Busch Stadium: Millions Of Memories

imagine reliving a million memories [Applause] [Music] imagine returning to where they took place [Music] [Applause] sharing the moments with those who were there [Music] [Applause] remembering them as if they happen just yesterday [Music] imagine the stories you could tell imagine the emotions you would feel Major League Baseball Productions presents millions of Cardinals memories Busch Stadium 1966 to 2005 so many memories from 40 years of Busch Stadium came back to life once again the final weekend of the 2005 season [Music] it's really a wonderful feeling to come back to this ballpark somebody popped it up and Rick is was going it's been a long time since I played here when I come back it seems like I hadn't been away very long whenever I come back a memories triggered the people that you see that the familiar faces so many things come back when you see Kagan I know Lou Brock but this and those guy that comes out ROM I mean it's always motivate yourself to try to get better and be like those guy here generations of Cardinals gathered to reminisce and stories filled the air you stay down don't be taller to see the camaraderie and the fun and the enjoyment they have just being back together with one another again I think they all felt like they were coming back home [Music] it's a family reunion that family includes former players people that work here at the ballpark anybody that's ever enjoyed I came here at wish Danny we have 90 something X players that are gonna be here and every one of them I know everyone on my either played with or broadcast there's some energy in this ballpark it's gonna be a great weekend the final weekend at Busch began with a reunion of the 85 nationally champions Albin stealing the pitch of the ball the throw is [Applause] [Music] [Applause] we had a great 25 a bunch of guys looks like a big family just like that when you win when you win everybody gets along it's fun coming to the park just brings joy it was a chance for the fans to show their love vice versa this is by far the best fan base the best place to play baseball in America it's uplifting because there's so many people here they love their Cardinals you know when lose are drawn this is the baseball city of baseball cities they don't forget here and that's what's great I'll go to the grocery store barber shop anywhere people still come up and say thanks for 10 years of exciting baseball [Music] have a lot of memories at Busch Stadium I'm glad that's gonna be dismantled my 10 years here were the most happiest years of my life then this stadium is progress the fans are going to love it I'm just so happy that you fans are getting a new ballpark and continue to support the Cardinals thank you very much [Music] [Applause] it was a special weekend indeed for the entire Cardinals family especially for those on the current roster they now are becoming aware for this being the last year of the park they realize it now that there's only a few games left when they see all these other players around here it's dawning on them baseball players form a fraternity but it goes deeper here in st. Louis when Bob Gibson walks in or Lou Brock all these guys are a part of the organization you could see that sense of family let's meet the greatest Cardinals of the Busch Stadium era selected by the fans the all Busch Stadium team connected Cardinals throughout 40 years of history please welcome the white rat manager Whitey Herzog please say hello to the secret weapon Jose Oquendo this is a great trio and I'm great honor it's gonna be part of me for the rest of my life he was a switch-hitter who played on three World Series teams Tomi her [Applause] the number one overall vote-getter the wizard Ozzie Smith the man who struck out Gorman Thomas to land the Cardinals the 1982 World Series title who's my hair is gone my black beer is gone and my arms certainly gone but my memories they can't take that away from [Applause] he hit over 306 times while in st. Louis please welcome Ted Simmons the late Roger Maris in Whitefield player with 3023 career hits at 938 stolen bases the one and only Lou Brock ladies and gentlemen perhaps the fiercest competitor in Cardinals history Hall of Famer Gibson you can't trick these great fans in st. Louis you see who they voted us the greatest players in the history buy the stadium it's a legendary team that celebrates the past and honors the present [Music] [Applause] let's hear it for Team Evan to be mentioned in all the great categories and all the great players it's just that they go on that's what I call the team all the decades represented it the altar stadium team is a great study in the longevity of this franchise it's a great collection of players to transcend the the entire 40-year history of our state [Music] for the past 40 years Busch Stadium has been home to Cardinals baseball but for years before that the team played at Sportsman's Park where they won 6 World Series and brought joy to generations of fans as you get involved in Cardinal baseball in the organization you hear and you read about the gas house gang with pepper Martin and Dizzy Dean and then the great steams the head in the forties with Stan Musial and reg shandy's and I started to play enou in the 40s I'm in the old Sportsman's Park and which was Busch Stadium later on when anheuser-busch bought the club we're delighted to be the owners of the Cardinals and we're