By Meisha Fortner
Being a St. Louis baseball fan is hard work. Just ask the hundreds who spent a January day all done up in Cardinal red, telling their diehard stories and recapping best moments, all vying to be selected for the Major League Baseball commercials that began airing March 14 nationwide.
The tryouts at Busch Stadium were part of MLB’s six-city tour to audition fans for the “I Live For This” advertisements promoting the 2005 baseball season.
Selection criteria focused on enthusiasm. “We were looking for an endearing story, a passion for the game woven into the excitement for the upcoming season,” says MLB spokesman Carmine Tiso. “Baseball is the fabric of their lives, and we asked them why they can’t wait for opening day.” In some instances, MLB chose not just one fan, but a group with a unique story, Tiso says.
Other auditions were held at Fenway Park, Minute Maid Park in Houston, Yankee Stadium, Angel Stadium and Dodger Stadium.
