Ode To The Redbirds

 

Dear St Louis fans, 

Allow me to begin by offering my condolences in the passing of Cardinals legend Bob Gibson. When a team icon passes we tend to gather together in strength, sharing memories and telling stories going back to their rookie years. Adding insult to injury, large gatherings are not very popular these days and I know you all would rather be at Busch Stadium celebrating one hell of a pitcher and one heck of a man.

As a lifelong San Diego fan (who worked in the Padres Entertainment Department for thirteen years), the Cardinals were something of a monkey on our backs or better yet considering our 1-9 postseason record, we had the whole dam zoo on our backs.

Yet through the years, I’ve respected no team more than yours. From my grade school years delivering newspapers, reading about Ozzie Smith and Vince Coleman to digging up books at my school library and reading about the Gashouse Gang to this day, when your local nine had me biting my fingernails in anticipation of yet another playoff rout; your organization and more important you, as fans, have been a class act all the way.

As I stated in an earlier blog, I’ve never worn the cap of another team. Yet there was a time I came close to donning a Cardinals hat. The setting? 1994 baseball strike and the Padres ongoing fire sale. Mind you, my complete loyalty would not have shifted and it wasn’t just because my Padres were losing. It was because then-ownership and Major League Baseball in general was leading me to nearly stop loving the game itself. And I must admit, part of the reason was Axl Rose had taken to wearing one onstage.

And I have a feeling you all were equally angered as we were when Tony Gwynn’s quest for .400 was dashed by the strike. Speaking of Mr. Padre, it was Tony’s quest for 3,000 that cemented a permanent place in my heart for the St Louis fans and organization. We had the opportunity to see a 500th home run and 3,000th his in the same game and from my perspective, you treated Tony with every bit of adulation and respect as you did Big Mac.

Every team has its rivalries and I am quite surprised there has been little to no talk of a Padres/Cardinals rivalry. Then again, going one and nine against you makes me think of a fight between Mike Tyson and Steve Urkel. Yet never once did I see any gloating, never has a Cardinals fan claim superiority over what the teams on the field do. In fact, I can safely say that in over a thousand games as an employee and several hundred more as a paying fan, not once did I hear or see a negative word or action from the St. Louis faithful.

When the season schedule came out every year I eagerly looked for two things; who we were playing Opening Day and when the Cards were coming to town. I knew when the ‘birds came to town we were sure to see baseball at its most pure, on the field and in the stands.

While your season ended a little more than you hoped, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Think of your team’s history and hold your head high. Think of the class, grace and dignity shown by your fans over the years and hold your heads even higher.

I don’t get out to the bars much these days but if you do spot me at one, say hello. And you’ll have a .394 Pale Ale on me…