BUSCH STADIUM MEMORIES PART VIII

Even though some have read my trip down memory lane in a baseball post, I had to include as one of my all-time bests at Busch, August 23, 1966. It rained steadily all night. Larry Howard and I sat in the 10th row in the left field bleachers. And watched through the raindrops--THE BEATLES!!!

Only 23,000+ showed up that soggy night due largely to John Lennon's flip comment,"We're more popular than Jesus." There were organized protesters outside the stadium urging people to boycott the performance of a lifetime.

I can't remember saying it, but I was thinking, "Heck with you guys. I paid $4.50 for this ticket. I'm going in."

(That wasn't a misprint by the way.) Four dollars and fifty cents. The top price for the best seats was $5.50. Larry and I didn't want to invest that much since rumors were that The Beatles would cancel after that ridiculous Lennon gaff. Also, our parents were dead set against our going. This was before the interstate and the roads between Mt. Vernon and St. louis were poor. In fact, I know of only one other group of Mt. Vernonites--certainly the only others from the high school who saw the performance.

Through the incessant rain, through poor seating (The Beatles stage was at second base facing home plate, naturally), through no rain gear of any kind, Larry and I were in rock heaven at Busch.

BUSCH STADIUM MEMORIES PART VII

On Spring Break back when Scott and Courtney were young (estimated ages 14 and 8) we were playing miniature golf in St. Petersburg Beach one evening after dinner. A young couple was right behind us. I thought it was Cris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinal relief pitcher in the 1980's -early 1990's before being selected by the Florida Marlins in the expansion draft.

I mentioned it to the kids, but I wasn't sure until he said to the golf ball, "Git into the hoole," short o sound. Then I knew by his southern drawl. ( He was also an outstanding punter for the University of Georgia). Courtney bravely asked him if he was Cris Carpenter.

He seemed proud that we recognized him and introduced us to his wife Jane. We chatted the rest of the way around, and he autographed the scorecard for us. He offered us tickets to the Cardinals' spring training game the next day, and said he would be pitching. Of course we went and since then a friendship was formed. We still exchange Christmas cards with pictures and letters and an occasional call, though I don't know right now where his number is.

Anyway(s) the Busch Stadium memory concerned Cris' last regular season game as a Cardinal. Courtney had asked him if she could have his Cardinal hat after the game, since he wouldn't need it anymore. After having accumulated bats, balls, every conceivable baseball card--all autograhed by Cris, Courtney wanted the piece de resistance. And sure enough, he headed to the railing by our first base seats and put his hat on Courtney's head. All the way home, it was turn-taking time for the three of us wanting to wear a real Cardinal hat. I think Caroline declined to put it on, at least not for long if she did.

The newspaper the next day showed the Cardinals celebrating a last game of the year victory. And the one Cardinal in the picture missing his hat was Cris Carpenter.

BUSCH STADIUM MEMORIES PART VI

Anytime you get to go to a World Series game it's awesome. But how about when Stan Musial gets you tickets?

When the Holiday Inn was first built in Mt. Vernon it was a Ramada Hotel. Stan and Biggies ran the restaurant. Fletcher Farrar owned the hotel and my wife worked for him. Back in 1982 she was probably an administrative assistant or some title like that. A lot of her responsibilities centered on the new hotel.

When the hotel first opened, there was an open house for Mt. Vernon's elite. ( I know that may sound like aa oxymoron, but there are still many elite people in Mt. Vernon. And of course not all got invites.) But anyway(s), Stan and his wife Lil were there and Caroline and I got to spend most of the evening chatting with them. We were interrupted literally hundreds of times by people wanting autographs and pictures, and The Man was very gracious. I must have heard 15 people say they had witnessed Musial's 5 home runs in a doubleheader. For some reason one I remember saying that was Ray Buckley, which may not mean much to some of you.

Shortly after that great night, the Cardinals were hosting the Brewers in the World Series. Our game 2 seats were in the loge area directly behind home plate. Stan didn't sit with us, but his son and the Farrars did. We had eaten at the Stadium Club before the game. I still remember wearing a burgundy courderoy suit to the stadium Club and game.

Of course, I remember Darrell Porter's opposite field double to secure the win. A dead pull hitter, Porter never hit another opposite field hit of any kind in his career. Don Sutton was the losing hurler that night. I think John Stuper was the winner. Besides me anyway.

BUSCH STADIUM MEMORIES PART V

"Here's the pitch to McGee."
"He fouls it back. It hits the lower facade and flies directly to Mt. Vernon Rams baseball announcer Ted Quinn. Quinn turns and one-hands it while holding a lemonade firmly in his right hand. What a catch!"
Of course only the first line would have been announced by Buck or Shannon. But had they reported the rest of the story, it would have been accurate. It was a great moment for me and was witnessed by several Ram fans sitting around me as we waited for the Cardinal game to end so the RAMS could take on the Edwardsville high school team at Busch Stadium.

I announced the varsity games for Coach Bernard for five or six seasons and got to announce three games at Busch. What a thrill! Their speaker system was so good that I thought about a career as a rock singer with what it could do to my voice.

The way it worked was that I announced when the Rams were at bat and the Edwardsville guy, I've forgotten his name, would take over when E-Ville was up. It was really fun. Two distinct memories for me were a ball that Chad Hammonds hit to center. It was scorched. And Derek Harlan warming in the bullpen, doing imitations of John Tudor, Ricky Horton, and others. It was hilarious.

To announce at Busch, even if it was just a high school game, and to catch a foul ball from Willie McGee--what a day at the old ballyard.

BUSCH STADIUM MEMORIES PART IV

Ozzie's last game. Man it was another beautiful Sunday afternoon in St. Louis on that October day.
It had been an uphill year for the Wizard. He felt unappreciated by manager Tony LaRussa who wanted him to move to second base while Royce pre-dredlox-Clayton mannned the shortstop position. It must have been ugly back then since Oz and Tony still don't get along. Hey that kind of stuff happens when egos get in the way.

I'm sure the Cardinals won, though once again I have no memory of who the opponent was or the final outcome. The Cardinals just have a knack for winning games like that. (I know, Scott will fill me in with the data that I've omitted. And I appreciate it, thanks Son)

What I remember was that Ozzie took a victory lap before Cal R. and before Wade B did. (And on a police horse no less for the third baseman.)

Ozzie began his walk heading down the third base line and moving to the outfield. Doug Ferguson, of the now defunct Ferguson Fortune of the MVRL Baseball League, and I went to the game and sat in our seats in section 130,row 6.
"Let's get down there," I said to Doug. We went to the rail down the first baseline.
Ozzie's getting tired and cutting short his farewell tour as he's waving more and not shaking as many hands.
"Oz, my man," I yell out. And he heads right to me and Doug.
"You were the best, man," I gushed as I shook his hand.
"Thanks," and he's off.
Why he came over to me, when hundreds of others were pleading for a
chance to get close to the Wizard, I'll never know. But I'm glad he did. My only regret is not attending his Hall of Fame induction with Scott. Maybe the next time a CARDINAL gets the call.