The following information was released by the St. Louis Cardinals.
A pre-game ceremony that officially welcomes home the reigning World Champions will punctuate a day of activities celebrating the annual return of baseball to St. Louis on Friday, April 13th. The Cardinals will take on the Chicago Cubs in a 2:15 p.m. game. Following is a schedule of official activities, and information to help baseball’s best fans enjoy what has become an unofficial holiday for Cardinal Nation.
Opening Day Ceremony Celebrates World Champions
While Opening Day in St. Louis is always special, this year promises to be extraordinary. Fans won’t want to miss a single minute of the opening ceremony that will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the Budweiser Clydesdales and will pay tribute to the 2011 World Championship team described as the greatest comeback team in the history of baseball.
The ceremony will feature all four of the team’s Commissioner’s Trophies, as well as representatives of each of those World Championship teams (’67, ’82, ’06 & ’11). The ceremony will culminate with the formal raising of the 2011 World Championship Banner by the family of U.S. Army Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. of Catawissa Missouri. Specialist White, who was serving his country in Operation Enduring Freedom, died April 3 in the Khost Province of Afghanistan when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. Specialist White was an avid Cardinals fan who was home on leave for Game 7 of the World Series last October and was planning to attend Opening Day with his family before he was killed. Specialist Whites’ mother Paula, father Jeff and brothers Michael and Kyle will raise the championship banner.
10:00 a.m. – 1 p.m. Cardinals Official Opening Day Pre-Game Pep Rally, sponsored by Hardee’s: The Cardinals will host a pre-game pep rally in the Ballpark Village Lot, located directly across from Busch Stadium, at the corner of Clark Street and South Broadway. Local rock band Trixie Delight will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Fredbird and Team Fredbird will be on hand to give away Opening Day tickets, autographed items and other Cardinals prizes. Fans can stop by the Hardee’s Photo Booth, where they can get their Opening Day picture taken for free and visit the Hardee’s Mobile Diner where, with the purchase of a Combo Meal, they will receive a complimentary Opening Day t-shirt. Other sponsors include: Budweiser, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Air Force, Dunkin Donuts, Energizer, First National Bank, Fox Theater, Fox Sports Midwest, Girl Scouts, Krispy Kreme, Lumiere/River City, MO Secretary of State, Muny, Papa John’s, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Tan Company and Qdoba
11:45 a.m. Gates open
Busch Magnet Schedule Day: All fans with a ticket ages 21 and over will receive a magnet with the 2012 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Busch Beer.
1:30 p.m. Pre-game ceremonies begin with an appearance by the famed Budweiser Clydesdales.
Introduce Missouri Governor Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay
Introduce Fredbird & Team Fredbird.
Cardinals Hall-of-Famers will be introduced via a Ford Motorcade around the warning track, led by the 2013 Ford Escape.
Video Tribute to the 2011 World Champions
Introduce representatives of the last four World Championships who will escort in the Cardinals last four World Championship trophies….Mike Shannon (’67), Tommy Herr (’82), David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds (’06) and Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan (’11)
Introduce the reigning World Champion St. Louis Cardinals via Ford Motorcade (2012 Ford Platinum F-150s and 2012 Ford Raptor F-150s)
The family of U.S. Army Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. will raise the 2011 World Championship Banner in Leftfield.
Introduce the Chicago Cubs and the starting lineups
American Bald Eagle flight, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis
Color Guard – The U.S. Marine Corps
A moment of silence to former Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch
Shannon Magrane, singer and Season 11 contestant on American Idol, will sing the Star-Spangled Banner.
U.S. Air Force Flyover – Two F-16s
Ceremonial First Pitch
2:15 p.m. Game Time
Schedule – Friday, April 13 on FOX Sports Midwest
11 a.m. Cardinals Legends: Hall of Fame Roundtable
11:30 a.m. Cardinals Legends: Redbird Roundtable
12 p.m. Cardinals Legends: A September to Remember
12:30 p.m. Cardinals Live pregame show (Live)
1:30-2:15 p.m. Home Opener ceremonies (Live – parade also to be streamed at FOXSportsMidwest.com)
2:15 p.m. Cubs at Cardinals (Live)
5 p.m. Cardinals Live postgame show (Live)
7 p.m. Replay of Cubs-Cardinals
10 p.m. Replay of Cardinals Live postgame show
The Cards open 5-2, on the road.
The Memphis Redbirds also have opened on the road but are 1-6. After hitting everything during spring training, Bryan Anderson has begun 0 for 22, while Sanchez and Miller have high ERAs. Once the Redbirds get some home cooking, they will improve.
FYI, the Cardinals will not receive their World Series rings on Opening Day. That ceremony will be held prior to Saturday’s game.
Will the ceremonies be televised on Fox Sports Midwest? I will have to check my dvr when I get home.
Yes. Pre-game starts at 12:30.
Cardinals Legends ahead at 11 A.M. with two roundtables and a 30 minute recap of World Series Game 6 at noon.
Niiice. I will set my DVR, may have to make some room for 8+ hrs
Did the yankees ever get thier trophy fixed that George Costanza drug around the parking lot?
Feel good story and doesn’t seem staged
http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/msn/jeremy_guthrie_tweets_out_invite_to_play_catch_tosses_ball_around_on_coors_field_with_five_time_cancer_survivor/10531034