Welcome back home – and Homestand Highlights #2

The Cardinals return home tomorrow night from a 3-3 road trip to Arizona and Oakland, which was their last trip to Oakland Coliseum before the A’s move. Lance Lynn got his first win of the season. Sonny Grey pitched a great game and extended his record to 2-0. Sadly, Steven Matz, Kyle Gibson and Miles Mikolas did not win their starts.

The bats appear to be in the freezer – there was only 1 game during the road trip in which the Cardinals scored more than 3 runs, and the team has not scored in double digits all season. Paul Goldschmidt’s batting is particularly worrisome. He looks tired at the plate. Victor Scott II is not hitting well either, although that could be because he is trying to adjust to big league pitching. Some extra batting practice is in order, for sure.

The Cards had a day off today and will return home tomorrow for a six game series against the Brewers and the Diamondbacks. Perhaps being in the home roost will help the Cardinals’ bats. Here are the details on the upcoming homestand:

2024 BUSCH STADIUM HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS #2

Friday, April 19 – Wednesday, April 24

The Cardinals are back at Busch Stadium to open a six-game homestand starting with a three-game weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers (April 19-21) followed by three games with the Arizona Diamondbacks (April 22-24).  The full list of homestand highlights can be viewed at cardinals.com/homestand.

Friday, April 19 — Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (7:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 6.16) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 2.55)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest & MLB Network (out-of-market only)

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 5:15 PM

Note from Diane: My son and I will be at this game and we’ll be in section 235, row 4. If you’re at the game, stop by and say hi! I love to meet fans of my blog.

• Jordan Walker Bobblehead: 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older, presented by Central Bank.

• Remembering Whitey Herzog: The Cardinals will hold a moment of silence before the start of tonight’s game in remembrance of Hall of Famer and World Series Champion Manager Whitey Herzog.

• Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony: Before the start the game, Victor Scott II will be presented with his 2023 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award during an on-field ceremony.

• Grateful Dead Night:  With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will receive a Grateful Dead-inspired long sleeve lightweight hoodie. Come early for a special pregame performance by St. Louis’ favorite Dead tribute Band, Jake’s Leg, in Budweiser Terrance beginning at 5:30 PM.  A portion of each ticket purchased will be donated to Grateful Dead’s charity, The Rex Foundation.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/gratefuldead.

• Flashback Friday & Artifact Spotlight: Before every Friday home game, the Cardinals Museum hosts two presentations in the Sportsman’s Park Theater, one highlighting artifacts in the museum’s collection not currently on display at 3:30 PM and another featuring intimate and candid interviews with former Cardinals alumni and personnel at 4:00 PM.  Today’s interview will be with former reliever Ken Dayley.  To purchase museum tickets, visit cardinals.com/museum.

• Weekend-Long 50/50 Raffle: The drawing for the Weekend Long 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings at Casino Queen, will take place on Sunday, April 21, at the end of the 7th inning.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.
• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions:Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans in the ballpark and at home via cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction items will be on display today inside the CommunityAmerica Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club. The auction will run through Sunday, April 21 at 9:00 PM.
• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1 and Gate 3 through the fifth inning.  Proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Saturday, April 20 — Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-2, 5.82) vs. LHP DL Hall (0-1, 7.11)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates:  11:15 AM

• Adult Cardinals Full Zip Jacket: 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older, presented by Mercy. 

• Saturday Signings at the Museum: Former Cardinals Pitcher Ken Dayley will sign from 10 AM -12 PM with museum admission.  Visit cardinals.com/museum for more information.

• Weekend-Long 50/50 Raffle: The drawing for the Weekend Long 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings at Casino Queen, will take place on Sunday, April 21, at the end of the 7th inning.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1 and Gate 3 and inside CommunityAmerica Cardinals Club and Redbird Club through the fifth inning.  Proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Sunday, April 21 — Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (1:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Sonny Gray (2-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 2.70)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 11:15 AM

• Cardinals Bird Hat: 25,000 fans, all ages entering with a ticket, presented by Bally Sports. Note: Chip Caray and Brad Thompson wore these hats on a Cardinals broadcast last season.

• Honorary First Pitch: Former Cardinals All-Star shortstop and 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before today’s game.

• Donate Life Day: With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will receive an exclusive Cardinals cap supporting organ and tissue donations. A portion of each ticket will also be donated back to support Mid-American Transplant.  Presented by Mid-American Transplant.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/transplant.

• Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday: Starting two hours prior to the game, fans and families can enjoy games, prizes and free North Star frozen treats in Ford Plaza (while supplies last).

• Hi-Chew Kids Run the Bases: Fans ages 15 & under can run the bases after the game (weather permitting).

• Weekend-Long 50/50 Raffle: The drawing for the Weekend Long 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings at Casino Queen, will take place today at the end of the 7th inning.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions: Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans at cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction will conclude tonight at 9:00 PM.

• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1 and Gate 3 and inside CommunityAmerica Cardinals Club and Redbird Club through the fifth inning.  Proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Monday, April 22 — Cardinals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (6:45 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Lance Lynn (1-0, 2.18) vs. TBD

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 5:15 PM

• Battlehawks Night:  With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will receive an exclusive Battlehawks/Cardinals cap.  Battlehawks players AJ McCarron, Darrius Shepherd, and Travis Feeney will be recognized in a pregame ceremony.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/battlehawks.

• Scouts Night I:  Scouts and their guests can enjoy $12 tickets and will receive a special scout patch.  All scouts and troop leaders will be invited to participate in a pregame parade around the warning track.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/scouts.

• Goldy’s Golden Ticket: Paul Goldschmidt will host a group from Gracie Barra Jiujitsu for tonight’s game as part of his Goldy’s Golden Ticket player ticket program.

Tuesday, April 23 — Cardinals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (6:45 PM)

Probable Pitchers: LHP Steven Matz vs. RHP Ryan Nelson

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 5:15 PM

• Class of 2024 Night: With the purchase of a special $20 Theme Ticket, fans will take home an exclusive Class of 2024 t-shirt.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/graduation.

• Jeff Suppan Budweiser Bash: Fans who purchase a special Bud Bash Theme Ticket will receive a limited-edition Jeff Suppan bobblehead.  VIP ticket-holders will also have access to a pregame autograph session with Jeff in Budweiser Terrace.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/budbash.

• Marmol’s MVPs:  Oli Marmol will host a group from Lolly’s Place for tonight’s game as part of his Marmol’s MVPs ticket program.

• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions:Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans in the ballpark and at home via cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction items will be on display today at Gate 1, Gate 3, and inside the CommunityAmerica Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club. The auction will run through Wednesday, April 24 at 9:00 PM.

