A pre-game ceremony that
showcases "Cardinal Nation," honors the team's Hall of Famers, pays tribute to
Stan Musial on receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom and includes a first
pitch by Cardinals retired center fielder Jim Edmonds will punctuate a day of
activities celebrating the annual return of baseball to St. Louis on Thursday,
March 31st. The Cardinals will take on the San Diego Padres in a 3:15 p.m. game.
Following is a schedule of official activities and information to help
baseballs' best fans enjoy what has become an unofficial holiday for Cardinal
Nation.
We Are Cardinal Nation...and this
is Our Opening Day
We Are Cardinal Nation
- It is the theme of the 2011 season and
the focus of the home opener this year. No one day better captures the sheer
joy, eternal hope and unity that come from being part of Cardinal Nation than
Opening Day. Opening Day 2011 is dedicated the unique connection between fan and
team that few other professional franchises can claim.
Cardinal Nation is not defined by traditional
geographical boundaries - it is a community whose traditions are passed
down from generation to generation. Its representatives are the likes of
Hornsby, Stan the Man, Gibby and Albert. It is the 3 million in the stands and
millions at home. It is 43 Hall of Famers, 10 World Championships and counting.
It is the first team this side of the Mississippi – the best fans this side of
anywhere. We are all part of Cardinal Nation and this is our Opening
Day.
Schedule
11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m Cardinals Official Opening Day Pre-Game
Pep Rally, sponsored by Hardee's: The
Cardinals will host a pre-game pep rally located in the Ballpark Village Lot,
located directly across from Busch Stadium, at the corner of Clark Street and
South Broadway. Local 80s cover band Trixie Delight will perform from 11.30 a.m.
to 1.30 p.m.
Cardinals Alumni, Danny Cox
and John Mabry, will be signing autographs and 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, the will receive a complimentary
Opening Day t-shirt. Other sponsors include O'Charleys, Papa John's, Scotts, Bad
Boy Mowers, Krispy Kreme, The Muny, the Tan Co., Fritz's Frozen Custard, Pure
Power, Vatterott, the Qdoba Street Team and Dunkin' Donuts. For more
information, visit cardinals.com/peprally
1:15 p.m. Gates open
Busch Magnet Schedule Day:
All fans ages 21 and over will receive a
magnet with the 2011 Cardinals schedule, compliments of Busch Beer.
2:30 p.m. Pre-game ceremonies begin with an appearance by the famed
Budweiser Clydesdales. Nine-year-old Alex will fulfill a wish thanks to
Cardinals Care and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri by riding with the
Budweiser team throughout the festivities.
Introduce Missouri Governor
Jeremiah "Jay" Nixon, St.
Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and St.
Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay
Cardinals Hall-of-Famers
and the 2011 Cardinals will be
introduced via a Ford Motorcade around the warning track.
Introduce former Cardinals Players Andy Benes,
Scott Cooper, Tom Henke, TJ Mathews, Kerry Robinson, Ted Savage and Mike
Shannon.
American Bald Eagle flight,
courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis
Color Guard - The
U.S. Army St. Louis Recruiting Company
A moment of silence for the
victims of the earthquake in Japan and Pacific tsunami.
A moment of silence to
former Cardinals hitting coach Mitchell Page, former Cardinals shortstop
Marty Marion and former Cardinals owner Andrew Baur.
Nikko Smith, singer-songwriter and star of American Idol, will sing
the Star-Spangled Banner.
U.S. Marine Corps Flyover - C-130 Transports
Ceremonial First
Pitch - Jim Edmonds
3:15 p.m. Game Time
Radio Coverage
Fans can tune into KMOX (1120 AM) or one of the
117 stations in the Cardinals Radio Network to hear Mike Shannon &
John Rooney call the game. The expanded pre-game show starts at 1:30pm on
opening day. Shannon is celebrating his 40th
season and John Rooney is celebrating his 6th season behind the microphone for
the Cardinals.
Watching on TV
Fans can watch the game and
pre-game ceremony in High Definition on FOX Sports Midwest.
FOX SPORTS MIDWEST CARDINALS
OPENING DAY TV SCHEDULE
FOX
Sports Midwest’s 18th season of St. Louis Cardinals telecasts, its
first as the team’s exclusive television partner, kicks off with more than 12
hours of Cardinals programming on opening day. Live coverage from Busch starts
at 2 p.m. with the Cardinals Live pregame show, which includes the opening day
ceremonies. The opening day game telecast of the Cardinals and San Diego Padres
begins at 3 p.m. with first pitch scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Fans that can’t watch
the game live in the afternoon can catch a replay of the pregame, game and
postgame in prime time.
FOX Sports Midwest’s schedule for
opening day (times Central):
11
a.m. Cardinals Classics -
Best Games of 2010
11
a.m. April 9,
2010 at Milwaukee: Stavinoha’s Shot
11:30
a.m. April 5, 2010 at Cincinnati: Opening Day
Power
12
p.m. June 4,
2010 vs. Milwaukee: Waino is Bueno
12:30 p.m. April
12, 2010 vs. Houston: Grand Opening
1
p.m.
Aug. 10, 2010 at Cincinnati: The Brawl
1:30
p.m. Cardinals Season Preview
2
p.m. Cardinals Live
pregame show
Hosted by Pat Parris, Jim Hayes and Cal Eldred.
On-field ceremonies will be shown live at 2:35 p.m.
3
p.m. Padres at
Cardinals game telecast
Dan McLaughlin, Al Hrabosky and Rick Horton.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:15 p.m.
6
p.m. Cardinals Live
postgame show
7
p.m. Replay:
Cardinals Live pregame show
8
p.m. Replay: Padres
at Cardinals
11
p.m. Replay: Cardinals Live
postgame show