Busch Stadium

(mostly from Ballparks.com)

My Demolition Photos

Tenant: St. Louis Cardinals (NL)
Opened: May 12, 1966
Surface: Grass (1966 to 1969); artificial (1970 to 1995); grass (1996 to date).
Capacity: 49,676 (baseball only)

Architect: Sverdrup & Parcel and Associates; Edward Durell Stone (design collaborator); Schwarz & Van Hoefen, Associated
Construction: n/a
Owner: St. Louis Cardinals
Cost: n/a

Location: Left field (E), Broadway, Interstate 70, Gateway Arch, and Mississippi River; third base (N), Walnut Street; first base (W), Seventh Street and 300 Stadium Plaza; right field (S), Spruce Street; Stadium Plaza surrounds the park.

Dimensions: Foul lines: 330; power alleys: 386 (1966), 376 (1973), 386 (1977), 383 (July 1983), 375 (1992), 372 (1996/97); center field: 414 (1966), 410 (1971), 414 (1972), 404 (1973), 414 (1977), 402 (1992); backstop: 64 (Vin Scully’s unofficial measurement during 1985 World Series showed this to be 50 rather than 64); foul territory: large.

Fences: Left and right fields: 10.5 (padded concrete), 8 (padded canvas, 1992); center field: 10.5 (padded concrete, 1966), 8 (wood, 1973), 10.5 (padded concrete, 1977), 8 (padded canvas, 1992).

Located near the banks of the Mississippi River and the majestic Gateway Arch (and across the street from the National Bowling Hall of Fame), the ballpark is actually the second Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The original was known as Sportsman’s Park until August Busch purchased it from the St. Louis Browns in 1953 and changed the name to Busch Stadium. It served as the home of the Cardinals until the new Busch Stadium was opened, as the centerpiece of a downtown revitalization project. Five World Series have been played at Busch. The Cardinals won the Series in 1967 and 1982 but lost in 1968, 1985, and 1987.

Trivia:

• From 1970 to 1976 the entire field was artificial turf, except for the part of the infield that is normally dirt on a grass field. In 1977 this was carpeted except for the sliding pits. This is one of only two instances where there was a full dirt infield with an otherwise fully artificial field, the other being Candlestick Park in 1971.
• Ninety-six open arches surround the field just below the roof.
• From 1966 to 1982, right field scoreboard lights showed a cardinal in flight whenever a Cardinal hit a home run; the same show was put on every time Lou Brock set a new base-stealing record.
• Home plate transplanted from old Busch Stadium at opener on May 12, 1966.
• Next to the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River; fans can see the Arch from the top deck in right field.
• Statue of "Stan the Man" Musial outside the stadium was unveiled in 1968.
• In 1987 every seat was replaced, and all of them were painted red.
• At league direction, the site designated for any Chicago Cubs playoff or World Series home games from 1986 until 1988, when Wrigley Field finally installed lights.
• "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is played on the organ during the seventh-inning stretch and the Anheuser-Busch "King of Beers" theme song is now played at the end of the seventh inning.
• Small sections of bleachers in the outfield. Part of the left field bleachers were taken out in 1996 to accommodate a new bullpen for the Cardinals as well as a family pavilion and picnic area. The visitor's bullpen was hidden behind the left field wall.
• In 1997, a 17' high x 270' wide manually operated scoreboard was built in center field and the visitors bullpen was moved to right field.
• Busch Stadium Firsts:
  • Game - May 12, 1966 (Cards defeat Atlanta, 4-3)
  • Batter - Felipe Alou
  • Hit - Jerry Buchek
  • Double - Gary Geiger
  • Triple - Julian Javier
  • Home run - Felipe Alou
  • Grand slam - Curt Flood
  • Stolen base - Lou Brock
  • Victory - Don Dennis
  • Save - Nelson Briles

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