Wednesday, April 24 — Cardinals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (12:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Kyle Gibson vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery

TV: Bally Sports Midwest & MLB Network (out-of-market only)

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 10:45 AM

• Weather Day: Enjoy the game and a pregame interactive program featuring KTVI/KPLR meteorologists, Fredbird and experiments from the Saint Louis Science Center to educate students about the weather for just $15.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/weather.

• Jackie Robinson Day Celebration: To commemorate Jackie Robinson’s breaking of baseball’s color barrier 77 years ago, the Cardinals will hold a pregame ceremony recognizing local Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar David French, a third-year scholar attending Washington University in St. Louis majoring in Computer Science, with a ceremonial first pitch.  Cardinals sponsor, CommunityAmerica will present a check to the Jackie Robinson Foundation and Cardinals Care to further their missions.  In partnership with Nike, Cardinals Care will recognize nonprofits who represent one of Jackie Robinson’s 9 Values.  Educational activities about Jackie Robinson will also be available for kids in Ford Plaza.

• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions: Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans at cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction will conclude tonight at 9:00 PM.

• Great Clips Charity Haircuts: During the game, fans can root for the Redbirds and shape up their roots with a visit to Ford Plaza.  For a $10 donation, Great Clips will cut your hair and donate all proceeds to Cardinals Care.

2024 CARDINALS HALL OF FAME FAN VOTING – ENDS FRIDAY, APRIL 26

In February, Steve Carlton, George Hendrick, Matt Morris and Edgar Renteria were nominated for possible induction into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, presented by Edward Jones.  The player with the most fan votes after voting concludes on Friday, April 26, will be selected for induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame during an enshrinement ceremony on Saturday, September 7.  Fans can cast their vote online at cardinals.com/HOF.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

Remembering Whitey Herzog, 1931-2024

Cardinals Nation is in mourning once again, this time because of the death of beloved manager Whitey Herzog today (4/16/24) at age 92.  At Whitey’s death, he was the second oldest Baseball Hall of Fame member, after Willie Mays, who is also 92.

Whitey was a player for eight years before he became a manager. He was primarily an outfielder and batted .257 with 25 home runs and 172 RBI for the Washington Senators (1956-58), Kansas City Athletics (1958-60), Baltimore Orioles (1961-62) and Detroit Tigers (1963). As a minor leaguer with the McAlester (Okla.) Rockets in 1949, Herzog was christened with the name “Whitey” by sportscaster Bill Speith for his light-colored hair. Whitey was also known as the “White Rat.”

Before Whitey worked his magic with the Cardinals, he worked for the Mets, the California Angels, the Rangers and then managed for the Royals, who went on to win three straight American League Western division titles from 1976 to 1978. 

Herzog took over the Redbirds on June 9, 1980 and two months later, Herzog turned over his on-field managerial duties to become general manager and have more direct involvement in player personnel. He assumed the dual role of field manager and general manager in October 1980. At the winter meetings that December, Herzog began to transform the Cardinals with three blockbuster trades involving 21 players. He envisioned a team built on speed and defense in spacious Busch Stadium. Whitey was responsible for trading Garry Templeton to the Padres to obtain Baseball (and Cardinals) Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith. Whitey also traded my guy Ted Simmons to the Brewers in 1982, but I eventually forgave him for that.

Whitey was the manager of the Cardinals from 1980 to 1990. He ranks third in franchise history with 822 victories – trailing only Tony La Russa (1,408) and Red Schoendienst (1,041). During his tenure, the Cardinals won the World Series in 1982 (the first World Series title in 15 years) and won the National League pennant in 1982, 1985 and 1987. The Cardinals had the best record in the NL in 1981 but missed the playoffs due to the players’ strike that occurred that year.  

Whitey’s managing produced a brand of baseball called “Whiteyball,” which consisted of manufacturing runs via base hits, stealing bases and smart baserunning. 1980s Cardinals baseball would not have been as exciting without Whitey at the helm. Home runs are nice, but that’s not the only way to score runs. We are seeing Whiteyball redux in current Cardinals player Victor Scott II, coached by Whiteyball era player Willie McGee. Victor runs very fast and he is an excellent base stealer. Players today should take another look at Whiteyball – home runs aren’t the only way to score.

After Whitey left St. Louis, his friend Gene Autry (yes, that Gene Autry) hired him to be the general manager of the California Angels.  Whitey signed David Eckstein to the Angels, and we all know what happened after David made it to St. Louis. You could say that Whitey contributed to the Redbirds even after he left St. Louis.

Whitey authored a book about baseball titled “You’re Missing a Great Game: From Casey to Ozzie, the Magic of Baseball and How to Get It Back.” I have this book and it is great. Whitey tells some wonderfully funny stories (there’s a little bit of blue language, though) and he gives some great advice about baseball, although it may be a little dated now. You can see if your local library carries the book, or you can purchase it on Amazon.

Whitey was at Opening Day this season, but he was in one of the seats in front of a party room and not on the field with the rest of the Red Jackets. He did not look well that day. How sad to realize that was the last time we would ever see Whitey at Busch Stadium.

The Herzog family is planning a private celebration of life service after a period of grieving, and they ask that any memorial donations be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Here’s the link in case you’re interested in making a memorial donation: https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/145680/?https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/give/158250/&gclid=CjwKCAjww_iwBhApEiwAuG6ccINDK9Bz80W9eRR8IWlFP73wnVXHFSbh1jsbSzRVFApe3UXvxfw6FBoCOZsQAvD_BwE#!/donation/checkout?c_src=google-pmax&c_src2=evergreen

Whitey loved to go fishing – I wonder if he’ll be able to do that in heaven. Whitey, say hello for us to Stan, Gibby, Lou, Red, and the rest of the Cardinals greats who have gone on before. We will miss your baseball genius and your great sense of humor. Thanks for the memories, White Rat.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

Opening Day observations and Homestand Highlights too!

What a wonderful Opening Day! It was a marvelous parade of the Clydesdales, the Red Jacket players, and the current players on the warning track. The gathering of Red Jackets at home plate reminded me of the Red Jackets who have passed, the ones who are known by one name – Stan, Red, Bruce, Lou, Gibby, Tim, Shannon. It made me a little sad thinking about them not being there. But I always enjoy seeing the current players shaking hands with the Red Jackets, hoping that some of the magic rubs off on them.

It was sad that the fans booed John Mozeliak when he was introduced. I understand that some fans are upset that Mo didn’t get them the pitchers/players that they wanted. I think a better response would have been silence – no booing, no clapping.

And yes, there was a game Thursday, and what a game it was! Ivan Herrara, playing in place of Willson Contreras, hit his first major league home run. Nolan Gorman hit a double. Masyn Winn hit a triple to give the Cardinals a 8-5 lead. That was the final score, and the Marlins lost their eighth game in a row. I wonder if the Marlins’ fans are as unhappy with Skip as some of the Cards’ fans are with Oli. At least the Cardinals haven’t lost 8 games to start the season.

