Author’s Note: A previous version of this article was published on April 1, 2021. The article was updated to accommodate the 2022 season.
Here’s a brief diversion for your enjoyment. (Because…there’s so much…)
Thursday is Opening Day for Major League Baseball and, as a red-blooded American who was raised on a love of the game — and of the Cardinals — I’m excited. I’m especially excited about the inclusion of Molina and Wainwright as well as Pujols.
The Cards will open their season this year at home, and St. Louis is buzzing in anticipation. Are you sure I’m exaggerating?
ST. LOUIS — The most important day on the St. Louis calendar has nearly arrived. The Busch Stadium’s opening day is back.
From the Clydesdales, to the parade of hall of famers and of course, the game, there’s a lot to take in on Cardinals opening day. Here’s a schedule of what to expect on Thursday.
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
You can also stop by Ballpark Village’s official opening-day pep rally before the stadium opens. Fredbird and other baseball legends will be there to greet fans and to give out tickets or prizes.
12 p.m.
Gates open to all fans at noon on Thursday for the Cardinals’ opening day matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Budweiser will give away a free magnet schedule to all fans 21 years and over.
12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
Baseball practice takes place on Busch Stadium Field between the Pirates and Cardinals. (Weather permitting)
2:30 p.m.
Budweiser Clydesdales, world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales take their annual opening day walk around Busch Stadium’s warning track in order to welcome another season.
2:33 p.m. – 2:37 p.m.
The crowd is introduced to Fredbird, Team Fredbird, and Cardinals management and ownership.
2:38 p.m.
Parade of the Cardinals Hall of Famers around the Warning Track before arriving at Home Plate for the Ceremony. MLB.com’s John Denton previously reported that Ozzie Smith, Whitey Herzog, Ted Simmons, Bruce Sutter, Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen, Tom Herr, Tim McCarver, Jim Edmonds, Jason Isringhausen, Ray Lankford, Mike Shannon, Vince Coleman, John Tudor and Willie McGee are slated to be on hand for 2022 opening day.
2:48 p.m.
A special tribute video will be shown by the Cardinals on the scoreboard.
2:53 p.m.
A caravan will transport the 2022 Cardinals along the warning track. Albert Pujols is expected to make his return to the Cardinals’ starting lineup on opening day, with manager Oliver Marmol saying he will be the team’s designated hitter.
Adam Wainwright, longtime Cardinals batterymate Yadier Molina will catch the ball.
3:04 p.m.
An introduction of the visiting Pirates is planned for the third base line.
3:06 p.m.
Fleet Street will sing the National Anthem with Fort Leonard Wood’s Color Guard.
3:09 p.m.
The ceremonial first pitch is thrown. However, the team has yet to announce who will throw out or catch the ceremonial first pitch.
3:15 p.m.
Wainwright throws the Cardinals’ first pitch in the 2022 season against the Pirates.
I won’t be downtown for all the fun today, but I’ll most certainly be watching it on TV.
I say I was raised on a love of the game — my folks were both serious sports fans. I loved football, especially the MIZZOU version, with its varied successes. I can’t remember a time as a kid during baseball season when the radio (or TV) wasn’t tuned to the game. As long as I am on this earth, I will always hear Jack Buck’s voice in my head. And Mike Shannon’s. But mostly Buck’s.
There’s a comfort in that — like the whirring sound of the furnace blower in my folks’ house at night that lulled us to sleep. Buck calling the game was a fascinating experience that I had before I truly understood the game. It was always comforting and reassuring. All seemed well with the world, no matter if the Cards won or lost.
St. Louis is known for its ability to create fairytale endings for their sport seasons. The Rams’ Greatest Show on Turf in ’99; the Cards’ improbable 2011 World Series win; the Blues’ fantastical comeback in 2019. This year, will St. Louis make another great story? Can’t wait to find out!
There’s no doubt my Dad loved the game, but the true sports fanatic in our house was (and is) my Mom. Here’s what I wrote to her on her 80th birthday.
When I tell other people about my love of sports – football and baseball in particular – I can’t help but smile at all the times we’d have a game on the TV and I’d know what was happening by how loud Mom was yelling at it.
I may have picked up the yelling gene. And I’m fairly certain she developed her love of the game at the feet of her grandfather, (“Pa”). My love for the game is thoroughly ingrained and I know I’m not alone in that. Witness such baseball masterpieces as “The Natural,” “Bull Durham,” “Major League” (Ich keed, ich keed), and “Field of Dreams.”
In any event, as we prepare for the first pitches to be thrown out today, I thought it might be a fine time to share some of my favorite “Field of Dreams” quotes with you, dear readers:
Bitter-sweetest:
Archie Graham: We just don’t recognize life’s most significant moments while they’re happening. Back then I thought, “Well, there’ll be other days”. I didn’t realize that that was the only day.
This is the deepest:
Terence Mann Ray, Ray people will come Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they’ll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. Ray is the name people will remember. Ray is the only constant over all these years. America is like an army full of steamrollers. It’s been erased as a blackboard and rebuilt again. Baseball has kept track of the times. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past, Ray. This reminds us all of what was once good, and how it might be again. Oh… people will come Ray. Most definitely, people will come.
My personal favourite for its simplicity and sweetness is:
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Does this sound like heaven?Ray Kinsella:
No, it’s Iowa.
(Personal aside — my grandfather was named Joe Jackson — no relation, but one reason the story of “Shoeless Joe” has always struck a chord with me.)
It’s time, folks. Get out there and play!
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