Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Friday night we had group tickets to the Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. This is the first time we have been to a game in the "new" stadium since it opened. We were eager to see it. There is a view of the Arch and a riverfront hotel past the outfield.

Our seats were on the third base side, up on the third level. They were easy to get to, and we took the Metro train to and from the ball park. A sea of more than 42,000 red-clad fans braved the first chilly weather of fall to see the Cards play the Florida Marlins. Since we are all but out of contention for any post-season play, this was a crowd that came for the love of the game.

The man in the hat works at the Uni- versity, and it was a group of UMSL alumni that we were with. He seems to know everyone and worked the section going from empty seat to empty seat. We were a little shocked at the refreshment prices; $5 for a soda or a bottle of water, $6 for beer, so we settled for cups of coffee for $2.50. Restrooms are plentiful and clean. The escalators work. Although we miss the symmetry of the old stadium, this is a lovely ball park. The photos are from my cell phone since we wanted to travel light. That's why there is less detail than usual.

The game was scoreless until the 8th inning. Pujols got a double and then scored on a hit by the next batter. But the Marlins tied it in the top of the 9th. We were getting cold so we left at the end of the 9th for our ride home on Metro. We got back to the house in time to see Florida win it, 4-1, in the 11th. But it was still a memorable outing.