The Cardinals have two more games with the Marlins, and then the Phillies come to town. Baseball is back! Here are the details for the upcoming homestand:

2024 BUSCH STADIUM HOMESTAND HIGHLIGHTS #1

Thursday, April 4—Wednesday, April 10

The Cardinals open its 2024 home schedule with three games against the Miami Marlins (April 4, 6-7) followed by a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies (April 8-10).  Fans can view a full list of homestand highlights at cardinals.com/homestand.

Saturday, April 6 — Cardinals vs. Miami Marlins (1:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: LHP Steven Matz (0-0, 3.38) vs. LHP Trevor Rogers (0-0, 7.20)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 11:15 AM

• Cardinals Hall of Fame Mystery Car Parade Bobblehead Giveaway: 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older, presented by Ford.

• Saturday Signings at the Museum: National Baseball Hall of Fame Manager and three-time World Series Champion Tony La Russa will sign from 10 AM -12 PM with museum admission.  Visit cardinals.com/museum for more information.

• Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle: The drawing for the Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings at Casino Queen, will take place on Sunday, April 7, at the end of the 7th inning.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1, Gate 3 and inside the Cardinals Club and Redbird Club through the fifth inning.  Proceeds benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Sunday, April 7 — Cardinals vs. Miami Marlins (1:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Kyle Gibson (1-0, 2.57) vs. RHP Max Meyer (0-0, 3.60)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 11:15 AM

• Adult Long-Sleeve Hooded Pullover Giveaway: 25,000 fans, ages 16 and older. 

• Cancer Awareness Day: With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will take home an exclusive Cardinals Cancer Awareness Tumbler.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/cancer.

• Prairie Farms Ice Cream Sunday: Starting two hours prior to the game, fans and families can enjoy games, prizes and free North Star frozen treats in Ford Plaza (while supplies last).

• Hi-Chew Kids Run the Bases: Fans ages 15 & under can run the bases after the game (weather permitting).

• Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle: The drawing for the Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings at Casino Queen, will take place today at the end of the 7th inning.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions: Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans at cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction will conclude tonight at 9:00 PM.

• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1, Gate 3 and inside the Cardinals Club and Redbird Club through the fifth inning.  Proceeds benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Monday, April 8 — Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (6:45 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-1, 6.10) vs. RHP Spencer Turnbull (1-0, 0.00)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 5:15 PM

• Peanuts Day: With the purchase of a special Theme Ticket, fans will take home an exclusive Cardinals-themed Peppermint Patty bobblehead.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/peanuts.

• Los Pajaritos de Polo: Cardinals Spanish broadcaster Polo Ascencio will host a group from The Hispanic Festival for tonight’s game as part of his Los Pajaritos de Polo ticket program.

• MLBPAA Auctions: The MLB Players Alumni Association will conduct a silent auction by Gate 1 and Gate 3 through the fifth inning.  Proceeds benefit Cardinals Care and MLBPAA.

Tuesday, April 9 — Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (6:45 PM)

Probable Pitchers: LHP Zack Thompson (0-2, 6.97)) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (0-1, 0.75)

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 5:15 PM

• College Night I: With the purchase of a special $20 Theme Ticket, fans will take home an exclusive Cardinals hoodie.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/college.

• Cardinals Care Silent Auctions:Autographed items from Cardinals players, coaches and alumni can be bid on each home series by fans in the ballpark and at home via cardinals.com/ccauctions.  This series’ auction items will be on display today at Gate 1, Gate 3, and inside the Cardinals Club, UMB Champions Club and Redbird Club. The auction will run from April 8 at 9:00 AM through April 10 at 9:00 PM.

• TRU32: Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz will host a group from The BackStoppers for tonight’s game as part of his TRU32 player ticket program.

Wednesday, April 10— Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies (12:15 PM)

Probable Pitchers: RHP Lance Lynn (0-0, 4.15) vs. RHP Aaron Nola

TV: Bally Sports Midwest

Radio: KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM & WIJR 880 AM (Spanish)

Gates: 10:45 AM

• Béisbol in the Classroom: Spanish students of all ages will join Cardinals Spanish broadcasters Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina for a pregame educational program to learn key Spanish baseball terms for just $15.  To purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/beisbol.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

Only two more sleeps until the Cardinals home opener!

It’s been a long winter and with the exception of Winter Warm-Up, Busch Stadium has been quiet and empty. But on Thursday afternoon, the unofficial City of St. Louis civic holiday known as the Cardinals’ home Opening Day occurs. It’s not officially spring in St. Louis until Opening Day, even though the high on Thursday is only supposed to be 50 degrees.

The Cards’ starting pitcher on Thursday is Lance Lynn. That will be a nice homecoming for him. I’m hoping the fans will give him a nice standing ovation when he heads to the mound. Missing from Thursday’s lineup due to injury are Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar, Sonny Gray, and Dylan Carlson. However, we will see the home debut of Victor Scott II.

Below is the Opening Day schedule, information on new food options for your eating enjoyment, and other pertinent information.

2024 OPENING DAY IN ST. LOUIS – SCHEDULE & DETAILS

Cardinals to Open Home Schedule Against Miami Marlins at 3:15 PM CT;

Gates Open at 12:00 PM and Pregame Ceremonies Begin at 2:30 PM

A pregame ceremony that introduces the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals, honors the club’s Hall of Famers, and celebrates the great tradition of Opening Day in St. Louis will highlight the annual return of baseball at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 4.  The Cardinals will open their 2024 home schedule against the Miami Marlins at 3:15 PM CT.  An Opening Day timeline and schedule information can be found below to help fans enjoy the unofficial holiday that is #OpeningDaySTL:

Pregame Schedule

10:00 AM – 12:30 PM    Official Opening Day Pep Rally at Ballpark Village:  

Join Fredbird, Team Fredbird, DJ Todd Thomas, Cardinals organist Dwayne Hilton, and Cardinals alumni at the Busch Stadium II Infield Stage in the Together Credit Union Plaza for the Cardinals Opening Day Rally. This event is free for all fans to attend and includes prizes and ticket giveaways for Opening Day and other 2024 games.

12:00 PM     Busch Stadium Gates Open

2024 Cardinals Magnet Schedule: All fans, ages 21 and older, will receive a magnet featuring the 2024 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Budweiser.

