Above: The Cardinals take on the Minnesota Twins during a spring game in Jupiter, Fla. Opposite Page: Left, former Cardinal great Lou Brock brings out the lineup card prior to a game with the Baltimore Orioles. Right, former Cardinal great Albert Pujols chats with Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins.
Play ball!
It doesn’t matter that the games don’t count; a trip to Jupiter, Fla., to watch the St. Louis Cardinals get ready for the season is worth it. “I really liked the whole experience,” says Angie Gunnell, who made the trip last year. “The stadium is so intimate compared to being at Busch Stadium — or any other stadium for that matter. I just like the intimacy of the smaller stadium and smaller audience. “And I love looking at the people, that’s part of it.” Gunnell enjoyed the experience with Darrell Davis. “You can talk to the players; they’re great, and it’s more of a relaxed atmosphere,” Davis says. “You see a lot of the ex-ball players, like Bob Gibson and Lou Brock, wearing their uniforms. They both look like they can still play. “And all the guys are really good with kids. They talk to them, take pictures with them, sign autographs, the whole deal. That doesn’t happen during the regular season. It’s everything I expected and then some.” Davis is 56. How long has he been a Cardinals fan? “Fifty-six years,” he says. “My grandfather [Arthur Collins] was a huge baseball fan. I can remember when I was really young, I’d go to their house to spend the night during the summer, and he had that radio on, listening to Jack Buck
St. Louis Cardinals: Pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 19 in Jupiter, Fla. First spring training game: March 5 vs. Florida Marlins Regular-season opener: April 6 at Milwaukee Brewers Kansas City Royals: Pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 14 in Surprise, Ariz. First spring training game: March 4 vs. Texas Rangers Regular-season opener: April 6 at Los Angeles Angels
98 | March/April 2012