The 22nd annual Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up (#CardsWarmUp) and the Cardinals Caravan (#CardsCaravan) highlight a busy Cardinals-themed holiday weekend that kicks off the 2018 season.
Winter Warm-Up—the largest fundraising effort for the team’s charitable fund, Cardinals Care—returns to the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch Saturday, January 13 through Monday, January 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) with appearances from over 60 players, coaches and alumni. For the most complete schedule and up-to-date Winter Warm-Up information, visit cardinals.com/WWU.
The 2018 Cardinals Caravan, presented by Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance, departs Busch Stadium on Friday morning. Over the course of the weekend, more than 30 current and former players will visit 20 cities throughout Cardinals Nation along six different routes before returning to St. Louis on Monday night. For complete information on all caravan stops, visit cardinals.com/caravan.
The 60th annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner takes place at the Union Station Hotel on Sunday, January 14. Fans will enjoy a night of fun and entertainment as the dinner honors the top players from the 2017 Cardinals team and commemorates six decades of Cardinals players. The evening will be highlighted by special guests and the presentation of the Red Schoendienst Medal, J.G. Taylor Spink St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year Award and the inaugural Branch Rickey Award.
Below are complete highlights of the 2018 Winter Warm-Up weekend:
Friday, January 12, 2018
- Will Call: Winter Warm-Up Will Call is open from 12:00–7:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency.
- Cardinals Caravan: The 2018 Caravan kicks off with stops in Champaign and Peoria, Ill., Jefferson City and Springfield, Mo. and Memphis, Tenn.
- Adam Wainwright’s Big League Impact 2nd Annual Sing Off & Karaoke Challenge (Dave & Buster’s, 7:00 p.m.): Come watch Waino and ten of St. Louis’ best karaoke performers compete against each other for the title of 2018 Big League Impact St. Louis Sing Off Winner while raising money to help save lives in St. Louis and around the globe! Tickets are available at bigleagueimpact.org.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
- Winter Warm-Up: The three-day event kicks off today, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Cardinals Autographs: Carson Kelly, Alex Reyes, John Brebbia, Dakota Hudson, John Mozeliak, Miles Mikolas, Matt Bowman, Carlos Martínez, Luke Voit, Rowan Wick, Austin Gomber, Sam Tuivailala, Ryan Sherriff & Kolten Wong
- Alumni Autographs: Ray King, John Tudor, Al Hrabosky, Ted Savage, Brian Jordan & Scott Cooper
- Main Stage: The Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews throughout the day. Scheduled events include KMOV’s Claire Kellet from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., Redbird Rookies Scholarship Presentation at 10:30 a.m., Q&A with President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak at 11:00 a.m., and broadcasters Dan McLaughlin, Tim McCarver and Jim Edmonds from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- Live Auctions (Main Stage): Beginning at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.
- Dugout Presentations (Second Floor):
- 10:00 a.m. – “A History of the St. Louis Browns’ 52 years in St. Louis” with author Ed Wheatley
- 11:00 a.m. – “Designing the Cardinals’ Official Scorecard” with illustrator Mike Right
- 12:00 p.m. – Learn all aspects of collecting sports memorabilia with Dave Jackson
- 1:30 p.m. – Brian Jordan book signing (must bring a copy of his book or purchase at the signing)
- 3:00 p.m. – Meet members of Team Fredbird
- Clubhouse Presentations (Second Floor):
- 10:00 a.m. – “Goodwill through Baseball: Cardinals Across the Pacific” with Cardinals Museum Curator Paula Homan
- 11:00 a.m. – “The Overlooked Legacy of Stan Musial” with Brian Finch of the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
- 12:00 p.m. – Tips for storing and displaying personal baseball collections with Amy Berra and Danielle DiGiacomo of the Cardinals Hall of Fame and Museum
- 1:00 p.m. – “2017 Minor League Year in Review” with Cardinals Director of Player Development Gary LaRocque
- 2:00 p.m. – Learn about Cardinals Authentics and the MLB Authentication program with Ashley Brown of Cardinals Authentics
- 3:00 p.m. – Learn about the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) including how baseball has embraced SABRmetrics with local chapter president Brian Flaspohler
- Silent Auctions (Fourth Floor): There are two silent auctions: 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m.
o Will Call: Winter Warm-Up Will Call is open from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency.
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its way through Cardinals Nation with stops in Jonesboro, Ark., Dyersburg, Tenn., Bloomington, Ill., and Joplin, Rolla, Fulton, and Columbia, Mo.
Sunday, January 14, 2018
- Winter Warm-Up: Day two of the event is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Cardinals Autographs: Oscar Mercado, Alex Mejia, Josh Lucas, Harrison Bader, Adam Wainwright, Tyler Lyons, Paul DeJong, Tommy Pham, José Martínez, Patrick Wisdom, John Gant, Mike Mayers, Greg Garcia, Marcell Ozuna, Michael Wacha & Luke Weaver
- Alumni Autographs: Tony La Russa, Danny Cox, Kyle McClellan, Stubby Clapp, Scott Terry, Ricky Horton, Todd Worrell, Mike Shannon & Rick Ankiel
- Main Stage: The Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews throughout the day. Scheduled events include KMOV’s Maurice Drummond from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., broadcasters Mike Claiborne, John Rooney and Mike Shannon from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Adam Wainwright/Big League Impact Presentation & Q&A at 1:45 p.m., Q&A with General Manager Michael Girsch at 2:30 p.m., and broadcaster Ricky Horton from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- Live Auctions (Main Stage): Beginning at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.