going to try to give with fans everywhere the finest baseball that is known in the United States with August Busch now the owner the ballparks name was changed to Busch Stadium and the Cardinals won another title there in 1964 [Music] but Bush had a vision that a new downtown stadium would benefit both the team and the heart of the city so in May of 66 the Cardinals bid farewell to their home 46 years Bill stock SiC the groundskeeper at Busch Stadium takes home plate to a helicopter waiting behind second base the helicopter will transport this historic home plane to the new Busch Stadium on the riverfront it was a smooth and respectful transition one that captivated all of st. Louis what are your reactions to this old landmark being torn down well I think I'll be rather sad but the new stadium is beautiful I hope to attend many games there four days later the Cardinals played their first game in the shadow of the arch and fans received a certificate signifying both a new era and a new style in the stadium design it was completely circular and it was the stadia net was built for both the baseball and in football what I like most about the stadium was just thought the structure of it with the arch of the background and the arch up on the roof I thought it was the most beautiful place in downtown st. Louis with the st. Louis Arch going out the architect tried to blend that in with it and they came up with the ideas we will have arch for each of the columns and therefore there was 96 columns so we end up at 96 arches it was really neat when you were on the field and the in the Sun would start coming down and the Sun would shoot through them and they'd show the arches on the field here at the new stadium and you began the state are they are its ballpark so we were really in a transitional period a change for the future in July of 66 everyone got the chance to see the new stadium when st. Louis played host to the all-star game nearly 50,000 are packed into this beautiful new stadium built at a cost of more than 26 million dollars we are very very excited to host the all-star game unfortunately the only bad thing about the all-star game that occurred in July and it was a hundred and six degrees that day the blistering heat have sent the temperature soaring over 100 degrees perfect weather for an extra inning game but the fans were rewarded for their patience and perspiration when home team catcher Tim McCarver scored the winning run nationally the cartel struggle that year and finished in sixth place but the team's fortunes were about to change 67 we actually came out of no place because we were picked to finish fifth but with red chain DS managing a bunch of veterans he just let him go out and play baseball and that's what they did but she and east had more than just your average veterans he had for future Hall of Famers in Big Bob Gibson lefty Steve Carlton speedster Lou Brock a newcomer Orlando Cepeda well we got him from the Giants he was still in good shape and very good player and he played well for us something we needed and they went out and Jeff were able to pick him up was pretty lucky lucky in the puts up a 2-1 the MVP award that year in addition the Cardinals added a player best known for his home run feats in New York we say Roger Maris where they say 61 home runs Roger Maris was one of the most complete ball players you'll never run across he could hit he could run he could throw a very intelligent guy with such a formidable team the Cardinals won the pennant in 1967 and faced the Red Sox in the World Series after splitting the first two games in Boston Bush stadium played host to its first ever fall classic stadium beautiful home of the Cubs was open May 12 last year they drew a record two million versus the first World Series here in 1967 that certainly had to be one of the the most exciting things that had happened to me in game 3 mike shanin hit a two-run blast and nelson browse through nine strong innings to lead the Cardinals to victory then Bob Gibson threw a game for shutout for a second win in four games and st. Louis wins six to nothing to take a three to one lead in the series the Sox were in a hole but they refuse to go away we were surprised because we thought we're gonna beat him in five games we went all the way to seven games they didn't hit seventh game their cards and Gibson to the mound once again piece of cake he was determined and there was nothing more fearsome than a determined Bob Gibson he allowed three hits for his third straight complete game triumph 27 innings three runs Bob did it he won three games on he did it in their first full season in their brand-new home the Cardinals won a World Series championship and drew more than two million fans for the first time in franchise history [Music] that year we were so successful that we were the reason for the fan base but I don't think so I just think that the fans in this area good fans anyway and if we hadn't had such a terrific year I think they still would support the ball cap [Music] incredibly the Cardinals would host the World Series once again in 1968 and fittingly the game one starting pitcher was Gibson eyes Keon Bob Gibson a 22 game winner who established a new record for the lowest earned run average and national a cusper and 68 for some reason just happens to be the year that everything came together and yeah I was in a song never more so than in his historic game one performance [Music] I remember Bob Gibson very vividly in the 68 World Series when he set the record [Applause] I'm he was just awesome that day congratulations once again thank you so much as a masterful performance once again thank you very much Gibson not only won the sai yeung award that year he was the league MVP it was a groundbreaking season in more ways than one they actually changed the rules because of him they lowered the mound five inches which was only 15 years just like took one third of the mound away but that didn't stop Gibson who won his second siyoung award in 1970 he was also unfazed that year by the change mated Bush from grass to a new surface called a stretcher with playing both football and baseball it made it really difficult to have the plane surface very smooth so it became almost imperative that we had artificial surfaces there were no World Series games played on the bush turf during the 70s but it did bear witness to some amazing individual accomplishments Joe Torre the 71a at 363 at 2437 RBIs at 230 hits which is unheard of for someone who bats right-handed and runs as slow as I do it was just a great year in 1974 Lou Brock made the most of the quicker surface to blazed a trail to glory [Music] [Applause] most important pain was to avoid long slumps and try to stay sharp and that wasn't an easy job it would even get to be 35 it's extremely tough the 74 campaign also saw bake McBride named Rookie of the Year and Bob Gibson reached another milestone in his Hall of Fame career I was here when Bob Gibson got his 3000 strikeout [Music] just four years later Bob Forsch unfurled a Bush stadium first here's the pitch [Applause] but this historic moment almost didn't happen you know there's a questionable play during it there was a ball that was hit - Kenny reach the third base that could have gone either way I'm scared to death you know see if they called the hitter and Eric then I heard all the fans cheering I was just relieved because I didn't want to screw up there's no hitter you do have to be good but you do have to be lucky bobak luck is the residue of a roster filled with men like the mad Hungarian Al hrabosky catcher Ted Simmons shortstop Gary Templeton and rising stars like Keith Hernandez 1979 was my MVP year and my batting title year and basically got me on the map but it was Brock already on the map as the all-time stolen base leader who capped his career and the decade with one more milestone [Music] [Applause] but what I wanted to happen didn't have it I thought that 3000 hit should be a clean hit to the out bill I had a ball probably as hard as ever hit a ball in my life and a hit off the pitchers hand and it rolled to the third baseman and that was a bit of sweet for me and so an era had ended but an even better one was about to begin [Music] with the dawn of the 80s the Cardinals brought in a new manager who immediately changed the makeup of the team to better fit the ballpark I came here to manager partners in June of 1980 and we had a very good hitting team but a very slow team and I just knew we had to have speed because Busch Stadium was a very spacious stadium so I said let's try it my way let's see if I can build a ball club for this ballpark as both GM and manager whitey was able to secure that speed for both the outfield alleys and the basepaths they've got to play a baseball they would produce and runs and just making things happen our main thing was run run run steal bases we did a lot of running in st. Louis they called this aggressive style of play whitey ball and it created one of the most unexpected moments in Busch Stadium history I was not the fastest guy on the team I was the catcher so I was slow I was really slow anyway there's a crazy play Roberts the big runner he's a third the Cardinals speed and hustle made them a team to fear but it was the acquisition of a defensive wizard that brought it all together and turned save Lois he's the merry old Land of Oz 1982 we acquired Ozzy at the Winter Meetings for Garry Templeton and as he kind of put the icing on the cake I knew what we got Ozzy that we really had a treat in the store he is the greatest defensive shortstop to ever play the game with the addition of Ozzy the Cardinals now had one of the best fielding teams at all of baseball our infill in 82 of Keith Hernandez on first and her on second Ozzy on shark we had one of the finest defensive in fields that ever played and with Ken Oberkfell at third the strategy for pitchers was simple why he said two pitchers throw strikes because women catch the ball don't walk people and that was it Whitey's formula for Busch Stadium great defense and speed on the bases help make 82 a memorable season the Cardinals made it to the playoffs where they swept the Braves in three and reached their first World Series since 1960 [Music] there they face the Milwaukee Brewers a stark contrast to st. Louis having blasted 216 home runs to just sixty-seven by the Cardinals but in Game three rookie Willie McGee who did put four homers all year gayville Waukee a double dose of its own medicine [Applause] they battled to a deciding Game seven where with st. Louis leading and Bruce Souter on the mound one of the great moments in Cardinals history played out at Busch [Music] it's something that these fans you know they might have been kids when they saw it or or they're telling her kids about it but you know I see so many people on the street said we were