IT'S AMONGST THEM

Certainly one of the saddest days is St. Louis Cardinal baseball history was the day #57 died in a hotel room in Chicago just a few short years ago. Darryl Kile was at the height of his career when death struck him down.

When Jack Buck died later that same year was another black day in Cardinals' history. The celebration of his life on the video board marked the only time I ever wept in Busch Stadium.

When the Cardinals had the 1985 World Series stolen from them with two (undoubtedly) outs to go in the 9th inning of Game Six on a terrible call by Don Dekinger adds to Cardinal misery.

But everytime I run across a picture of the Steve Carlton 1972 Traded card, I'm reminded of another very sad time. How Gussie Busch could have let that happen, I'll never know. Oh, I know. It's history. Lefty wanted a $100,000 contract and Mr. Busch refused.

Once when I talked with Steve Carlton I asked him how many times people pondered to him how many championships that cost Mr. Busch and the Cardinals. "I can't say for sure, but a bunch of them I'd guess," was his response. He, too, seemed saddened by the thought. And that surprised me. That he still had a soft spot in his heart for the Cardinal organization. I was equally surprised that he just didn't blow me off.

But when the Boys of Summer tee it up on April 1, there'll be no sadness this year. Not in Sweet St. Lou, home of the 2006 World Champions! Man, it's been a long time for the Cubs and Red Sox. 1908 and 2004 were soooo looong ago.