12:05 – 12:55 PM   Cardinals batting practice (subject to change)

1:00 – 1:50 PM     Marlins batting practice (subject to change)

2:30 PM    Pregame ceremonies begin with:

An appearance by the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales                               

Introduction of Fredbird & Team Fredbird

Recognition of Chairman & CEO, Bill DeWitt Jr.; President, Bill DeWitt III; and President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak at home plate

Introduction of Cardinals Hall of Famers via 2024 Ford Mustang convertible motorcade

#ForTheLou – Welcome Back Hometown Heroes who played for the Cardinals

2:48 PM          Introduction of the 2024 St. Louis Cardinals via Ford F-150 truck motorcade

                         Introduction of the Miami Marlins

3:00 PM  National Anthem performance by country music artist Michael B. Whit with Color Guard presentation by the Ft. Leonard Wood Joint Service Color Guard

Ceremonial First Pitch by Members of the 2004 National League Championship Team

3:15 PM          First Pitch by Cardinals Opening Day starting pitcher Lance Lynn

Forecasted Weather: Partly to mostly cloudy.  High 52° F.  Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.

Television Coverage

The Home Opener airs on Bally Sports Midwest and streams on the Bally Sports app.  An extended edition of Cardinals Live pregame begins at 1:30 PM on Bally Sports Midwest and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies inside Busch Stadium. 

Chip Caray and Jim Edmonds will call the game, with Jim Hayes serving as reporter.  Alexa Datt, Brad Thompson and Al Hrabosky will host pregame and postgame coverage inside Busch Stadium.

Radio Coverage

Fans can tune into KMOX 1120 AM, 98.7 FM, or one of the other 146 stations in the Cardinals Radio Network to hear John Rooney, Ricky Horton, and Mike Claiborne call the game.  The Ameren Total Access Show starts at 1:35 PM and will include live coverage of the pregame ceremonies inside Busch Stadium.

Fans can tune in locally to WIJR 880 AM “La Tremenda”, or one of the other seven stations in the club’s Cardinals Spanish Radio Network to hear Spanish broadcasters Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina call the game as well.

FarmTruk: A new local food stand inside the ballpark

Among the new local offerings this season is a ballpark outpost of FarmTruk, the farm-to-table food truck concept created by chef Samantha Mitchell, located in Budweiser Terrace near Section 428.  The menu, drive by fresh, locally sourced, free-range products, includes:

• Reuben Sandwich: Thick-sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, thousand island, smoked bacon kraut, scratch pickles on marbled rye, served with house chips.
• Brisket Mac: Pulled beef brisket, creamy mac & cheese, Red Hot Riplet crumbles, smoky BBQ, and green onion.
• Pork Belly Jalapeno Popper Sliders: Confit smoked pork belly, candied jalapeno whipped cream cheese, tomato jam, Vitale’s slider buns, served with house chips.
• Chicken Nachos: Scratch queso, chicken thighs, roasted tomato salsa, pickled red onions, candied jalapeno, avocado crema and micro herbs.
• Gooey Butter Cake: Classic vanilla or rotating seasonal offering.

New Concession Items at Busch Stadium

The general concessions at Busch Stadium will feature several new menu items for the 2024 season, including:

• The Slinger Dog: Third-pound, all-beef hot dog topped with fresh-made hash browns, taco meat and two sunny-side-up fried eggs. Complete with a variety of fresh cold and hot toppings.  Available at the Top Dog portable near Section 132.
• Supreme Nacho Fries: French fries topped with nacho cheese, taco meat, salsa, jalapenos and sour cream.  Available near Sections 101, 169, 233, 266 and 450.
• The Triple Play BBQ Box: Half-pound of house-smoked brisket, turkey and pulled pork topped with BBQ seasoning and BBQ sauce. Served with fresh-baked corn bread loafs, potato salad and jalapeno garnish. Available at Broadway BBQ Stand near Section 109.
• Chicken Tenders from Big Chicken: Four freshly prepared, hand-dipped chicken tenders with Big Chicken seasoning.  Available near Sections 135 and 458.
• Chicken Bacon and Swiss Sandwich from Freddy’s: Grilled chicken breast topped with Swiss cheese, bacon and pickles – served on a fresh bun.  Available at Freddy’s Steakburgers near Section 432.
• Wacho! Custard Nachos: Layer of waffle chips with two scoops of Freddy’s custard, topped with chocolate, strawberry, crushed Oreos, sprinkles, whipped cream and a cherry.  Available at Dingers Donuts near Section 151.
• Farmer’s Fridge: New vending machines for fresh salads and sandwiches. Available at two locations: Schnucks Grab N Go Market near Section 158 and inside the Redbird Club.

2024 Economic Impact

Based on a projected regular season attendance of 3 million fans, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and Explore St. Louis estimate the Cardinals to generate a total of $311.1 million in regional economic activity for the upcoming season.  The total amount is comprised of $141.3 million in direct economic impact and $169.8 million in indirect economic impact. Out-of-town visitors are expected to make up approximately 35% of game attendees. 

The analysis uses the economic impact model IMPLAN, which measures how spending tied to an event has multiple impacts and spreads throughout a region, thereby benefiting households and firms within the region.  The direct, indirect, and total economic figures are based on estimates of visitor spending and the economic contribution of the Cardinals and Busch Stadium operations.

2024 Official Team Media Guide

The St. Louis Cardinals Media Guide is the official resource used daily by sportswriters, broadcasters and Cardinals front office staff.  Featuring Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Jordan Walker and newest Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray on the cover, the Cardinals Media Guide contains stats and biographies of every player and coach in the organization and is the best and most comprehensive book about the Cardinals anywhere.

Printed copies of the 2024 Media Guide are available for $20 at the Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium, inside Cardinals Authentics Shops, at Cardinals Magazine vendor carts inside the ballpark or online at cardinals.com/mediaguide.

Opening Weekend-Long 50/50 Raffle

Ticket sales for the Cardinals Care 2024 Opening Weekend 50/50 Raffle, presented by Draft Kings at Casino Queen, will open online at 9:00 AM CT on Thursday, April 4, and remain open until the end of the 7^th inning on Sunday, April 7.  Tickets can also be purchased at Busch Stadium when gates open until the end of the 7^th inning during games played between April 4-7.

The winning number will be drawn on Sunday, April 7, at the end of the 7^th inning.  One lucky winner will take home half of the total pot, while the other half will go to Cardinals Care to help support the Redbird Rookies youth softball and baseball programs, youth ballfields and grant program that provides much needed funding to area non-profits that support kids.

Raffle tickets are 10 for $10, 60 for $20, and 200 for $50.  Fans must be 18 years of age or older and be located in the state of Missouri at the time of purchase.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit cardinals.com/5050.

Cardinals Care Silent Auctions

Cardinals Care will conduct a Silent Auction throughout the first home series featuring autographed jerseys, baseballs, bats and more beginning on Thursday, April 4, at 9:00 AM CT through Sunday, April 7, at 9:00 PM CT.  Fans can bid online at cardinals.com/ccauctions.

Prohibited Items Policy

• In conjunction with a league-wide policy established by Major League Baseball, the St. Louis Cardinals reserve the right to inspect all items entering Busch Stadium.
• Guests may bring in items such as: bags, purses and soft-sided coolers not exceeding 10” x 8” x 10”; food, non-alcoholic beverages in factory-sealed plastic bottles no larger than 2 liters; empty cups, mugs or plastic bottles.
• Fans can visit cardinals.com/security for the complete stadium inspection policy and prohibited items list.

