This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Oct. 20, 2011 - Howdy, Texas Rangers fans. Welcome to St. Louis, the capital of Cardinal Nation. And an especially big welcome now that the Cardinals have the first game of the World Series in the win column. In the spirit of Midwestern hospitality, we have compiled some tips for those of you who will be visiting Busch -- spelled with a "c" -- Stadium for the first time.
-- First off, the St. Louis Busch family dynasty is as different from the Texas Bush dynasty as, well, beer is from politics. Our Busches brewed beer and dabbled in baseball, though they don't do either anymore. The corporate types running Anheuser-Busch sold the team in 1996. Then in 2008, the whole dang brewery was acquired in a hostile takeover by InBev, the Belgian-Brazilian megacompany. But the stadium is still named Busch -- with a "c'' -- because of a deal that's good through 2025. And also because we'd call it Busch no matter what the marquee said.
-- If you're going to World Series Game 1 on Wednesday, get to the stadium early. This is no joke. Security will be increased because of visiting dignitaries including First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, who will be on hand as part of Major League Baseball's "Welcome Back Veterans" program. The gates will open at 4 p.m., with ceremonies beginning at 6:20 p.m. No bottles or coolers will be allowed; you can't bring in to the stadium anything that you couldn't take on a plane. Let the rules of the Transportation Security Administration be your guide.
-- According to local forecasters, the weather at game time Wednesday will be breezy, chilly and damp. But in general, you will find the Red October climate in St. Louis to be cool and warm, hot and cold, wet and dry -- so, pack accordingly.
-- You'll probably notice a hitch of majestic horses pulling an old-fashioned beer wagon around the stadium warning track during the opening ceremonies. These creatures will get as much applause as any human introduced during the pre-game hoo-hah, with the exception of Cardinals great Stan "The Man" Musial (see item below). These aren't just any ole rodeo horsies. They are the Budweiser Clydesdales -- spelled with a capital C -- the iconic trademark of that brewery mentioned above. They are also the biggest, baddest draft horses on the planet, and we would elect them president if they ran for office.
-- If Stan The Man does make an appearance, please join us in our hootin' and hollerin' for No. 6, one of the finest gentlemen to ever play the game of baseball. Stan, who will be 91 in November, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama earlier this year.
-- For the record, it is perfectly acceptable to pronounce the state's name as Miz-er-ee or Miz-er-ah, but this is NOT St. Looey.
-- Bring your wallets; do your part. According to the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association's "IMPLAN econometric model," the economic impact of four World Series home games would be $24.4 million on this region, making the overall postseason worth about $52 million. We're not sure what an "IMPLAN econometric model" is, but we figure it has something to do with $10 beer at the stadium. And that's spelled Busch - with a "c." (Check out the coverage the city is getting on MLB.com: "City of St. Louis matches Cards with comeback")
-- While you're in town, please don't shoot any squirrels. The marketing folks have spent long hours dreaming up those T-shirts and caps featuring the bushy-tailed varmint that skittered across the field during the Division Series.
-- About the local grub: We barbecue pigs not cows in these parts, and our favorite cut is the pork "steak," which is often pronounced "park steak." We'd suggest that you try a "park" plate (pulled or ribs) at Pappy's Smokehouse, 3106 Olive St., before the game. But the place is usually so packed you will have to get in line now. For "park steak" head over to the equally acclaimed 17th Street Bar & Grill at 1711 W. Highway 50 in O'Fallon, Ill.
-- Speaking of food, today's goofy World Series wager of the day is courtesy U.S. Reps. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., and Joe Barton, R-Texas. If the Rangers win, Clay will give Barton's staff a case of Budweiser and deep dish pizza from the St. Louis pizzeria, Pi, which President Obama also happens to favor. If the Cards win, Barton will fork over barbecue brisket from the Spring Creek Barbeque in Arlington, Texas, and a case of Lone Star beer. Big deal. We were hoping someone would have to ride a mechanical bull.
-- While seated in the stadium you can't help but notice the magnificent Gateway Arch. The nation's monument to western expansion is 630 feet of stainless steel beauty. It is 75 feet taller than the Washington Monument and more than twice the height of the Statue of Liberty. And from the observation windows at the top on a really, really, really clear day you will still not be able to see Texas.
-- Cardinal Nation is a neighborly state of mind, but should you wander into a local watering hole don't bet the folks in No. 5 jerseys that Albert Pujols will be wearing a Cubs uniform next season.
-- To date, the Cardinals have won the World Series 10 times, hence the slogan "11 in 2011." This is still a relatively new slogan that we have just recently adopted because the Cardinals -- also known as Comeback Cards, Cardiac Cards and Wild Cards -- were 10.5 games out of the National League's wild card race at the end of August. If Redbird fans seem like the happiest baseball fans you've ever met, it's because we are.
