Yankees

[ktmeadows]

Back before the Braves became a dynasty and were still underdogs wearing light blue (!?) uniforms, it used to be that way for us too. I miss that fan feeling. Enjoy the series, I hope your boys do well.

I remember those days for the Braves. I was a little saddened a few years ago when we drove down to Atlanta for a Cards-Braves play-off game. We couldn't get tickets for any of the games in St. Louis, but we had no problem getting good seats in Atlanta. When we got there, it was sad to see so many empty seats. That is something that is totally unheard of in St. Louis during a play-off game! I felt so sorry for the players. What happened? Like ktschris said, baseball is so hot in St. Louis, and fans go wild over the games. We love our Cards! I feel so sad for the Braves.

I know a lot of football fans on the board don't understand our love for the "slow" game of baseball. But unless you get caught up in it, and maybe live in a baseball town like St. Louis, I guess it's hard to comprehend.

 

[katie blue]

my dad used to talk me through the subtle/intellectual points of the game, and showed me that it's not a "slow" game, just a more cerebral one. there's a lot of strategy and psychology going on at every moment, and it's exciting if you know what's happening. my dad would say "see that runner? he's going to try to do this, and the pitcher knows it. watch this guy, he's going to pull a squeeze play" or "see the pitcher? he knows such and such about this batter, and is going to try to mess with him in some such way". it helps to know the players though, so you can be thinking right along with them.
he used to make me manually "score" the games when we'd go to the stadium to keep me on my toes and involved. good old dad.

 

[ktmeadows]

my dad used to talk me through the subtle/intellectual points of the game, and showed me that it's not a "slow" game, just a more cerebral one. there's a lot of strategy and psychology going on at every moment, and it's exciting if you know what's happening. my dad would say "see that runner? he's going to try to do this, and the pitcher knows it. watch this guy, he's going to pull a squeeze play" or "see the pitcher? he knows such and such about this batter, and is going to try to mess with him in some such way". it helps to know the players though, so you can be thinking right along with them.
he used to make me manually "score" the games when we'd go to the stadium to keep me on my toes and involved. good old dad.

That's one of the neat things about baseball..it's such a family thing. I remember as a little girl going to the games with my dad, and he explaining those sorts of things to me. We took our sons to the games, and now I'm loving watching my son try to explain the game to my 3 year old grandson (who of course is more interested in the ice cream and cotton candy vendors barking their goodies!)

 

[ktmeadows]

Ditto on the Cards and their fans--none better. I am one fan that looks forward to the new stadium--not a lot of charm in our concrete cookie cutter.

I have mixed feelings about the new stadium, though it's looking awesome. I pass by there every day and it's amazing watching it come together. Maybe I'm just sentimental, but I'm going to miss Busch Stadium. I wish they'd do something like they did in Atlanta...they kept the original bases, and you can still see kids running the bases on what is now the parking lot for the new stadium.

 

[katie blue]

We were initially very sad when they were tearing town Atl-Fulton Co. Stadium...I mean, the Beatles played there for petesake! This is where Sid slid! But now, we are SO proud of turner field...it really was a vast improvement. In retrospect, glad we didnt let nostalgia stop it.

 

[ktmeadows]

We were initially very sad when they were tearing town Atl-Fulton Co. Stadium...I mean, the Beatles played there for petesake! This is where Sid slid! But now, we are SO proud of turner field...it really was a vast improvement. In retrospect, glad we didnt let nostalgia stop it.

You should be proud of Turner Field! I love the way they went back to the "old-time baseball" look. Our new stadium in St. Louis reminds me of Turner Field. But as you say, I also remember the Beatles at Busch Stadium, and the 82 World Series win, and baseball with my dad. Yeah...I guess sentiment is making me feel a bit melancholy over giving up the old. But change is good, and our new stadium will eventually feel like "home"!

 

[seagrovelover]

Luvthebeach................I have been brought to tears at least a dozen times seeing all of the old footage of our Busch Stadium. I remember going to see the football cardinals and freezing my a** off!!! ahhh, good times...good times....................

 

[ktschris]

This is a year old, but it applies yet today. I still cry when I read it. Will I miss Busch Stadium? Yes. Am I looking forward to the new Stadium. No.
Sorry, I know its long, and will probably only be interesting to STL folks, but it is worth the read.

Get Loud Today, the whole game.


NOT TODAY
Busch Stadium is not our house.
So I will not waste your time this morning talking about the importance of the Cardinals protecting our house in NLCS Playoffs. I will not broach the obscenity of seeing Houston players spilling champagne on our living-room carpet.

Busch Stadium is not our house.
It's much more important than that.
It's where many of us watched our first game, caught our first foul ball, begged for our first autograph.
It's where Gibby ruled the mound, where Brock ran like the wind, and where Ozzie made all the folks go crazy.
It's where the El Birdos dominated, where Sutter struck out the last batter of 1982, where Mike Shannon has worked since the joint opened in 1966.
The Ol' Redhead managed there. Stan the Man played his harmonica there.
The White Rat led us back to glory there.
This is where Gussie drove the Clydesdales, where Willie McGee tracked down fly balls, where Joaquin Andujar summed up his philosophy of life in one simple word: Youneverknow.
This is where Big Mac smacked No. 70, where Tommy Lawless flipped his bat, where GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY...BRUMMER'S STEALING HOME!!!!!!!
This is where the greatest St. Louis team in Busch Stadium's history performed. That's right, the 2005 Cardinals. They had the best home-record, the best record in baseball. Right on that field.
Ted Simmons played there. Kenny Boyer managed there. And a beloved old man in a bright red jacket told a mournful nation why it was good and right to play baseball after Sept. 11.
My friends, Jack Buck's coffin rested on that field. Daryl Kile pitched his last game there.
And many of cannot walk into that stadium without thinking of loved ones who are no longer with us.
Not today.
We don't lose today.
Not against the Houston Astros. Not against a pitcher named Pete Munro.
Not against a wild-card team.
Not in Busch Stadium.

No, it's not our house.
It's simply the place where our memories congregate, where our baseball dreams are stored, where the voices of millions of fans and the ghosts of seasons past await their call to arms.
Folks, it's time to wake 'em up.

 

[ktmeadows]

This is a year old, but it applies yet today. I still cry when I read it. Will I miss Busch Stadium? Yes. Am I looking forward to the new Stadium. No.
Sorry, I know its long, and will probably only be interesting to STL folks, but it is worth the read.
Get Loud Today, the whole game.

This is so neat ktschris....I have tears in my eyes at this moment. It's so true. Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to pass this on to all my Cardinal/Busch Stadium fans!

 

[katie blue]

...But as you say, I also remember the Beatles at Busch Stadium...

.. let the record show that I certainly do not "remember" the Beatles at the atl stadium. I definitely was not around for that ;-)