ST. LOUIS — It has been a long road for Jake Burger to hear his name announced in a Major League game over the Busch Stadium speakers.
The St. Louis kid’s journey from CBC High School to Missouri State University to the Chicago White Sox in the Majors and eventually an opening day start for the Miami Marlins in his hometown of St. Louis, has not been easy.
Injuries hampered the start to Burger’s career, including two tears of his Achilles tendon.
But this weekend, Burger came back home as an established big leaguer. And he wrote an extra special chapter in his story.
“I was texting my dad last night just thinking about the road it’s taken to get to this point. And there’s a few times in your career where you have moments like this and say, ‘This is really where I'm at,'" Burger said.
Burger had an entire section of family on hand for his weekend at Busch, including his grandparents Terry and Mary Cook. This was the first time they had been able to see him play in the Major Leagues.
“It's really a dream come true to be here and see him. For both of us. We watch on TV all the time. We have the MLB subscription, and that’s ok. But seeing him live is really good," Terry Cook said.
And there was no conflict on who this St. Louis family was rooting for this weekend.
“Oh yeah, always Marlins. Got to be Marlins. I had a lot of White Sox stuff, but threw that in the trash," Cook laughed.
Back in the day, grandpa was a pretty good player of his own, but he’s quick to shoot down talent comparisons to his major league grandson.
“Not like Jake, that’s for sure," Cook said of his playing career, which stretched into the armed services. "Actually had a try out at the old Busch Stadium when I was in high school. I could throw and run real good, but I couldn’t hit very good.”
On Thursday for opening day in St. Louis, it was only fitting that for his grandparents' first game, Jake went deep. Not once … but twice.
“You see guys like Scott Rolen running around the bases like that … Matt Holliday … Skip (Schumaker) hit a couple, too. It’s just a surreal experience, and even though obviously Cardinals fans are rooting for the Cardinals, it felt like a lot of them were supporting me from afar. So just so thankful for all my friends and family that came out," Burger said.
“As a matter of fact, he gave me the first ball that went into the bullpen. It’s got a label on it and the whole deal," Cook said.
And for grandpa and grandson, it's a baseball weekend they'll never forget.
“He’s (Jake's grandpa is) my role model. I look up to him so much, and he’s taught me so much about life. Not just baseball, but life in general. How to treat other people and how to go about your business every single day and how to have a positive outlook on every single bit of adversity you go through," Burger said.
“It's (the weekend is) going to be a lasting impression that’s for sure. And I just hope he keeps going and stay healthy," Cook said.
Want more local sports delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for the 5 On Your Side Sports Plus newsletter.