there the 82-game and it was just so special the following year the Cardinals finished a disappointing 4th in the NL East but a shining moment for Cardinals fans did take place at Busch on September 26th as Bob Forsch a member of the team since 1974 to his place in st. Louis baseball history [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] forces second no-hitter brought to light still another strength of the Whitey Herzog era solid pitching for SH Joaquin Andujar and preeminent closer Bruce Souter anchored a veteran staff that knew how to throw strikes and let their great defense do its job they bolstered that staff in 85 adding John Tudor who was more than happy to be pitching in for Steve one of the first times ever came into this ballpark I was with the Pirates and I can never sit on the bench and think it wouldn't be nice to play here and then in the offseason I could trade over here so you know coming here that first time was an exciting event just to get just playing this ballpark but his people also joining the squad that year was another speedster Vince Coleman who blazed to a rookie record 110 stolen bases the Cardinals as a team stole 314 bases the fourth highest single-season total since 1900 [Music] [Applause] the store but weapons were everywhere in 85 Willie McGee had an amazing year with 56 stolen bases a 353 batting average and a National League MVP award second baseman Tommy Herr hit just eight home runs all season yet drove in 110 the 85 team was I think by far the best team that I played on defensively pitching wise offensively it was an exciting team to watch the Cardinals won a hundred one games and once again advanced [Music] where they'd go crazy for with the series tied at two games apiece light hitting defensive wizard Ozzie Smith performed a bit of magic at the plate Ozzie Smith had never hit a homerun left-handed in his whole life so this game is tied in the bottom of ninth inning in history well as he's gonna try to get on base somehow to get a run well you didn't figure he hit it over the wall to get her [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] we hadn't hit a homerun left-handed and 3,000 at-bats and I remember the press coming in after the game and he says that surprised you I said no no he was due I told him Aziz unbelievable blast set the stage for the next game where Jack Clark stood at the plate in the top of ninth we've helped our ballclub effective we had the one Big Bopper and Jack Clark the Cardinals one out away from a pennant and here it is a flyball to shallow center Willie McGee comes up he's under it and the st. Louis Cardinals are the champions of the National leg but although the Redbirds took a three games to one lead over Kansas City in the World Series the Royals staged an amazing comeback to capture the title st. Louis did return to the Fall Classic in 87 where they met the Minnesota Twins but in a series where the home team won every game the cards fell one game short [Music] when all was said and done st. Louis appeared in three World Series in the 80s the most of any team and in 1987 they drew more than three million fans for the first time ever in the 80s Busch Stadium was the place to be [Music] the late eighties and early 90s brought fan favorites to Bush and some memorable moments there he comes still the team fell short but change was about to take root the 1995 anheuser-busch sold the Cardinals to the current group a bunch of st. Louis ins they wanted a ballpark only type Stadium it was decided to go to grass the green green grass supports us all over the place today the artificial turf was history replaced by real grass and the new ownership group led by William DeWitt jr. didn't stop there they put the manual scoreboard up they made it a baseball only stadium they also catered to the kids with a new fan friendly pavilion and for older kids they built a retired number section into the seats perhaps the biggest change however was the hiring of former Oakland manager Tony LaRussa owner of five Division titles and a World Series ring I believe in in high goals I believe in big dreams you come over here and you walk in the st. Louis with this ownership the fan support I just feel thankful all the changes were unveiled on opening day of 1996 and the Cardinals did not disappoint [Applause] backed by the new owners and LaRussa st. Louis finally returned to the playoffs following an eight-year drought [Music] [Applause] held it all together Tony LaRussa taking a slow walk out to see his players it was in 1996 that the beloved Ozzie Smith announced his retirement and he soon discovered that fans in every city were sorry to seemed off [Music] and though his final game was in Atlanta it sure sounded like it was at Busch when Atlanta prevailed the Cardinals had lost both this series and the face of the franchise but an imposing new figure was on the horizon as LaRussa brought Mark McGwire to the team and he brought with him power that Bush had rarely seen [Music] [Applause] [Music] big makya 24 home runs after joining the Cardinals in July of 97 and say Louis fans were smitten [Music] [Applause] [Music] turns out the impending free agent was also falling in love I thought it's a masterstroke by walt jockety the Cardinals general manager he thought the only way he'd have a chance to sign Mark McGwire would be to get him in here and to have an experienced st. Louis firsthand and see how it is maybe