As for the last five games? Well, I’m very thankful that that series was the only time that the Cards will be playing in Chavez Ravine this season. Lance Lynn about gave me a heart attack in his start on Saturday evening by loading up the bases in the first inning. He then struck out the side. Whew! Steven Matz pitched well in Sunday night’s game, but Oli Marmol pulled him too soon. The Cards left Chavez Ravine with a 1-3 series record. However, Kyle Gibson pitched very well against the Padres last night, like he did in his last spring training start. The bats appear to be coming to life as well.

That’s all for now; I need to take a little nap so I can stay up a little later for tonight’s game. Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

P.S.: The St. Louis Cardinals announced that the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, located on the second floor of Cardinals Nation at Ballpark Village, will unveil its new featured exhibit entitled “¡Viva! Los Cardenales” on Thursday, April 4, before the team’s home opener.  The exhibit celebrates the Cardinals’ Hispanic and Latin players through the history of the organization, telling both the stories of those who had longevity with the team and others where St. Louis was just a short moment in their baseball journey. This looks like a very interesting exhibit.

It’s the final countdown!

It’s one week until Opening Day and two weeks until the Cardinals’ home opener! Are you excited for Cardinals baseball yet? I would love to go to the home opener, but those tickets are not in my budget. I will have to settle for watching the opening ceremonies on my iPhone in the Bally Sports app.

The Cards still have a lot of loose ends to shore up before spring training ends, however. There’s the situation in the outfield. Lars Nootbaar fractured two ribs and will not start the season in left field. Tommy Edman has still not recovered from the wrist surgery that he had in the offseason. So the outfield is Jordan Walker in right field and who?  Dylan Carlson, last season’s fourth outfielder, could start in center field. Brendan Donovan, the Cards’ super-utility player, has been starting in left field, and so have some of the minor league players. Alec Burleson has had some opportunities in left field as well.  Dylan has been hitting well in spring training, with the highlight being last night’s grand slam.

Center field has been covered quite well by wünderkind Victor Scott II. He’s been an exciting player to watch. He sprints on the bases, manufactures runs, and steals bases.  He’s the 21^st century version of Whiteyball.  I like Tommy Edman, but I really hope that Victor will start the season with the team. There are service time issues as to why VSII will have to go back down to the minors, but I really hope he doesn’t. The Cards need the excitement that he brings to the game.

And then there’s the starting pitching.  Thankfully (and crossing my fingers since spring training is not quite over), the Cards haven’t lost a pitcher to Tommy John surgery this spring training, although Sonny Gray had to be removed from his Opening Day start due to a mild hamstring strain. He has been throwing some side sessions, so hopefully he will be available for the home opener. Kyle Gibson hasn’t been the pitcher everyone had hoped he would be.  The Cardinals’ social media person made a big gaffe when he/she posted a photo of Kyle and called him “Gibby.” I, and many others on Twitter/X, objected strenuously. There is only one “Gibby” and Kyle is not him. Lance Lynn is pitching well in spring training, and he even got ejected during one of his spring training starts by Angel Hernandez, one of our favorite (cough-cough) umpires. The Cardinals could have really used the return of former Cardinal Jordan Montgomery, but he is in talks with the Yankees, since Gerrit Cole will be out of commission for a while.

Matt Carpenter has been hitting very well in his return to the Cardinals. I believe he would be a great designated hitter. He can play the field if necessary also.

The other big news is the Oliver Marmol contract extension, which was very unpopular with a lot of folks. They thought that he was being rewarded for having a losing season. Meteorologists get their forecasts wrong a lot of the time and they still have a job, so why not Oli? It is true that it was good to get Oli’s contract extension done before the season started. It would be like having the Sword of Damocles hanging over his head. Just because Oli got a contract extension, however, doesn’t mean that he can’t be fired at any time. If things go south quickly this season, Oli may be on the chopping block. And where in the world is Yadier Molina? He was hired as Mo’s special assistant but he has yet to report to camp.

The Cardinals reduced the roster today to 41, with 38 major league players and three non-roster invitees in camp. There will be one more roster reduction before the Cards go to Arizona to play the Cubs on Monday and Tuesday in exhibition games.

There have been some great ticket deals like the $3.14 sale on 3/14/24 and the $9.00 ticket sale, plus all-inclusive ticket sales that I receive press releases about, but I don’t have the time or the ability to let you all know. To that end, I would suggest that you subscribe to the Cardinals’ newsletter, which will arrive on a regular basis in your email box. You can sign up at the link here: https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/fans/newsletters. Not only will you receive emails about ticket deals, you’ll receive newsletters from the Cardinals and the daily MLB Insider emails.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

Random news and views

Spring training games began yesterday (2/24/24) and it was so good to see the boys on the field and hear the dulcet tones of John Rooney and Rick Horton on my TV. It is a sign that spring will be here soon. Today’s temperatures in the St. Louis area topped out at 74 degrees, so spring may be here sooner than we think. Perhaps Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog was right after all. The Cards split the split series yesterday and beat the Astros today, 3-0, with a 3 for 3 performance by Masyn Winn. You can listen to the spring training games on the Cardinals Baseball Network and watch them on MLB.TV.

The Cardinals announced the 2024 nominees for the Cardinals Hall of Fame on Thursday. Steve Carlton, George Hendrick, Matt Morris, and Edgar Renteria are the modern players nominated for possible induction into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame, presented by Edward Jones.  Fans can view the 2024 Cardinals Hall of Fame ballot and cast their selections online starting yesterday, Saturday, February 24, at cardinals.com/HOF.

The modern player with the most votes after fan voting concludes on Friday, April 26, will be selected for induction into the Cardinals Hall of Fame during an enshrinement ceremony on Saturday, September 7. I can see why they moved the ceremony to September from August – hopefully, the weather will be cooler since the ceremony is held outside. The full 2024 Cardinals Hall of Fame Induction Class, which will also include a veteran player chosen by the Red Ribbon Committee and a Cardinals organization selection, will be announced during a televised special program on Bally Sports in early May.

“The annual Hall of Fame Induction process connects generations of Cardinals fans,” said Cardinals Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bill DeWitt Jr.  “I want to thank the Red Ribbon Committee for helping us navigate this process and for caring so much about Cardinals history.”

