The single best part of living in St. Louis?
Opening. Day.
If you’re working today, you’re not really working today. Every single one of you reading this knows at least 3 different people going to the game. And if you’re working anywhere in the metropolitan area, you’re either allowed to wear red or going home early to watch the game.
Probably both.
Here are 17 things you need to know before the home baseball season starts for the Cardinals. All of them mildly interesting…
1) It’s a giveaway day – all fans 21 and over will get a 2015 magnet schedule. Here’s what it looks like:
Today's #CardsPromo: All ticketed-fans, 21+, receive a 2015 #STLCards magnet schedule, compliments of Budweiser. pic.twitter.com/CHWCAskfSK
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 13, 2015
2) The National Anthem will be performed by US Navy Petty Officer First Class Generald Wilson.
3) The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by Willie McGee. It will be caught by Ozzie Smith.
4) Parking downtown on meters is not free. The Mayor wants to remind you:
That means the Treasurer's Office will be enforcing weekday parking regulations. #fgs
— Francis G. Slay (@MayorSlay) April 12, 2015
5) Prior to the game, the Cardinals will have a moment of silence/short tribute for both Oscar Taveras and St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell.
6) Yes, the Budweiser Clydesdales will make a pre-game lap.
7) An American Bald Eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary will also make a ‘lap’.
8) You can check the forecast for the game here.
9) First impressions count. This is Jason Heyward’s first game as a Cardinal in STL:
New @Cardinals player @JasonHeyward will xperience his 1st #StLouis #OpeningDay!
Have fun! pic.twitter.com/V0tOIdTQWa— Randi Naughton (@RandiNaughton) April 13, 2015
10) Pre-game in the stadium starts @ 2:30 CT. Gates open @ 1:15 CT.
11) DRIVING UPDATE: The ramp from the Poplar Street Bridge to eastbound I-44 (formerly westbound I-70) is closed. The 9th Street exit or the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge are your next best bets.
Getting back to Illinois will also be a bit different since the ramp from Memorial Drive to the Poplar is also closed. Drivers can access the Poplar Street Bridge via the on-ramp at 6th and Gratiot. All the other bridges leaving downtown will be open.
From northbound I-55, drivers can continue on eastbound I-44 to Walnut or to Washington. From eastbound I-70, drivers can take the Tucker ramp into the city, or stay on westbound I-44 and exit at Broadway.
As usual, Clark Street will be closed between the stadium and Ballpark Village.
12) The Cardinals official pep-rally will be from 11a CT throu 2p CT in the parking lot of Ballpark Village.
13) The lines to get in to Busch Stadium are going to be silly. Make sure head into the stadium way earlier than you’re used to if you want to catch all the pre-game action. Expect this to be a story tomorrow.
14) All the living Hall of Famers (both national and Cardinals HOF) will be on the field pre-game – including Tony LaRussa.
15) Will the Empire State Building honor the Cards again tonight? Time will tell…
In honor of #OpeningDay, the @EmpireStateBldg was lit up in #STLCards colors on Monday! pic.twitter.com/T3dxjBf9db
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 8, 2015
16) The Cardinals are 71-61 all time in home openers, including 2-2 against today’s opponent, the Milwaukee Brewers. (They’re 1-1 against the Milwaukee Braves.)
17) This is what happened the last time the Cardinals were at Busch Stadium:
Does anyone remember what happened last time the #STLCards played at Busch? http://t.co/KLPqAGRpOD
— The Birds On The Bat (@BirdsOnTheBat13) April 13, 2015
Have fun out there, friends.
Photo: My Fox Houston
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