the best baseball town in America see how the fans really appreciate a good ballplayer who gives back a little bit and shows that he's having a good time and that he appreciates the fans mark made his decision this would be his home st. Louis is without a doubt the best places to play in the country tell people that they say are you crazy and they say coming to st. Louis one day you watch a game I'll guarantee you'll say sue me I did they always do it was 1998 and fresh off a 58 home run season mark turned bush interest personal play [Music] [Applause] oh yes you could for Sammy Sosa and Big Mac would take on Roger Maris's single-season home run record incredibly he kept going [Music] [Applause] every day was like on the surface without the big-top and the ringmaster man saved his best for Labor Day weekend when Bush was the site of a baseball Renaissance [Music] [Applause] the very next day he continued his historic Asad [Applause] 61 fight 61 [Music] and I sort of had this feeling come over me and said of tonight's gonna be it [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I dedicate this song to the whole city of st. Louis and all [Music] [Applause] most of us were just in all the way he handled the pressure he's breaking Roger Maris's record my best friend okay you could go out and pick the one guy that would break his record I think he'd take Maguire [Music] his solo act of 1998 might very well come to an end on what else was doing such things that when it called for it that it was just phenomenal that it was like somebody wrote the script and he was just following the script out mark reached another milestone at Busch but nothing could compare to his race for the record in 1991 I can't believe I did it can you obviously Busch Stadium has been the site of wondrous athletic achievements but it's also been a vital part of the st. Louis community never more so than in trying times following the tragedy of 9/11 major league baseball came to a halt worrying about games now is really quite unimportant when play resumed ballparks were flooded with emotion nowhere with more poignancy than at Bush thanks to one of the game's greatest voices ladies and gentlemen I would like to read a poem which I have written for this occasion I think a lot of people in the country we're trying to figure out was this the proper time and because of Jack buck in his stature the world was really watching our game in st. Louis since this nation was founded under God more than 200 years ago we have been the bastion of freedom the light that keeps the free world a globe he loved baseball and he loved his country and that was kind of a perfect mesh right there we do not cover two possessions of others we are blessed with the bounty we share chills run up and down your spine when he was given a speech at home play what he said and have been said any better war is just not our nature we won't start but we will end the fight my patriotism grew because of that and I think a lot of the people that were in the stadium that night were very moved by I don't know about you yes for me the question has already been answered should we be here yes the defiance in his voice and telling people this was the right thing to do and just the elegance of the man and what he was saying should we show others how to demonstrate our resolve yes and we shall do it here this evening I think everybody walked away and knew that it was a proper time and I mean I just thinking about I almost get teared up let us make good use of this moment of silence just nine months later Jack buck died after calling almost 50 years of Cardinals baseball when you think of st. Louis you're thinking a number of things number one you think of the Arts number two you think of the Cardinals number three you think of Jack buck that's how big he was and when a city loses something like that they lose a piece of themselves the memorial service for buck was held appropriately at Busch there was a celebration that's where Jack would have wanted and that's what they did half of the Cardinal organization I'm pleased to tell you that we will add to our retired number section a flag for Jack mock with his signature phrase that's a winner [Music] I think Jack was more than just a broadcaster or celebrity I think he was somebody people in this town related to very deeply you meant the world to Jack buck and we all as a family know how much he meant to you it was wonderful that the entire community could really celebrate with everyone in the bug family all of your messages and notes and the Pat's on the back around the city it meant the world to us everybody in this town seemed to have a personal relationship with him whether they had actually shaken his hand or not on behalf of all of our family thank you then again overwhelming grief with a sudden death of Darryl Kile the day after Jack was buried we have the devastating news that Darryl has suddenly passed away and it just stunned this organization the city I mean it grabbed them right by the throat and it really sugar felt numb and I think the entire team felt that way at such a young man at the age of 33 just to pass away with a wife and kids it's hard it's hard to take it's hard to to accept he is literally one of our leaders and who's the pitcher he lose a teammate who's the friend who's the leader I mean he was this huge influence this has been a season of pain and suffering at times for the