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St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium

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Editor Pick

Busch Stadium Revisited

  • August 7, 2009
  • Rated 4 of 5 by RoBoNC from Indianapolis, Indiana
Busch Stadium Revisited

My first trip to Busch Stadium was back in 2005, the last year of what was then called Busch Memorial Stadium. Baseball season had all but ended when my best friend and I descended on the city. Busch Memorial Stadium had been the home to the St. Louis Cardinals since 1966 replacing Sportsman’s Park. As the historic 2005 season came to a close, the stadium continued to offer tours until the demolition began in November. We showed up for the tour and I was wearing a Chicago Cubs shirt that is prohibited in St. Louis (or so they want it to be). I wore it for my wife, who is a diehard Cubs fan, and if there is any team that Cubbies hate more than the White Sox, it is the Cardinals. The feeling is mutual though as our tour guide made a smart comment about my shirt every chance he got.

Busch Memorial Stadium was being replaced with Busch Stadium (or Busch Stadium III). Work had already begun dismantling the stadium in preparation for its eventual demise. The New Busch Stadium, as it was also called, wasn’t moving very far. The new stadium is actually being built on the same footprint as Busch Memorial Stadium. It was explained by our knowledgeable tour guide that the stadium was rotating. The outfield would become the new infield and vice versa. The new stadium would open up in the outfield to expose the St. Louis Arch and the city skyline.

Outside the stadium bronze statues honor the many great Cardinals who helped St. Louis become a successful franchise. The greats such as Lou Brock, Stan Musial, Dizzy Dean, Bob Gibson and most recently Ozzie Smith along with others are forever immortalized. The stadium itself was host to six World Series and three of those the Cardinals became World Champions, with the most recent in 2004. Busch Memorial Stadium was the site of Mark McGwire’s 62nd home run that eclipsed Roger Maris’s single season record. Whatever the views of McGwire and the steroids era of baseball, 1998 was an exciting year as McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Cubs raced to break the record.

Perhaps the most interesting fact that I took away from the tour is how Busch Stadium acquired its name. The owner, Gussie Busch, whose family owns Anheuser-Busch, bought the team in 1953. He wanted to name the ballpark, Budweiser Stadium, after their flagship brand of beer. However, Major League Baseball did not want to be associated with alcohol. He asked the commissioner could he name the ballpark Busch Stadium after the family name. The commissioner agreed. A few weeks later Anheuser-Busch introduced Busch beer. It looks like Gussie Busch got what he wants after all.

I revisited Busch Stadium in 2009, this time during baseball season. They were playing the Chicago Cubs and emotions were high and tempers can sometimes flare when these two teams meet. Tickets sell out way in advance for this series which is why I was ecstatic when I got two tickets. The timing was perfect. The series just happened to be during my wife’s birthday and being a die-hard Cubs fan, she loved nothing more than to taunt the Cardinals fans with her Cubs gear.

We had perhaps some of the best seats that I have ever had at a baseball game. We were in the first row right inside the right field foul pole. We were so close we could literally reach out and touch the outfielders. We were even greeted with a visit from Fredbird, the St. Louis Cardinals mascot. The Cardinals took an early lead but the Cubs held close until Albert Pujols hit a grand slam in the seventh inning.

The stadium offers excellent views from home plate of the city skyline and the St. Louis Arch. Parts of the old Busch Memorial Stadium have been preserved in the new stadium. The old scoreboard hangs near the gift shop showing all of the baseball scores around the country when the last game was played in Busch Memorial Stadium.

St. Louis has a good metro system with a stop right at the ballpark. We stayed at the Marriott Renaissance near the airport since the rates were a lot cheaper than in the city. There is a metro stop at the airport that will take you to the stadium. The metro ride will take about thirty minutes from the airport.

After the game, pop into one of the many pubs and grab a beer. However, ordering anything other than Anheuser-Busch products might get you a funny look.

From journal Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Best Fans in Baseball

  • February 27, 2009
  • Rated 5 of 5 by eamar1 from St. Louis, Missouri
Best Fans in Baseball

The Cardinals are simply the best fans in baseball. Not that I'm biased. But, visiting fans will feel welcome--no hostility here! The new stadium is built next to the site of the old stadium. Nothing beats a night game looking out over the St. Louis skyline.
Editor Pick

St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium

  • January 2, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by RoBoNC from Indianapolis, Indiana
St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium

St. Louis has a history with baseball dating back to 1882 when the team was known as the St. Louis Brown Stockings. In 1900, their name was changed to the Cardinals, which was inspired when the team changed their colors from brown to red. St. Louis proved to be a city big enough for two teams, when in 1901, the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis to become the Browns once again. St. Louis hosted two teams until 1953 when the Browns were forced out of town and what would later become the Baltimore Orioles.

