Redbird Roost

One of the highlights of summer is a trip back to St. Louis to see the Cardinals at Busch Stadium each year. Plans are set early in the year when MLB schedules are released and even though tickets are difficult to come by lately, it's always a good time hangin' out at the ballpark with my brother, Bill who lives in St Peters. Even in the unfortunate and occational blowout (like our July '06 series games with the Braves) we always make the best of it.

I never saw at game at Sportsman's Park but I've heard lots of stories. My first image of it was a scale model of the ballpark at the Cardinal's Hall of Fame. I remember marveling at the deep center field and the unusual angles of the outfield fences. It was so different than the post-modern Busch Memorial.

Auggie Busch bought the team and renamed the ballpark, Busch Stadium in 1953, after the National League turned down his first choice, Budweiser Stadium. In 1955 he completed a renovation which increased the seating capacity.

The last games of Busch Stadium I were played during April, 1966 as construction was nearing completion of the new Bucsh Stadium downtown. In a ceremony to mark the transition, home plate was removed from the infield and airlifted by helicopter from the Grand Avenue ballpark to the new Busch, which officially opened as Civic Center Stadium.

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