THE BALLPARK - I began to get jazzed about my visit to the third iteration of Busch Stadium when I spied it from high atop the St. Louis Gateway Arch. The ballpark gleamed in the sun as I looked down on it hours before game time.
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| Busch Stadium from the Gateway Arch |
Folks in St. Louis call Busch Stadium and its environs "Baseball Heaven," and I can understand why. The picturesque stadium is nestled in the city's downtown and is surrounded by Ballpark Village - an area of fan-friendly shops, bars and restaurants that includes great public spaces to take in the festive atmosphere on game day. Ballpark Village is home to the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Excellent exhibits introduce you to Cardinal greats and to the rich history of baseball in St. Louis. The museum has an admission fee, but it's worth the money.
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| Hanging out at Ballpark Village |
Once inside Busch Stadium, I was struck by its classic design and appealing setting. The upper deck's roof and its supporting beams mimic the look of Sportsman's Park, which was the long-ago home of the Cardinals and the St Louis Browns of the American League (who later became the Baltimore Orioles). Busch Stadium offers great views of the iconic Gateway Arch beyond center field. The residents of a shiny apartment building that rises from Ballpark Village fly Cardinals flags from their balconies, where they watch the game from the comfort of home. It reminds me of the rooftop bleachers that once sprang up on buildings that overlooked old ballparks like Connie Mack Stadium and Wrigley Field. And there are actual rooftop bleachers near Busch Stadium atop a sports bar that sits just beyond left field.
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| The Gateway Arch from Bush Stadium |
The view from our seats was great, and everything we needed was conveniently located. We could even have food delivered to our seats when ordered by a mobile app. The only thing I didn't care for was the stadium's cave-like concourse. Unlike other ballparks of its age, Busch Stadium does not feature an open concourse that offers you a view of the field. You can't keep tabs on the action while you wander in search of a hotdog or beer.
Fans we encountered were friendly and focused on the game. As a group, they seem to have a high baseball IQ. There's a lot of pride in the organization and repeated references to the "Cardinals Way," which has a bit of an arrogant ring to it. For instance, the scorecards for sale in the stadium include a guide for scoring the game "the Cardinals Way" - a presumably improved system for keeping track of the action.
The Cardinals' mascot - Red Bird - is above average, but he's no Phanatic.
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| Field view from our seats |
THE GAME - Unfortunately for all the Cardinals fans around us, their team fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3. The highlight of the game was a grand slam by Diamondbacks DH Pavin Smith in the top of the seventh inning.
This was the first game Dorry and I attended since a pitch clock has been added by Major League Baseball. We both liked the way that it sped up the pace of the game. Our game was played in a crisp 2 hours and 20 minutes, but it did not feel rushed.
In my opinion, Busch Stadium is one of the better modern "retro-style" ballparks out there. I give it a triple on my scorecard!
OVERALL SCORE - ⚾⚾⚾
