Photography courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, pdsphil
Last night, the Cardinals played their 100th game of the year, a loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The (surprisingly eventful) All-Star break is behind us, while the (potentially eventful) trade deadline is a week away. If the Redbirds’ offense, stuck in neutral for most of the season, is going to jump into overdrive, it’s running out of time. And if you haven’t made it out to the park as much as you’d like—or haven’t seen a game at Busch at all—well, what are you waiting for? With four teams (the Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates, and Reds) separated by just 4.5 games in the National League Central, the next two months should provide plenty of drama. Here are several upcoming games worth the price of admission.
August 1 versus the Brewers. Milwaukee leads St. Louis by 1.5 games, but the teams play each other nine more times, starting with this tilt next Friday. Pitcher Adam Wainwright will likely get the ball for the Birds, while drinking-age fans receive 1964 World Series Beer Steins, the fourth in a series.
August 6 versus the Red Sox. It’s a World Series rematch, and with Boston stuck in last place, the home team has a good chance to get some revenge for the devastation of last October. I know Cardinals fans don’t like to boo, but you might consider making an exception for David Ortiz. Regardless, ESPN will be on hand to broadcast this game, so tell Mom to watch for you on TV.
August 30 versus the Cubs. As Ernie Banks famously said, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame… Let’s play two.” Unfortunately, unlike when Mr. Cub was playing, attending both ends of this day-night doubleheader will require two tickets. Even so, there are worse ways to spend a summer Saturday than watching bitter rivals play 18 innings of baseball.
September 1 versus the Pirates. Spend your Labor Day afternoon at the park, and catch a rematch of last year’s closely contested National League Division Series. The Pirates currently stand a game behind the Cardinals, and they, too, will likely be a major factor in the division race. If you bring the kids along, Junior will get a growth poster before the game and can run the bases afterward.
September 20 and 21 versus the Reds. The Cardinals finish the season on the road, so these weekend games against Cincinnati will be your last chance to see them play at home, at least during the regular season. On Saturday, the first 25,000 fans receive a Jose Oquendo bobblehead. (Now the team’s beloved third-base coach, Oquendo was a fan favorite during his playing days, when he served as the ultimate utility player, manning every position on the diamond.) Then, on Sunday, every fan in attendance gets a free voucher for a 2015 home game, a promotion that's sure to attract Cardinals fans and extreme-coupon aficionados alike.