Cardinals and they remember their fallen teammate an inspiration and kind of learning the character of people want something bad like that happens and seems like there's someone watching over us all the time and I think everybody knows who it is [Music] to maintain the Cardinals winning tradition general manager Walt Jocketty and LaRussa added some more impact players it's also the organization does everything Walt Jocketty and the managers do everything they can to put the team out there to win the pennant the first piece of the puzzle was Gold Glove outfielders Jim Edmonds who brought leadership and experience to the Redbirds centerfielder the naturally [Applause] this is my house push them Phil [Music] [Applause] [Music] jim edmonds has about as much talent as anybody you're ever gonna see play centerfield and it's such a pleasure to watch him and play that position but he has a good a set of hands that your ever seen not only in the field but at the plate also Edmonds presents in the middle of the order gave a line of both consistency and power in the clutch [Music] but not all the Cardinals new additions were from other teams for a homegrown talent would soon lift them to another level Albert Pujols hit 329 with 37 home runs in 2001 to unanimously win the Rookie of the Year award he was a wonder to behold we are witnessing something here in st. Louis that's never been witnessed before at Major League Baseball and that's Albert pool Albert was also a constant source of amazement to his peers he's the best young hitter and again he's pretty incredible at his young age and experience to put up the kind numbers he have he's a monster he's not gonna strike out he already has that and said he's confident and you can't get anything by you make a mistake I want to get you justice he thinks along with the pitcher and plus the fact that he's just a great hitter in a great athlete that's what makes him such a tough out he's definitely the one guy that you don't want me to meet in a close ballgame [Music] [Applause] let's go out there and play hard every day you 100% if I can 20 I have my team out to win [Music] the final ingredient came by way of a midsummer trade one that rod st. Louis third baseman extraordinaire Scott Rolen Scott Rolen is best defensive survey stylist ever seen he's a clutch hitter he's a consistent everyday player when you know you're getting ready to include in your club one of the most complete players in the major leagues we thought we were now as good or better than just about anybody [Applause] [Music] I think after they got rolling and he showed what he could do then he finally saw the full force of what this team can be and and they started to rattle off wins thanks to the shrewd additions by Jackie Dee and LaRussa the Cardinals became a force to be reckoned with Tony and Walt did Drive him bringing guys that they're gonna fit and the team and they're gonna get along together and and they're gonna drive to the 2004 season kicked off with great anticipation and throwing out the first pitch at Busch was well Busch please welcome [Applause] [Music] [Applause] while we begged the president's party the best was yet to come or this would be a memorable year first she had the season we had a lot of real strong stretches of play the fans really enjoyed we had some outstanding performances about pitchers and players [Applause] the Cardinals won 105 games the most in the major leagues and captured their division by 13 games st. Louis Cardinals congratulations to the best team in baseball so now you go into the postseason and we had a successful series against the Dodgers [Music] [Applause] the Cardinals beat Los Angeles and moved on to the a LCS where they hope to win their first ever pennant under the guidance of Lou Musa the championship series against Houston was a classic with both teams defending their home turf go up - and then get swept in Houston looked like we might have another major disappointment but there was a reason say Lewis added Jim Edmonds to the lineup and in Game six he made that reason perfectly clear [Music] [Applause] I was in the field and watch your name and celebrate after he hits the ball as all the shields came out through my body [Applause] he was great he had been having panic Russia ate in what he gets there I've heard longtime Busch Stadium whether its employees or her fans say they've never heard this ballpark Rock quite like it did when Jimmy had two home run there the Astros took a one run lead and put two men on base when Edmonds once again rode to the rescue and the next night they're behind early he makes a great catch now Brad Ausmus in left-center field you know make that catch we don't go to the World Series [Music] [Applause] that's sort of stopped Houston's momentum when the Cardinals kept him in their gun size Edmonds had rah Busch Stadium now it was time to get it rollin [Applause] [Music] you're in the fans you rep like that with uh Scotty hitting that home run was just softer Roger it was just like wow that I thought I'd be one of my fondest memories [Music] maybe down to a pinch for this season swinging a ground ball to the second baby cool back we're nationally champions for the first time since I've been there crowd was rumbling confetti coming down me that was seen never to be forgotten [Music] with 2005 came the realization that st. Louis would soon say goodbye to an old friend there's a lot of tradition there