Unless at one point or another you have shared a last name with me, you know I’m not a real emotional person. I don’t like crying. I just don’t do it. Yesterday, I was a blubbering fool. I made the mistake of going to see the movie, “42” and watching the dedication to Stan at Busch all in one day.
Yep, I went to a movie by myself. I like going to movies by myself. Nobody to stick their sticky fingers in my snack or slobber all over my straw. I decided I HAD to go see the newest baseball movie on the day it came out. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend you try and get to the theater to see “42”. Yes, this movie is about Jackie Robinson’s struggle, but I came away from it with a different message. To me, it was more about two men’s love of baseball, and what they needed to do to make it better. Also, I was pleased to see a little bit of Stan Musial in there. I’ll admit, when I watch baseball movies, I cry. “The Natural” and “Field of Dreams” get me every single time. The difference between this new movie and those? I needed my kleenexes before the end of the movie. These guys that played the game back in the day, I have a sweet spot in my heart for. I love the old ballooned-out pants, stirrup socks, the old bleacher stadiums, and those gloves that just look like fingers. Oh, and now I have a new love for Pee Wee Reese.
Then, last night, we got home and I caught the tail-end of the dedication to Stan at Busch. Listening to the announcer talk about Musial’s love for the game, seeing the men from the Navy unveil the new plaque on his statue in Musial Plaza, and seeing his 8 grandkids throw out the first pitch was really emotional. I loved the big “6” on the field. Yadi blasted a homerun, Shelby Miller pitched his heart out in one of his first starts of his young career, and I think even Boggs stepped up his newfound closing duties to honor “The Man”.
I love stuff like this. Seeing just a small bit of the history of baseball gets to me. All in one day, though, I may have to rethink that decision next time. For today, I’m going to hold on to the thought that the Cardinals’ players can keep the nostalgia of those days throughout the season. Win a slew of ballgames for Stan. Heck, win the World Series for him. Keep the wins coming, boys!
Go Cards!
