The Chris Moeller Archives

Busch Stadium III, Day I

PREGAME-- Ah, the soothing sounds of Ernie Hays' Yamaha AR80 electric organ. It doesn't look like the old ballpark, but it sounds like it. I tune to the Cardinals' first game at new Busch Stadium, telecast on Fox Sports Midwest, and during the Milwaukee Brewers' starting line-ups, I google the ballpark organist and get hooked on this terrific article from a St. Louis newsweekly, complete with a litany of the subject's dirty jokes. Ooh, here come the Budweiser Clydesdales. I don't have time to google them. Manager Tony LaRussa said he signed with the Cardinals to see the Clydesdales, and then the brewery sold the team right away (1995.) The animal-loving skipper finally got to see them on the field at the last game at Old Busch and then the ultimate indignity-- the dalmatian ignored him.

The all-time greats circle the ballpark in convertibles-- Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst, Ozzie Smith, Bruce Sutter, and Fredbird, followed by LaRussa, the coaches (Larry Walker!) and players. The fans rise in unison to sing the national anthem. Cy Young winner and MVP Chris Carpenter and Albert Pujols throw out the ceremonial first pitches to the Cardinals' last winners in those categories, Bob Gibson and Willie McGee. Baseball City, USA. America at its most wholesome. I'm reminded of a moment from an Opening Day past-- St. Louis becoming the only city in the U.S. where an elderly man (Musial,) clad in red blazer and red shoes can hold a crowd of 50,000 enthralled with an harmonica rendition of the national anthem.

FIRST INNING- The first pitch in stadium history is a ball high and away from Mark Mulder to Brady Clark. The second pitch is the first out, a line drive to secondbaseman Aaron Miles. 1-2-3 inning. Cardinal Juan Encarnacion becomes the first baserunner, being hit in the hand by a pitch from Toma Ohka. Pujols walks. Edmonds flies to center, and Juancion tags to third. Then it happens, 3:28 central time, the first ever "fake to third, fake to first" stepoff play, courtesy of Ohka. Broadcaster Joe Buck calls attention to the significance. It's a misnomer, though, that the ploy never works. I've seen it work three times in my life on television, but then I watch a lot of baseball. Rolen walks, and So Taguchi lines to a leaping shortstop to end the first scoring chance. TIED, 0-0

SECOND INNING- The first ever hit comes from Carlos Lee and it's followed by the first home run by Bill Hall. Damn. The first HR in the old park was by a visitor, also-- Felipe Alou, but the Cardinals won the game in extra innings. Bottom 2, the Brewers' RFer drops a fly ball, drawing attention to a major change from the old park-- the sunfield is in right, rather than left. With two out and one on, David Eckstein records the first Cards' hit, a bunt single. This is a good omen for Eckstein. Broadcaster Mike Shannon had the first Cards' hit in the old park, and he's been given steady employment by the ballclub for the succeeding four decades. Juancion grounds out. The Birds have already left five runners on base. BREWERS LEAD, 2-0

THIRD INNING- All ground balls off Mark Mulder. A one-out single by Brady Clark past a diving Miles, but a DP follows. It's a quick infield. St. Louis has a colorful ground ball history. Whitey's Rabbits in the 1980s made a living out of hitting ground balls on Astroturf and using their speed to circle the bases, but prior to that, old Sportsman's Park/first Busch Stadium, had a renown diamond as well. It was rock hard because of the heat of the St. Louis summer and the fact that either a Cardinals or Browns game was being played there every day. I'm reminded of the classic line from the old lefty Dave LaPoint about Wrigley Field's high grass infield in Chicago, "They mow it with a helicopter." The Great Pujols leads off the bottom of the third with a 445 foot bomb into the leftfield bleachers. He is the greatest player in the game, the greatest Cardinal since Musial. Edmonds breaks up a key twin-killing, and St. Louis scratches another run on 2 hits and a sac fly. TIED 2-2

FOURTH INNING- Mulder works out of a one out jam. Ohka doesn't. Scott Rolen delivers a bases loaded, 2 run double. I expected Fox Sports Net to show more of the new ballpark, but there hasn't been much. The coolest thing is having the Arch in the background. What an underrated American monument. What I like most about it is that it has no practical purpose. It's art for art's sake. Former Redbird Tim McCarver thinks the state of Illinois should build a giant statue on the other side of the river of a man holding a croquet mallet. CARDS LEAD 4-2

FIFTH INNING- Mulder throws up another goose egg. The player I currently call my favorite, Jim Edmonds, christens the park with one of his patented diving catches, battling the sun to boot. I'm waiting for his first opportunity to scale the centerfield wall and rob a homer. The wall has been lowered from ten feet to eight, surely with Diamond Jim in mind. CARDS LEAD 4-2

SIXTH INNING- Commissioner Bud Selig sits in the broadcasters' booth with Buck and Al Hrabosky. Buck asks the obligatory steroid questions, and almost gets the commish to criticize the Wrigley Field grounds crew. Mulder continues rolling. CARDS go quietly, still LEAD 4-2

SEVENTH INNING- Mulder posts another donut, then batting for himself, deposits a line drive over the boards in right field. What a beautiful day this has turned out to be, beautiful weather in St. Louis (as well as Des Moines.) Nice ballgame. CARDS LEAD 6-2

EIGHTH INNING- The Brewers and the Cardinals each hit a ball that dies at the warning track. I like the way the ballpark is playing. Three home runs have been struck, but the old Busch played livelier in the daytime so that might be the case. I like the initial balance of offense and pitching. That sun in right and center field could wind up being a major nuisance, but then again most day games won't be played in April starting at 3 o'clock. I'll spare you, for now, my theory as to why baseball parks (like the old Busch) should position their centerfields in the southeast corner of the park, and it's not because it has to be behind secondbase, smartass. CARDS LEAD 6-2

NINTH INNING- Another nailbiter for the Cardinals' bullpen. Today's hero, Mark Mulder, takes the field to wrap up the complete game, but he gives up a lead off hit and LaRussa grabs the hook. Former Cards 1st round draft pick Braden Looper, back in the organization after stints in Miami and New York, comes on and gets a double play ball, but then coughs up a double to Bill Hall, who already has another double and the historic first stadium HR. An RBI single follows, and LaRussa opts for closer Jason Isringhausen, who grew up an hour away from the pitcher's mound. He surrenders an RBI single and a walk, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate, but then induces a slow roller to first. Albert Pujols wins a sprint to the bag, reminiscent of last year's MVP race, and That's a Winner. CARDS WIN 6-4

Stay tuned for the "Star of the Game" and "the Scoreboard Show," coming up next.

posted by CM @ 2:31 PM