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Bernie Miklasz: Head of state came
home to say goodbye
Jack Buck came home Thursday. Thousands of admirers marched around his casket,
many with tears in their eyes, all with love in their hearts.
And the home plate area of Busch Stadium was the ideal spot for this ceremony.
Baseball and the concept of coming home is a popular, far-reaching metaphor
among baseball essayists and poets.
A. Bartlett Giamatti, the late baseball commissioner, wrote of the hazards
encountered by the runner who must navigate his way around the bases to complete
a safe journey home.
"The base runner is alone," Giamatti wrote. "And as the heroes of
romance beginning with Odysseus know, the route is full of turnings, wanderings,
danger . . . but when he comes home, he is hugged and celebrated and, for a
moment, rejoins his family."
The beloved Buck made it home on a steamy day, and we celebrated his life in
classic St. Louis style. He rejoined both of his families: the Bucks and the
Cardinals.
Buck used the radio booth as his seat of power, but it was more like a throne.
No mere broadcaster, he. Thursday's observance was reminiscent of that normally
reserved for political dignitaries or royalty.
"He's on another tier," center fielder Jim Edmonds said. "It's
like the president, the pope, whatever you want to call it. It's like losing
somebody like that."
And as the head of state for Cardinal Nation, Buck was given an appropriate
farewell. Flags were set at half-mast around town. Ten thousand fans came to the
ballpark early to pay respects near his closed casket. Mourners had started
lining up late Wednesday night, forming a circle of humanity that wrapped
completely around Busch Stadium.
Later, 15,000 fans sat under a broiling sun as Buck was eulogized in a service
that featured St. Louis icons Stan Musial, Lou Brock, Mike Shannon and Dan
Dierdorf. The classy, strong-willed Joe Buck put aside his grief to serve as
host. Joe Buck set the emotional tone by asking that his father's life be
celebrated.
The humidity was intense, but it was no match for the love and good cheer in the
air. My favorite speaker was Stan Musial . . . just because he's Stan Musial. If
Musial isn't the nicest man alive, he's tied for first. And at age 82, The Man
still keeps it simple. He stepped up to the microphone, took his trademark
warm-up swing, and then displayed a smooth easy stroke that was the right touch
for this day. Musial delivered the equivalent of an easy, well-placed double off
the wall.
"It was a great pleasure to know Jack Buck and it uplifted your spirits
just to be in his company," Musial said. "It was impossible not to
have fun when you were with Jack Buck. Jack, your fans and I, we all love
you."
Musial, the leadoff man, sat down, and the procession of hitters kept cranking
out line drives. It was the best St. Louis lineup of the day; the Cardinals
managed only two runs in their 3-2 loss to the Angels.
Buck's departure represents the near-ending of an era. The elite ranks of famous
baseball radio-TV team broadcasters is thinning out. Harry Caray, Bob Prince,
Red Barber, Mel Allen, Jack Brickhouse and Jack Buck are dead. Ernie Harwell
(Detroit) will retire after the season. Vin Scully (Los Angeles) and Marty
Brennaman (Cincinnati) are still going strong. And so is Shannon. And Mike's
presence in the Cardinals' booth is especially endearing in the aftermath of
Buck's death.
Shannon will continue the old-school broadcast tradition here. And this is a
town of traditions. As I took notes throughout the day, I kept thinking that
we'd never see this scene in another baseball town. This was an example of why
St. Louis is such a unique place. Sure, we bicker about everything and it takes
about a month less than forever to agree on major issues.
But we usually recognize when it's important to put differences aside and pull
together. Jack Buck was loyal to St. Louis, and he loved St. Louis. And we never
take people like that for granted. And when it became our turn, we gave that
love and loyalty and civic-minded spirit back to Mr. Buck in an inspiring show
of support.
And throw baseball into the mix, and you have a one-of-a-kind passion in this
one-of-a-kind town.
"Baseball in St. Louis takes you back to that childhood innocence,"
Cardinals reliever Steve Kline said.
And Thursday's proceedings offered a sweet glimpse of a quintessential St. Louis
experience. And I believe you have to live here to truly comprehend how special
it really is.
"You won't see something like this anywhere else," Cardinals ownership
partner Drew Baur said. "People love baseball in this town. And they love
people who play baseball. And they love the people who bring the baseball to
them."
From Musial to McGwire, Jack Buck brought baseball to St. Louisans. And now it
was our turn. Under a bright blue sky that was perfect for day dreams, we were
there for Mr. Buck. And we brought him home safely.
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