In most cities with many different professional sports, there is always one that gets more exposure than the rest. In St. Louis, baseball is the dominant sport which makes sense that the city is known as “Baseball City, USA.”

We had hoped to catch a game, but we were disappointed to find out that the Cardinals were on a two week road trip. So instead, we took a tour of the stadium. The year 2005 was going to be a memorable year as the stadium was going to be demolished and in 2006 the Cardinals won the World Series in their new stadium.

After purchasing our tickets, we joined our tour group led by an old St. Louis native who had followed the Cardinals since the 1930’s. I was immediately singled out, mostly by my own doing, because of my choice of wardrobe. I just happened to be wearing a Chicago Cubs shirt, which ironically is who the Cardinals were playing as we began our tour. One of the best rivalries in baseball is between the Cardinals and Cubs dating back to 1885.

Our tour guide took us to the top level of the stadium where we relaxed in the outfield seats facing home plate, while he pointed out things of interest. The most interesting thing he pointed out was the fact that where we were sitting would soon become home plate. Instead of moving into a new stadium, it was going to be rotated to expose the Gateway Arch. The outfield would now be where the infield is located.

We sat in the Cardinals dugout imaging the game being played as the players see it. Next was a stopped off at the Press Room, where the players and manager give their post-game interviews with the Cardinals backdrop. We also got to see how the VIP’s watch the game, from their air conditioned suites and leather recliners to their own private concession serving gourmet meals.

At the end of the tour, we learned an interesting story behind the naming of the stadium. When the Busch family acquired the stadium, they wanted to name it Budweiser Stadium after their famous beer. The commissioner of baseball denied that request because he did not want baseball associated with alcohol. That was well before alcohol was served in stadiums. So he named it Busch Stadium after his family and it was approved. Two weeks later, Busch beer debuted.

From journal Two friends, Four Days and a Lifetime of Memories

Editor Pick

Busch Stadium - Current and New

  • September 12, 2005
  • Rated 4 of 5 by chasindaylight from Bloomington, Illinois
Busch Stadium - Current and New

Busch Stadium itself isn’t much of an attraction. Unless there’s a game going on, there’s not much to be seen. It’s hard to get a glimpse of the field from outside Busch Stadium. At one of the turnstile entrances we were able to get a picture of part of the field. Flags around the outside of the stadium give you facts about the history of team. There is also a small Cardinals gift shop where you can pick up a souvenir representing your favorite player. Other than that – and the Hall of Fame Museum nearby, there isn’t much more to see in the area immediately around the stadium.

However, that will all change soon. The new stadium is being built. We were able to stand next to the current stadium and look at the construction going on in the new one. When completed, this area will look completely different. They’ll add a Ballpark Village that will include retail offices and residences, hoping to spark more life in to the area immediately around the stadium.

After reading about the plans for the new ballpark, I am excited about seeing the project completed. I know there are some die-hard fans out there who desperately want to hold on to the memories. But there will be many new ones made in the new Busch Stadium. The ballpark will actually be opened up so that some fans will be able to see the arch from their seats. The goal of the new stadium seems to be to bring the downtown in, a distinct contrast to the closed-off design of the current stadium.

So, for now, take a stroll around the current stadium and check out what’s going on inside the new one. Or, if you’re in town during the demolition of the old stadium, be sure to witness the historic event.

I highly recommend checking out the construction of the new stadium - witness history in the making. Even if you're not a big fan of the Cardinals, seeing the construction is a neat attraction.

Check out a construction cam and read more about the new stadium at http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stl/ballpark/index.jsp.

From journal A Day in St. Louis

Afternoon at a Cardinals game

  • August 9, 2003
  • Rated 4 of 5 by shane2 from Carmel, Indiana
Afternoon at a Cardinals game

St. Louis has a rich history of baseball. The Cardinals have the second most World Series victories after the New York Yankees. The team seems to be always competitive each year. Fans from all over the Midwest (Illinois, Arkansas, Missouri) come to cheer on the Cards. Busch Stadium is still one of the nicest stadiums to watch a game. However, next year the team breaks ground on a new stadium next door that should be complete in 2006. The summer heat can be bad, but has improved since they replaced the AstroTurf with natural grass.

From journal "The Gateway to the West; St. Louis, MO"

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