1 of 3
2 of 3
3 of 3
Opening Day starts early in St. Louis. Even with a 3:15 p.m. first pitch, the atmosphere was buzzing inside and outside the stadium early Thursday morning.
Ivory and the Diamond
Ivory Mobley was working on four hours of sleep when he arrived at Busch Stadium at 7 a.m. He could be excused for being a bit bleary-eyed. A member of the seasonal grounds crew, he left Busch Stadium just five hours earlier.
“Man, we’ve been working, getting it ready,” he says as the St. Louis Cardinals started batting practice. “I’m excited. It’s Opening Day.”
Just outside the grounds crew “clubhouse” behind the right-field wall, the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales were being unloaded.
It is indeed Opening Day.
This is Mobley’s 12th, and he is in his 13th season.
He saw the final game at the old Busch Stadium next door, and the first at the new Busch. He’s been at every home playoff and World Series game during those years, and of course, the 2009 All-Star Game.
His season ends after the Cardinals’, and it begins shortly after the team sets up camp in Florida.
“We work until about the week before Thanksgiving, closing the place down,” he says. “We come back about March 1. It takes at least 30 days to get the stadium ready for Opening Day.”
As for the season, Mobley says the Cardinals have an uphill climb.
“I pick Milwaukee," he predicts. "They are young; they got Zach Greinke—I think they’ll do it this year."
With that, Mobley and the crew got back into action crafting the baselines and batter’s box for the start of the game.
It was a bit after 2 p.m. “We’ll be here long after everybody is gone,” he says with a smile.
Nixon in the house
“Hey, where you goin’?" the security guard yelled, grabbing my arm as I headed into the media entrance.
I showed him my media credentials. He quickly apologized, adding “the governor is about to come in.”
My first thought: “The governor of what state? It must be an important one.”
Naturally, it was Gov. Jay Nixon.
(I would guess the Cardinals leaned on him regarding the newest proposal for Ballpark Village; the current version is scaled down, but team owners still want some public assistance.)
Tailgating at Sunrise
Many a grill was being fired up before the sun began to warm a chilly morning.
For Erica Abbett and Randy Asherbranner, the tradition of meeting with friends under I-64, just east of the stadium, for an annual tailgating party is one that will not be missed.
Three years ago, the game was rained out after a few innings. In 2009, it snowed on Abbett and Asherbranner. Last year, it was unusually warm. This year, the weather was splendid, and the two reveled with dozens of partiers, enjoying ribs, brats, hot dogs, hamburgers, rum-soaked pineapple, and plenty of beer.
“It’s been 11 years,” said Asherbranner as he sucked down a cold can of Budweiser. "It’s a tradition."
Not long after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1998, Abbett and three friends purchased season tickets in the bleachers. The idea of tailgating for Opening Day became a reality, and it is still part of each baseball season.
The crew also has an entrepreneurial spirit. They charge other tailgaters $2 to use their porta-party.
Few Boos for Albert
Although he might be gone after this season, the fans at Opening Day gave Albert Pujols a rousing ovation.
His contract negotiation with the Cardinals did not lead to an agreement, and if things do not change dramatically, Pujols will be a free agent shortly after the season ends.
But his ovation was the largest of all as the team was introduced.
What remains to be seen is Pujols’ reaction when fans at Wrigley Field in Chicago give him a standing ovation as he comes to the plate for the first time this season. Hoping to see Pujols in a Cubs uniform, they might try to make him feel welcome during his first trip this season.
Mike Eats Oatmeal
On the south side of Busch Stadium is an entrance for media and players’ wives. At noon, Mike Shannon was entertaining several people near the receptionist desk.
I’m not kidding—he was eating a cup with oatmeal in it. “Hey, I love this stuff,” he said.
Yet another reason you've gotta love Mike Shannon.