a lot a lot of people are gonna be sad to see it go this place is a sea of bread as usual sold out push them for the final opening day of this stadium system hopefully we can end it in style the stadium and then open the new one - and there's the countdown 81 games left determined to reach the World Series once again the Cardinals use the offseason to bolster their team the next day I think Cardinal fans are gonna fall in love with this little guy when I got there and I just want to give them everything I have they definitely appreciate good baseball and I just try to give that to them every single night and hopefully they appreciate that [Music] you're looking at the pile family feeling off number 57 which is water forest by Dale Kyle as this season moved along the new additions fit in quite nicely with the Cardinals team chemistry [Music] cornice Dalai Lama warming up again I [Music] look better in bed in bed every day I look myself in the mirror oh my god what a good-looking guy that I am [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] I don't better look at a knowledgeable drink I think the Luanne Jeter as he takes off number 45 there's only one person number 45 here in st. Louis and that's Bob Gibson five Cardinals went to the all-star game the most of any team in the majors among them Chris Carpenter who was having a phenomenal year he rings up another right now I don't know if there is a better pitcher in baseball than this guy Chris Carpenter I feel real strong my command has been real good I think that that is made me successful all year Chris would finish the year with a 21 in five ring and thus I award please welcome your car number 33 for the simplest car goals Larry Walker in this season's second half the Cardinals continue to set a target [Music] [Applause] when fans have been unbelievable once a player comes to st. Louis they don't really like to leave [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] what hitching has really been holding us up and they've been keeping us in the ball games for us it's getting ready to come huh Hall of Famer Lou Brock peeling off number 20 in our Bush beard countdown here at Busch Stadium Walker in the deep [Applause] [Music] then I say Hammond to the bench now with your Senate fill every day I'm done I had also surprised him anymore you do that every day [Music] you will win a goggle over first base very before many years over [Music] [Applause] you folks knew who was going to take down number six didn't you it's the man [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the Cardinals returned home where the 2005 League MVP closed out his fifth straight season with a 300 average 30 home runs and 100 RBIs Alberto loves what he's done in the first five years of his career has never been done by anyone in the history of baseball and we're talking about Babe Ruth Lou Gehrig Stan Musial we're talking about the elite players that have ever played this game and he'd add another milestone at work there was no place like home when on the season's final day the wizard peeled back the number and the son of the pitching coach provided the heroics [Applause] and it brought Busch Stadium as forth 100 wins season [Music] for the fifth time in the new millennium st. Louis wasn't postseason to play once again owners of the best record in baseball confidence was high in the clubhouse as the Cardinals saw to ratchet up their game against the st. Louis Cardinals we all know that postseason is is a lot of fun and it can make a break you and Reggie was about to break out big in the st. Louis Heat [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Tony gave me the green light and so it was one of those deals where if I wanted it it was my opportunity you know swing on the mound carpenter had nasty stuff and the cards prevailed eight to five in Game two Reggie continued his heroics [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] much player and you know his presence around here it really rubs off on a lot of guys and brings a positive attitude to the game mark Mulder backed Sanders up with six solid innings and the Cardinals defense held the Padres at bay [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] - the cards made sure to bring their booming bats out west especially the newest Reggie to be called mr. October [Music] he's a serious record Barbie number 9 and 10 is he something sweep the series we have to be in the League Championship Series the Cardinals face the familiar fall deja vu all over again these same two teams have been battling in the National League Central for the past decade battling once again they want to get to the World Series for the first time we want to get another chance dan said so I think both teams are even just like about everything else in this series Astros and Cardinals LCS here we go again and who else but Sanders would set the early pace [Music] [Applause] Carpenter was again superb through a then turn the game over to Jason Isringhausen [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] mint state for us you know especially with the home-field advantage they have so many horses over there that we're gonna be facing every single night so it was very big bucket away but st. Louis lost home-field advantage by dropping Game two and two straight defeats in Houston put them on the brink of elimination the verbal fat lady hasn't sung in giving up walls right now but guess what