leagues, where he stayed until he retired in 2023. However, one of his revered honors includes winning the Roberto Clemente Award in 2020, which is given to someone who typifies a Hall of Fame attitude on the field and off it through community service and helping others. Additionally, Wainwright was awarded three All-Star selections and two Gold Gloves.

Adam Wainwright’s Religious Beliefs

Once Wainwright retired from baseball, he discovered another passion of his: country music. In those lyrics, he expresses the feelings in his heart and the ideas of a whole spirit dedicated to God.

With his wife, Jenny, whom he met in high school, Wainwright lives with his four daughters and an adopted son. His activity in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes keeps him in front of large crowds, extolling praises for God and sharing his faith with anyone who will listen.

He has held extensive Bible studies in the clubhouse and loves sharing his testimony of giving his life to the Lord in 2002. And if there is any doubt that he will succeed in country music, Wainwright has already played the Grand Ole Opry twice.