A description of each 2024 Cardinals Hall of Fame nominee’s career as a Cardinal follows:

Steve Carlton (LHP)    Years on Ballot: 7 Years: 1965 – 1971        

77-62, 3.10 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, 66 CG, 16 SHO, 951 SO, 1265.1 IP (172 GS)

Steve Carlton began his National Baseball Hall of Fame career in St. Louis, capped with a 20-9 record and his third All-Star selection in 1971.  He ranked second in the National League with a 2.17 ERA in 1969.  The left-hander ranks eighth in franchise history with 951 strikeouts, tied for third with 13 games of 10+ strikeouts and is one of only two Cardinals pitchers to win 75 games before turning 27. In his five full seasons with the Cardinals, Carlton averaged 32 starts and 237 innings while working more than seven innings per start.  He was a member of the 1967 World Series champions and for the 1968 N.L. pennant winners.

George Hendrick (OF)   Years on Ballot: 2 Years: 1978 – 1984                            

.294/.345/.470, 978 H, 187 2B, 122 HR, 582 RBI, 457 R, 270 BB (893 G)

Acquired via trade during the 1978 season, “Silent George” was a strong and steady presence for the Cardinals for seven seasons.  He led the club in home runs and RBI four consecutive years from 1980-1983, receiving MVP votes in each of those seasons.  A two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner, Hendrick delivered the game-winning RBI in Game 7 of the 1982 World Series to seal his second career World Series title.  Hendrick finished his career with the Cardinals ranked fourth in OPS and fifth in home runs among all outfielders in franchise history.

Matt Morris (RHP)   Years on Ballot: 9 Years: 1997 – 2005        

101-62, 3.61 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.27 WHIP, 18 CG, 8 SHO, 986 SO, 1377.1 IP (206 GS)

During his eight seasons with the Cardinals, Matt Morris achieved a .620 winning percentage to rank seventh in franchise history among pitchers with at least 750 innings.  He won 11 or more games six times. The right-hander’s finest season came in 2001, when he went 22-8 (tied for the most wins in the Majors), earned the first of back-to-back All-Star Game selections and finished third in National League Cy Young Award voting.  Morris ranks sixth on the Cardinals’ all-time strikeouts list with 986.  He pitched for five N.L. Central Division championship teams and made 11 postseason starts (third-most in franchise annals).

Edgar Renteria (SS)   Years on Ballot: 9 Years: 1999 – 2004                               

.290/.347/.420, 973 H, 207 2B, 71 HR, 451 RBI, 497 R, 148 SB (903 G)

Among shortstops, Edgar Renteria ranks second in Cardinals history in home runs and stolen bases and third in hits, extra-base hits, RBI and batting average (min. 1,500 plate appearances). He won three Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards in six seasons, including both in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, Renteria set franchise records for a shortstop with a .330 average and 47 doubles, to go with 13 homers, 100 RBI and 34 steals. A three-time All-Star with St. Louis, he played on four N.L. Central Division championship teams and batted .333 in the 2004 World Series against Boston.

And now for some views. I’m sure you’ve all seen the new Nike Vapor uniforms, manufactured by Fanatics. Whoever designed these jerseys and uniform pants have obviously never played or watched baseball. Check out the back of the uniform:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2/13/24

The letters are smaller and look like they’re ironed on the uniform – the material around the letters is puckered as a result. The MLB logo has been moved down from the collar. The names on the uniform will be hard to read from a distance, i.e., if you’re sitting in the 400 level of the stadium. The player’s name is no longer embroidered on the tail of the uniform. And the birds on the bat logo on the front of the jersey is no longer chainstitched on the uniform – it’s chainstitched on two patches which are then attached to the uniform. It looks like a cheap replica jersey. Baseball may not be as physical of a game as football or hockey are, but baseball uniforms need to be durable too. These uniforms look like they’d fall apart in a rainstorm. Miles Mikolas has complained about the new jerseys, and he also complains that the pants don’t fit well either. How can you pitch or play baseball if your uniform doesn’t fit well?

Speaking of the pants, they’re see-through. Yes, you read that right. Baseball is a family game, not a porn show. This photo is of Shohei Ohtani, but oh say, can you see the see-through pants:

Here’s hoping the boys wear their tighty-whiteys and a cup underneath these uniform pants. Any patterned boxer shorts will show right through them. And here’s also hoping these uniform pants hold up to baseball activities such as sliding, batting, and running. MLB, you have a few weeks before the season starts to get rid of these hideous uniforms and go back to the regular uniforms. These new uniforms are horrible.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow (2/13/24) – and a flash ticket sale too!

Now that the Super Bowl is over (congrats to the Kansas City Chiefs!), we can finally focus on the sport that is really important – Cardinals baseball. For tomorrow, pitchers and catchers report to spring training and the 2024 season will begin. Hopefully, the 2024 season will be much better than last season. Most of the preseason prognosticators are predicting that the Cardinals will win the 2024 National League Central pennant. 

It’s hard to believe, however, that there are still some free agents out there that haven’t signed with a team, and the two most important ones are pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell. Mo, please bring Jordan home. We need him.

In the meantime, here’s a rerun of my “Ode to Spring Training” poem:

Ode to Spring Training

Cardinals fans cheer! The day’s finally here,
We’ve waited for all winter long,
It’s time to rejoice, so lift up your voice,
And come and join me in this song!

Pitchers and catchers report,
Pitchers and catchers report,
Four words that say spring’s on its way,
Pitchers and catchers report!

The winter’s been long and dreary,
With snow and cold galore,
And although our hearts were weary,
They’re not that way any more!

Because today –

Pitchers and catchers report,
Pitchers and catchers report,
Four words that say spring’s on its way,
Pitchers and catchers report!

And oh yes, the flash sale I referenced in the title. Here are all of the details on that:

CARDINALS CELEBRATE PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT DATE WITH $6 TICKET FLASH SALE

$6 Tickets Loaded With $6 Cards Cash for 2024 Monday-Thursday Games On Sale Tomorrow

To celebrate the return of baseball and the start of Spring Training, the St. Louis Cardinals have announced a special 12-hour ticket flash sale beginning tomorrow, February 13, 2024 at 9 AM CT.

Fans can purchase tickets for any Monday—Thursday game (excluding Opening Day) for just $6.  Additionally, each $6 ticket purchased will be pre-loaded with $6 in Cards Cash for fans to use towards concessions or merchandise inside Busch Stadium.

Fans can purchase up to eight of the special $6 tickets per person, per game.  Games available in this special sale include matchups with the Philadelphia Phillies (April 8-10), Arizona Diamondbacks (April 22-24), New York Mets (May 6-8), Baltimore Orioles (May 20-22), Atlanta Braves (June 24-26), Kansas City Royals (July 9-10), Texas Rangers (July 29-31), Tampa Bay Rays (Aug. 6-8), San Diego Padres (Aug. 26-29), and more.

Tickets will be available at cardinals.com or via phone at 314.345.9000.  Again, this special ticket flash sale will only be available until 9 PM CT on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

For more information, visit cardinals.com/six.

