ST. LOUIS—The flock of Cardinals fans gathered at Busch Stadium for opening day.
“Go Cards!” replaced the common “hello” or “hi” for people greeting each other today, often accompanied with a hug, fist-bump or a high-five.
Cardinals’ opening day, an unofficial holiday in St. Louis, brings out passionate fans dressed in Cardinals gear from head to foot, the lifelong fans enjoying the tradition and the younger fans. All of which, are eager for the birds on the bat to smack the ball into the stands and add tallies to the win column.
“I think they’ll be better,” said Baker, a young cardinal fan from Arkansas. “Because they have more young talent.” Baker wasn’t the only one thrilled about the new direction.
“I feel great about the youth movement,” said Donna Freeman, St. Peters resident. “The number one thing that they’re doing right is redevelopment of players.”
Fans had mixed reaction on how manager Oli Marmol and Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations, John Mozeliak, were performing at their duties. Marmol enters his fourth season as the Cards' manager, winning over half of the games he’s managed thus far.
“They’re pretty good,” said Baker. “There’s nothing better that I could hope for.”
St. Louis City resident, Demetrius Dickson, was more critical of Marmol.
“I can’t say that on camera,” joked Dickson. “But, I got to stick with him because it’s not my decision obviously, you know. So we’ll see how this season plays out because if he has a good year, everybody is going to say he’s a genius. You know how it is.”
Tim Walker, a fan from Jefferson County, also wished for someone else managing the redbirds.
“I’d rather have Yadi or Pujols being the manager,” said Walker. “Mo, he’s like every other job, he’s got a boss and he does what he’s told.”
“I think Mozeliak has had his run,” said Donna Freeman, a Cardinals fan from St. Peters. “And I’m really looking forward to the new person coming in, Bloom, and we’ll see how that goes.”
After missing the post-season for two years, Cardinals fans hope the team is as hungry as they are for this year.
“Always excited for the season, always skeptical,” said Walker. “You know, thinking we’re going to win the world series but only time will tell.”
“I believe in them,” added Liam, a young fan from St. Louis county.
The fans were showing up for more than just the outcome on the scoreboard.
“It’s everything, it’s the atmosphere, it’s the people here with my friends, all the strangers that we’re all on the same base right now, you know? The food, being outside, the warm weather. Every box you think of is going to get checked off,” said Dickson. “Hoping we can start a dynasty, I’m saying it first!”
