After ending his illustrious pitching career that lasted nearly two decades, Adam Wainwright – the former legend of the St. Louis Cardinals – did not leave his old home. He returned, not as a coach or a commentator, but as a passionate social activist, continuing to engage with the St. Louis community in a completely different way.
With the support of the Cardinals Foundation, Adam has expanded his “Field of Genes” project – a revolutionary program that focuses on building sports playgrounds for children in poor and disadvantaged areas, especially those with genetic diseases or special circumstances.
“Field of Genes” is more than just football fields – it is fields of hope. The program started by building small football fields in communities that do not have access to sports. But more deeply, it gives children a chance to feel welcome and have a true childhood, whether they are battling a rare disease or living in a family with poverty.
Wainwright – who has shed tears many times when visiting orphanages – shared:
“We cannot cure every disease, but I believe that a smile on the football field can heal a broken heart.”
Since the beginning of 2025, the program has built more than 15 fields in suburban Missouri, Illinois, and several Texas neighborhoods that were devastated by natural disasters and pandemics. Every square foot of the field is the work of hundreds of volunteers, former Cardinals players, and Wainwright himself has been present many times during the construction process.
Beyond baseball, the “Field of Genes” fields also integrate playgrounds, reading nooks, and physical education classes, working with medical organizations to monitor the health of children with underlying conditions – a comprehensive approach that few sports charity programs can achieve.
In a letter to fans, Wainwright wrote:
“We used to fight for championships. Now I fight for something else: No child should feel alone in their journey to adulthood.”
And the Cardinals, with their deep ties to St. Louis, are a force to be reckoned with. Louis, is truly living up to its motto: “For the Lou. For the Future.”
“Field of Genes” is more than just a charity campaign – it’s proof that a legend’s legacy doesn’t end when he leaves the field, but can live on in the smiles of children. In a baseball world filled with numbers and achievements, Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals have chosen to score with humanity.