You’d better set an alarm on your phone so you don’t miss this sale! Remember, you need a MLB.com account in order to purchase tickets, and the Ballpark app must be installed on your phone in order to receive your tickets. These $6.00 tickets are usually in the 300 and 400 levels, although the Cardinals may surprise us and sell us $6.00 tickets in the 200 level.

I’m so excited that baseball is starting tomorrow and I hope you are too. Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

2024 Winter Warm-Up Report Day 3

Monday, January 15

It was a tad warmer than it was on Sunday. We visited Starbucks one last time. I had enough star points for a reward, so I got a ham and Swiss croissant. It was very good.

We left Starbucks and entered the stadium at Gate 4. We went to the Team Store to warm up. I wanted to see if there were any additional items marked down. There was a cute navy blue puffer jacket for 70% off, but of course, there were none in my size.

Our first presentation of the day was “2023 – A Year in Photos” with Taka Yanagimoto, the Cardinals’ Director of Photography and Digital Assets in the visitors’ clubhouse. We enjoy this presentation every year, looking at all of the photographs. There were 190,000 photos taken in 2023. The photos are used in many different places, like billboards, ticket stock, the scoreboard, etc.

We stayed in our seats for the next presentation. It was “Ever wondered what it’s like to cover the Cardinals? Come find out during a Q&A with local reporters, hosted by MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosh.” Long time readers may recall that Jenifer was the first female beat reporter for the Cardinals, before she went on to bigger and better things at MLB.com. Other reporters at the presentation were (from left to right below): Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jenifer, Katie Woo of the Athletic, John Denton of MLB.com and Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.

I wanted to stick around after the presentation and speak with Jen and Katie, but I had that autograph ticket for Tony LaRussa, and we had to go across the street to Budweiser Brew House. We were once again scanned at the entrance to Ballpark Village. When we got to the Brew House, however, they were on tickets 70-120 and I had ticket number 10. I looked at the schedule and realized that Tony’s autograph session had started at 11:00 AM and not 12:00 PM.

Daniel Descalso was signing but oddly, there was no one in his autograph line. I would think that there would have been more people wanting his autograph since he was hired as the new bench coach.

It took an hour to get through the line but we finally got up to the autograph table. At last year’s WWU, there was an exhibitor with a large tub of baseballs. I dug around in the tub and found a 2006 World Series official baseball with David Eckstein’s autograph on it, although it was very faint. Tony was very gracious and brought his 2006 and 2011 World Series rings for everyone to see. Tony signed over David’s signature but I told him that the right place for his signature was right on the front of the ball. I told him that if David came back to WWU next year, I’d have him sign somewhere else on the ball.

I had an autograph ticket for Bengie Molina. I wanted to tell him the story of how I missed meeting him and Polo Ascencio in the Budweiser Terrace before a game because I volunteered to take my sister-in-law and her husband down to the smoking area. When I got back, the hubby and son told me that they had spoken with Polo and Bengie. But by the time we got upstairs to PBR St. Louis to get in line, it was so long that we gave up and decided to go get lunch. I did run into Bengie last year at WWU, but it was in the middle of Clark Street and there was no time to tell him my story.

It was 1:00 PM and my stomach was growling. Time to get some lunch, but where? There was a little pizza place inside Ballpark Village called Pizza Bar, so we stopped there. There was only two slices of pizza left for sale. You’d think they would have made more – WWU wasn’t done until 3 PM. And there was no soda. It was a good thing we still had water in our water bottles.

After lunch, we went back over to Busch Stadium. We looked at the exhibitors’ booths again and then went downstairs to take the clubhouse tour. You could have your photo taken in the clubhouse, but we did that in 2019. It’s always awesome to visit the Cardinals’ clubhouse. You can only visit the clubhouse during WWU – it’s not available to visit during stadium tours. Even though it was cold that day, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to go outside and view the stadium. That’s snow on the field, not ice.

After we came back inside, it was time to go home. It did not appear to me that there were as many people at WWU as in years past. There was many factors – the team’s horrible finish in 2023, the Arctic cold weather, and that the ticket price increased. The next event on the Cardinals calendar is February 14, when pitchers and catchers report. That’s less than two weeks ago. February 14 is a trifecta holiday this year – Valentine’s Day, Ash Wednesday, and pitchers and catchers report day. I can’t wait!

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

2024 Winter Warm-Up Day 2 Report

Sunday, January 14

It was so cold Sunday morning that it might have been even colder than it was in Alaska. I made sure I had my new Cardinals knit cap on since it was too windy to keep the hood of my coat on my head. Once again, we started our day at Starbucks. That hot latte sure helped me warm up – well, at least until we went back outside. 

I had no autograph tickets for Sunday and the presentation I wanted to see didn’t start until noon, so we decided to visit the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum. WWU ticket holders get free admission to the Museum during Winter Warm-Up. 

The ladies at the front desk of the Museum tried to tempt me into purchasing a membership to the Museum by stating that I would get an Ozzie Smith bobblehead if I did, but I resisted. The HOF bobbleheads are smaller than the ones you get at the ballgame, and I got the Ozzie Smith wizard bobblehead last September. The attorney I work for who has season tickets gives me the bobbleheads that he receives from the HOF for being a season ticket holder.

We hadn’t been to the Museum in a couple of years. Most of the permanent exhibits are still the same, although there was an exhibit titled, “The Art of the Cardinals Moment,” featuring some very nice photos and artwork. This exhibit runs through the end of March, so if you want to go see it, you’d better hurry. It will be replaced with the “Viva Cardenales” exhibit referenced in my last post.

I decided to hold Stan Musial’s bat. You can see why I don’t wear hats – I look dorky. I asked the docent whether Stan batted left- or right-handed (yeah, I know, I should know that, sorry). It was left-handed, of course, and I am right-handed, so I couldn’t get my hands coordinated to pose with the bat left-handed. So they suggested this pose, with Stan’s signature on the bat showing.

I always enjoy visiting the Museum, so some year, I guess I should break down and purchase a membership. I could sit and watch the videos of the 1980s playoffs all day. I did see something at the Museum that I hadn’t seen there before, and it was a trophy given to my guy Ted Simmons. You can see it at right.

After we were done at the Museum, it was time for lunch before the noon presentation we wanted to attend. So we went downstairs to the Cardinals Nation restaurant. I had a cheeseburger and fries and a sweet tea, and the son had breakfast, since they were serving breakfast until 11:30. Tom Ackerman of KMOX was in the DJ booth at Cardinals Nation. We chatted for a few minutes until my son called to find out where I was.

The noon presentation was called Cardinals Magazine Kids-Only Press Conference. Everyone was invited to attend but the only ones who could ask questions were kids. It was hosted by Stan McNeil of Cardinals Magazine. The panel was the ever-popular Lars Nootbaar, John King, and Andre Pallante, who was late because he was still signing autographs when the press conference began. Andre snuck in behind Lars and snatched the knit hat off of his head. The questions were all very interesting, but my favorite question was when a girl asked Lars how he got so many followers on Instagram. He answered it was because he was friends with Shohei Ohtani. Surprisingly, no one asked Lars if he had a girlfriend. This presentation was very enjoyable and I hope they hold it again next year.

