I wrote a few weeks ago about my short time with the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association and St. Louis Commerce magazine. After I arrived at the RCGA in 1995, three major sports stories unfolded almost immediately: 1) The L.A. Rams decided to relocate to St. Louis in January 1995; 2) Anheuser-Busch announced it was selling the St. Louis Cardinals later that same year; and 3) A “local” group of investors—led by Drew Baur, Fred Hanser, and William DeWitt, Jr.—purchased the Cardinals in late 1995.
At the time, I wrote a lengthy article on the baseball team's new owners for St. Louis Commerce, and I can tell you that the face and voice of the group were Baur's. Forget being a kid in a candy store—Baur was a kid that owned the candy store.
I interviewed him at his Southwest Bank headquarters on South Kingshighway, where he served as president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Bancshares. His cigar was large, but his smile was even larger as he spoke of the team he had loved since he was a youth.
I came away with the sense that it was “his” team.
The Cardinals immediately found success and won the National League's Central Division title. They clinched the crown on Sept. 24, 1996 in Pittsburgh, and Baur was the guy leading the cheers. He was interviewed before, during, and after the game. He tasted the champagne as it sailed through the air of the victorious Cards’ locker room.
Later, while I was at the St. Louis American, two city aldermen told me that Baur had masterminded the deal for four parking garages adjacent to Busch Stadium for $75 million. The ownership group had paid $150 million for the franchise just a year earlier.
Baur served as secretary and treasurer of the St. Louis Cardinals, but more importantly he was the guy that kept the Cardinals “ours.”
During the next few years, though, principal owner DeWitt seemed to become the official, lone voice of the owners. Baur fell silent. A new stadium was erected with public assistance, and the Cardinals dealt with some serious public-relations hits. If ever there was a time that Baur’s people skills were needed, it was during that time. Instead, we heard from DeWitt and team president Mark Lamping.
Baur passed away a fortnight ago, and his death was a minor story until friends and family remembered him during a memorial service last Friday. His early leadership role for the Cardinals still has not been given its due.
The man who was so upfront and so effervescent about his Cardinals had been silent during the past few years.
We might never know why. Yet I do know that it was a shame.
