Thursday was Opening Day at Busch Stadium, and the St. Louis Cardinals have different expectations than in many past years. The club’s focus is more on developing young talent than fighting for a playoff spot.
The Cardinals started the season last year with second-year ace Sonny Gray on the mound. With Gray and other veterans gone following offseason trades, fans will see younger players fighting to form the core of the next great Cardinals team.
That suits Mike Pelz just fine. He’s a lifelong fan who drove from Asheville, North Carolina, for his first opening day.
“I know that the 25 players out there and the coaching staff are gonna give 100%,” he said. “Every one of those players that are in the Hall of Fame is a young player one time. Let’s see what they can do.”
That’s the attitude team owners hope will boost ticket sales this year after three seasons with declining attendance.
Jo Ann Howard attended her second Opening Day and said it feels different than any other game.
““Just the excitement of a new season, the hopes of a new season,” she said. “Just the atmosphere, the excitement, seeing the Clydesdales, seeing the players come out on the field. It’s always a different vibe for Opening Day.”
This year’s Opening Day saw at least one record broken. The highest temperature for the first pitch of a full season had been 73 degrees in 1999. At gametime this year, it was 91 degrees.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Chiquita Mewman, of Northwoods, shows off her St. Louis Cardinals-themed nails during MLB Opening Day festivities on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals fans take photos in front of a giant replica of the World Series trophy during MLB Opening Day festivities on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Khy’li Lambert, 4, has her photo made at a replica of the World Series trophy during MLB Opening Day festivities on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Diane Miller, of Ste. Genevieve, left, raises her arms during MLB Opening Day festivities at Ballpark Village.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Trevor McCullough, of St. Ann, scarfs down a hot dog before the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays for MLB Opening Day on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Maxwell Bulte-Trail, the St. Louis Cardinals’ 5 1/2-month-old fan, celebrates his first MLB Opening Day before the Birds take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Elijah Walljasper, center, and his wife Elizabeth Walljasper, both of Canton, Ill., look at the Clydesdales during MLB Opening Day festivities outside of Busch Stadium on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Anheuser Busch staff prepare the Clydesdales before their appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals’ MLB Opening Day festivities.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Mickey McPherson, of Swansea, left, raises her arms during MLB Opening Day festivities at Ballpark Village on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Ike Watson, of Burlington, Ia., sports a St. Louis Cardinals bow tie during MLB Opening Day festivities on Thursday in downtown St. Louis. Watson and his wife used to live in Rolla before moving to Iowa, but has not missed an Opening Day since.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Fans crowd into Busch Stadium’s right field entrance before the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Budweiser Clydesdales trot to “Here Comes the King” before the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Budweiser Clydesdales trot to “Here Comes the King” before the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
The American flag flies during the National Anthem as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals’ infielder JJ Wetherholt (26) high-fives teammates as he’s introduced before taking on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
A St. Louis Cardinals fan looks towards the Gateway Arch as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II (#11) watches as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals fans watch the team from the One Cardinal Way apartment complex as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Tampa Bay Rays players watch the team take on the St. Louis Cardinals during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Fortes (#40) watches as the team takes on the St. Louis Cardinals during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday.
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St. Louis Public Radio
A St. Louis Cardinals fan writes down the starting lineup as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Rays.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (#32) launches the ball as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Rays.
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St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera (#48) slides past Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero (#13) and into third base during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Lisa Schrock, of Kirkwood, right, and Marcy Rodriguez, second from right, cheer as the St. Louis Cardinals are introduced before taking on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium.
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St. Louis Public Radio
Thousands of fans watch as the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Tampa Bay Rays during MLB Opening Day at Busch Stadium on Thursday in downtown St. Louis.