We stayed in our seats for the next presentation with Cardinals broadcasters John Rooney and Rick Horton. My friend Adam Howell, who drove up from Winter Warm-Up from Nashville (Tennessee, not Illinois) and his wife entered Bally Sports Live. I knew because he posted it on X. I told him where we were and I got to meet his wife. They were going to drive home that night to beat the bad weather coming to Nashville instead of attending WWU on Monday. Adam was gracious enough to give me his Tony LaRussa autograph ticket for Monday.

The conversation and Q&A with Rick and John was very interesting and enjoyable. There were many interesting questions. I finally thought of a question to ask, but by the time I could raise my hand, it was too late. I was going to ask whether they thought there would ever be a woman in the broadcast booth, either calling play-by-play or as a color analyst. Maybe I’ll have another chance next year.

This inflatable Fredbird was located by the information desk for One Cardinals Way in Bally Sports Live. This would be a fun addition to a front yard at Christmas and yes, even all year round. After the presentation, we left to go home. I’ll have the report for day 3 of Winter Warm-Up either tomorrow or Saturday. I again apologize for the lateness of these reports. Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane

2024 Winter Warm-Up Day 1 Report

It sure was a chilly weekend – the weather sure didn’t match the name of the event. The highest temperature during Winter Warm-Up was 21 degrees on Saturday, and on Sunday, the high was 4 degrees. I’ve been attending Winter Warm-Up for a few years now, and I can’t remember it ever being that cold. I was thankful that we only had to walk half a block in that cold weather, instead of 4 blocks to the Hyatt after exiting the Metrolink train. I wore two layers of clothing and my heavy coat to stay warm. Brrrr!

Saturday, January 13

The son and I stopped at Starbucks in Ballpark Village to warm up before heading over to the Busch Stadium. The line to get into the stadium was long, but thankfully, it was moving quickly. Like before a ballgame, your bags had to be inspected before your ticket was scanned and you received a wristband. Unfortunately, you had to have your bags inspected before going into any entrance, even if you already had a wristband. I thought that was silly, especially given the cold weather.

The first presentation we were planning to attend was not until 10 AM, so we stopped into the Team Store to check out the discounted items. There was an end cap of baseball caps and three knit hats for $10 each.  The son grabbed one of the knit hats, I grabbed the second one, and some other lady grabbed the remaining one.  That was the best $10 I spent all weekend. I wore that hat for the next two days because it was so cold.

The presentations this year were in the visiting players’ clubhouse, which was nice and warm. I had never been to the visiting players’ clubhouse before. It was nice to see where the other team dresses when they visit Busch Stadium. Fredbird decided to stop in and bug the presenter and those with her.

The presentation we attended at 10 AM was “Curator’s Corner,” which was led by Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum curator Amy Berra.  Amy spoke about the upcoming updates to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum and the next new exhibit, “Viva Cardenales!”  This exhibit will feature the Latin Cardinals players. After the presentation, I spoke with Amy about Augie Nash (if you’re on Twitter/X, you’ll know who he is) and mentioned that he might have some photos for the new exhibit. Amy said she knew who Augie was and wondered how he obtained some of the photos he posted. I told her I was a Cardinals blogger and handed her my card. She said she had read this blog, especially the post about my birthday and the Women in Baseball exhibit at the Museum. (You can read that post here.)

After the presentation, we rode the elevator back up to the third floor to see the exhibitors in the Redbird Club and grab some lunch before standing in line to get Al Hrabosky’s autograph. There weren’t as many exhibitors (like the ones selling sports memorabilia) as there were last year.  The Cardinals Authentics store had some good bargains. We went to the concession stand for lunch.  I spent $16 for four chicken tenders and a large soda.

Our next stop was to wait in line to get Al Hrabosky’s autograph.  I told him I remembered when he pitched for the Cardinals and he said that I must be old. I told him that he was older than me.

The next presentation we attended was the 2024 Cardinals Promo Item Show & Tell on the main stage at Bally Sports Live.  The ladies showed us some of the clothing items that will be giveaways this year.  One item that I especially liked was the surprise size Saturday cream color Cardinals jersey. You don’t know what size jersey you’ll get until you open the package, but if you need a different size, there will be tables set up for you to exchange for the right size. These jerseys will go up to size 3X. This pleased me because the adult-size clothing giveaways are usually a size XL, which isn’t quite big enough for me. Another fun giveaway is the Cardinal bird plush hat that Chip Carey and Brad Thompson wore on the Bally Sports Midwest broadcast last season. There will be a Jordan Walker bobblehead, and there’s a photo of it below.

You may recall the Yadi tumbler giveaways. I still use my white Yadi tumbler at work. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Stanley tumbler craze. I got a red Stanley as a Christmas present, and I bought some Cardinals decals to decorate it. This year, one of the giveaways will be a Stanley Musial tumbler.  It looks retro, like it was made in the 1950s. Here are photos of the tumbler (sorry about the size of the photos, I couldn’t make them smaller in gallery view):

We stayed in our seats to listen to a Q&A session with Al Hrabosky. Last year, we wouldn’t have been able to find a seat, but there were plenty of seats.

The next item on the agenda was an autograph from Jason Simontacchi.  Sonny Gray was signing right next to Jason. It was really sweet that Sonny had his son with him to meet all of Sonny’s new fans.

After the autograph signing, we went back downstairs to the main stage to watch a conversation/presentation by Xavier Scruggs, a former Cardinals player who is now an analyst with MLB Network.  He spoke about social media and how it intersects with baseball.  (Note: I follow Xavier on Twitter/X.). He then plugged his new podcast, “Show ‘n Go with X.” Xavier’s podcast today was with Oliver Marmol. You may want to look that up on YouTube

I wanted to stick around to see the presentation of Sonny Gray at 3:15 PM, but the son was ready to go home at that point. On the way out, we stopped by the Cardinals Authentics store in Ballpark Village to purchase the “Grassroots Baseball Route 66” coffee table book autographed by Ted Simmons, which is the closest I’ll probably ever get to getting his autograph. It is a very interesting book and the photography is excellent. You can purchase it here, although you won’t be getting Ted’s autograph in your copy.

The next post will be about our activities on Sunday at Winter Warm-Up.  I apologize for taking so long in getting these blog posts out. We switched from Spectrum to AT&T and it took almost two weeks to get everything done, due to the first installer not putting in a ticket for a lift truck to install the wiring for the Internet/phone. The post on the Sunday activities will post on either Thursday or Friday.

Thanks as always for reading! See you next time!

Diane