MY BUSCH STADIUM FAVORITES

Since I have more history than almost anybody reading my blog ever, then I have more difficulty keeping track of all the memories I've had there. Plus, I'm really pretty lousy at dates and numbers of players. I know the numbers is irrelevant to this story, but it's sad but true. In fact, my memories go back to Sportsmen's Park where I saw my first game, where all theLittle League teams attended one game per year, where I saw my first scheduled doubleheader against the cubs and ernie banks (it was a great day to lose two if you were a cub that day), where our Sunday School class went to our annual game and got back really late at night, where a batting practice home run by Frank Robinson went off my hand as I misplayed it in right center field, where I hassled my first player who's name escapes me but he had a funny wind up. So I'll digress no more about Sportsmen's, but will lose sleep over the pitcher's name with the funny wind up. I remember he later pitched for the Senators.

Also thanks to Derek and Chris for sharing their moments. It's surprising how many of those games I also attended. The game I'm discussing today, no order for top ten or anything like that was the day after Jack Buck died. The tribute to him on the big screen really touched me. In fact, it was the only time I ever cried in the old park. (Except for the brutal wind that blew through the portals and down the back of my neck at the old St. Louis Cardinals football games.)

Jack just personified Cardinal baseball. I thought of all the times going back to my high school years that I had listened to him. I thought of Caroline and Scott and Courtney and all the great times we had going to the games, listening to the games as we were driving somewhere I really didn't want to be. Jack was like your favorite hat, a pair of shorts after a too long winter, Mr. Roger's sweater. He just made you feel comfortable. As great as Harry Carey was, and he was a much better Cardinal announcer than cub announcer where he started to become a caricature of himself, he was nothing compared to Jack. As great as Mike Shannon is (yup I'm an unabashed Shannon fan, too), he was nothing compared to Jack. And you know what? I bet those two would agree with me on that, too.

No I couldn't tell you who won the game that night, but I'd bet it was the Cardinals, just because it would be proper and fitting. But I know when they put Jack's picture on the big board and played that sappy song "I Will Remember You," I wept openly.