ST. LOUIS — The bitter cold didn't stop Cardinals fans from meeting their favorite Redbirds past and present. The annual St. Louis Cardinals Winter Warm-Up is taking place during the coldest weekend of the season.
Fans from near and far have descended on Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village.
Faye Licata remembered growing up in southern Illinois and how her parents would listen to Jack Buck on the radio, teaching her about baseball.
"It was a big event for us to get to come to one game a year," Licata said. "To travel from Southern Illinois. My dad taught me how to keep score. I just loved baseball. My parents aren't here anymore but it helps connect me with them in a way."
Licata's friend Laura McCune adding to her jersey of 175 autographs on Sunday. A piece of memorability she started 21 years ago thanks to former Cardinals icon Al Hrabosky.
"I was over at his bar across the street when he opened it," McCune said while holding up the jersey. "He signed it. That's when I started getting the signatures on it. I think that was in 2002 or 2003."
Parents were also helping the next generation find their favorite Redbird and Cardinals legends like Yadier Molina.
When asked why 10-year-old Mason Busch from Iowa likes Molina so much, Busch said, "Because I just like the way he plays and how good he is at catching."
The fourth grader coming to the Winter Warm-Up with his father, uncle, and cousin from Iowa, saying they had 16 inches of snow at home. So, the weather in St. Louis was too bad.
Many other fans were willing to risk it out in the cold temperatures to see some of the noteworthy current players. Cardinals Nation discussing the pitching challenges from last year when they ranked 23rd in MLB with their approximately 4.5 average ERA.
During a news conference on Sunday, lefty Matthew Liberatore emphasized that "endurance is huge." The clutch pitcher's debut season in 2022 evolved into three wins and six losses during the 2023 season.
"There's been a lot of aerobic focus, this offseason, conditioning focus," Liberatore said. "Then, just regular muscular endurance. Making sure I can throw 100 pitches and maintain that velocity."
Besides fastballs, some "heaters" were needed for one of the chilliest warm-ups in recent memory.
"I wanted to wear this jacket with layers underneath, so I could take this off and put it in my bag," Pat Wilber, a Winter Warm-Up attendee from Manchester said. "To be honest with you, I haven't been able to take it off all day because it's been so cold."
Fans were dreaming of warmer days at Busch Stadium. Sunday marked 81 days from Opening Day.
The Winter Warm-Up wraps up on Monday. You can buy your admission and autograph session tickets on the Cardinals website by clicking here.
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