I mean if we're gonna be a champion we gotta come back the mission was clear send the series back to Bush we know what we have to do is we have to win we have to win ballgames you know and if we lose we go home Lance Berkman three-run blast in the seventh appeared to spell the Cardinals do especially with closer Brad Lidge on in the ninth but these Cardinals do not quit a walk to Edmonds brought pool holes to the plate what happened next defied belief [Music] it's like you see it going and you almost don't believe it you know because it's just there was just such a shock [Music] yeah when you play nine best way to get America was having a few times forces this year and it happen again the night I just want to get a good pitch to me out there and don't try to be a hero you know I just try get something going and hopefully don't make the lights out I just thank God you know they give me the strength to doing just about we going to Sun Louise you know and keep playing on our Oh steady there'd be at least one more game at Bush and the fans were prepared to accept their fate last game of the season maybe let's hope now [Music] the Cardinals are the best [Music] philosophy and when Houston won Game six it set the stage for a poignant farewell for not only had the Cardinals been eliminated it was now time to say goodbye to Bush and as you might expect Cardinals fans did so with class [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I'm 40 years old this place is 40 years old I grew up here next year right across the street Cardinals the no-sex guys the final game at Busch Stadium so many great memories in this ballpark tonight and we bid it do [Music] and so Busch Stadium is history but it will always be remembered for the great moments that took place there none more touching than the final day of the 2005 season when generations of families looked down upon four decades of past and present targets and said goodbye to a ballpark they had all come to love you know the players spent great times here in st. Louis to see the looks on both players faces when they came back into the building it was really a great experience not only for the players but also that the fans could share it with him welcome back the many players who have made st. Louis baseball the tradition that it is today [Applause] I love to come back to st. Louis you know in the Midwest has always been a great place for her her dedicated fans [Music] [Applause] it's an unbelievable thrill to see these people enjoy the game the way they do that's the most fun for me [Music] [Applause] these people would love to see you psych up it's not gonna scare the young kids [Applause] [Music] I think this stadium was just fine but everything improves in life I'm just happy that I was able to be a part of the Busch Stadium [Applause] the warm reception that I get when I come here and they're just it's kind of like chills going through you that people still remember you [Music] the roar of the crowd to cheer the crowd of those kind of things do not go down with the building they live on forever [Music] it's such a wonderful place and all of the memories I've just been special because you come here and it's uplifting because there's so many people here read on and they love their Cardinal I was manager in the first game here and of course I'm still here then so many memories with this ball club as well as years ago [Music] you know Bush is a special place because the people that come here they've had the opportunity to witness some very special things the players made them the fans selected them here once again are the top ten moments at Bush [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] I don't know about you dance for me the question has already been answered should we be here yes [Music] should we show others how to demonstrate our resolve yes and we shall do it here this evening [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] swagger the 1982 [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] September 18 Smith Clark's went in the right down the line [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] then so many great moments created here we spend so much of our lives here so to not see this place be here anymore is always going to be a very tough I want to be sad to see it go but I think the new ballpark is is gonna benefit the players and the fans it's time for a change and these fans this organization the history they deserve a new ballpark it's gonna be hard but I still can't believe that it's gonna be gone it's a very sad day but it's an exciting day because it's really the start of the final phase for something that's going to be very special for the franchise and a great benefit to our fans 3 2 [Music] it's emotional you know hate to see the whole place go but progress is progress you have to make way for bigger and better things I'm looking forward to the new ballpark it's like you're getting a brand new house where new memories will be made but the old ones will never be forgotten all those four step of the past will be buried there and the memories we take it on to the new stadium [Music] [Music]

Channel: Cardinals Baseball Classics

Views: 17,328

Rating: 4.9529409 out of 5

Keywords: mlb, baseball, mlb baseball, st. louis cardinals, busch stadium, busch stadium II, busch stadium millions of memories

Id: LuF3z55Dxn8

Length: 69min 38sec (4178 seconds)

Published: Tue Oct 09 2018