Jeff Suppan is a 12-year Major League veteran who has pitched for five different teams and was a key member of the 2006 world champion St. Louis Cardinals. Suppan was voted the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 National League Championship Series (NLCS) for his outstanding performances on the mound, in which he worked 15-plus innings in two starts. He led the Cardinals to the World Series by allowing only one earned run in St. Louis’ series-deciding, game seven victory over the New York Mets.

The Cardinals acquired Suppan as a free agent in 2004 and he had a career year, going 16-9 with a 4.16 earned run average (ERA). He helped lead St. Louis to the World Series that season by beating future Hall-of-Famer Roger Clemens in game seven of the NLCS. In 2005, Suppan enjoyed another solid campaign, going 16-10 with a 3.57 ERA. Through the end of the 2006 season, he has a career record of 106-101 with a 4.60 ERA, including 15 complete games, five shutouts and 1,048 strikeouts in 317 games.

Suppan was chosen out of high school by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 1993 Major League draft. He rapidly advanced to the big leagues, making his debut with the Red Sox in 1995.

A devout cradle Catholic who grew up in California, Suppan attended St. Bernardine of Siena School in San Bernardino and Crespi Carmelite High School, an all-boys Catholic school, in Encino. He enjoys speaking to young people about living out their Catholic faith. In November 2005, Suppan met Pope Benedict XVI and was the first Major League player to participate in the Vatican’s first-ever conference on sports and the Catholic Church.

Nicknamed “Soup,” he is also a restaurateur who owns “Soup’s Grill” in Woodlands, Calif., with his wife Dana.