- Dugout Presentations (Second Floor):
- 10:00 a.m. – Learn about the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) including how baseball has embraced SABRmetrics with local chapter president Brian Flaspohler
- 11:00 a.m. – “Designing the Cardinals’ Official Scorecard” with illustrator Mike Right
- 12:00 p.m. – Meet members of Team Fredbird
- 1:00 p.m. – Learn all aspects of collecting sports memorabilia with Dave Jackson
- 2:00 p.m. – “A History of the St. Louis Browns’ 52 years in St. Louis” with author Ed Wheatley
- 3:00 p.m. – “Making and Decorating the Cardinals Care Cupcake” with The Cup
- Clubhouse Presentations (Second Floor):
- 10:00 a.m. – “Busch Stadium Security Updates for 2018” with Cardinals Security Director, Phil Melcher
- 11:00 a.m. – Discussing the Amateur Draft with Scouting Director and former Cardinals pitcher, Randy Flores
- 12:00 p.m. – Go behind the pages of the Cardinals’ two books “Uniforms and Logos” and “Redbird Relics” with authors Gary and Oliver Kodner and Brian Finch
- 1:00 p.m. – Learn about Cardinals Authentics and the MLB Authentication program with Ashley Brown of Cardinals Authentics
- 2:00 p.m. – “Creating a Keepsake”—see what goes into making Hall of Fame bobbleheads and learn about benefits of Cardinals Museum Membership with Molly Becker
- 3:00 p.m. – Bring your camera and take a picture with an American Bald Eagle, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary
- Silent Auctions (Fourth Floor): There are two silent auctions: 9:00–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–3:00 p.m.
- Will Call: Winter Warm-Up Will Call is open from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency.
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes stops in Evansville, Ind., as well as Mattoon, Springfield and Mount Vernon, Ill.
- 60th Annual St. Louis Baseball Writers’ Dinner (Union Station Hotel, 5:00 p.m.): This year’s dinner honors the top players from the 2017 Cardinals team and commemorates six decades of Cardinals players. The St. Louis BBWAA will present their highest honor to Bob Gibson for his Hall of Fame career and invaluable service to baseball. Other highlights include presentation of the J.G. Taylor Spink St. Louis Baseball Man of the Year Award, the Stockton/Broeg Award for Outstanding Achievement in Baseball, the Herman/Ostermeier Award for Cardinals Rookie of the Year Award and the inaugural Branch Rickey Award for Innovation in the Game of Baseball. For information, or to purchase tickets, visit stlouisbbwaa.com.
Monday, January 15, 2018
- Winter Warm-Up: The final day of the event is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Cardinals Autographs: Tyler O’Neill, Andrew Knizner, Brett Cecil, Mike Matheny, Bill DeWitt Jr., Bill DeWitt III, Jack Flaherty, Yadier Molina, Matt Carpenter & Randal Grichuk
- Alumni Autographs: John Mabry, John Costello, Cliff Politte, Andy Benes, Alan Benes, Whitey Herzog, Kerry Robinson, Ray Lankford, Brad Thompson & Tom Lawless
- Main Stage: The Main Stage will feature a number of auctions, presentations and live emceed interviews throughout the day. Scheduled events include KMOV’s Matt Chambers from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., Q&A with Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and President Bill DeWitt III at 10:00 a.m., broadcasters Jay Randolph and Scott Warmann from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and broadcasters Tom Ackerman and Brad Thompson from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
- Live Auctions (Main Stage): Beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Fans must be present to win an auction item and all items must be paid for and picked up at the close of each auction.
- Dugout Presentations (Second Floor):
- 12:00 p.m. – “A History of the St. Louis Browns’ 52 years in St. Louis” with author Ed Wheatley
- 1:00 p.m. – Meet members of Team Fredbird
- Clubhouse Presentations (Second Floor):
- 10:00 a.m. – Learn about the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) including how baseball has embraced SABRmetrics with local chapter president Brian Flaspohler
- 11:00 a.m. – “2017—A Year in Photos” with Cardinals Photography Manager Taka Yanagimoto
- 12:00 p.m. – “Making and Decorating the Cardinals Care Cupcake” with The Cup
- 1:00 p.m. – Bring your camera and take a picture with an American Bald Eagle, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary
- Silent Auctions (Fourth Floor): There are two silent auctions: 9:00–11:00 a.m. and 12:00–2:00 p.m.
- Will Call: Winter Warm-Up Will Call is open from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency.
- Cardinals Caravan: The Cardinals Caravan makes its final stops in Decatur and Quincy, Ill., Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Paducah, Ky.
Additional Winter Warm-Up Information
- Stay Updated: Text CARDS to 82810 to receive the latest Winter Warm-Up news and event information via text message to your mobile device!
- Admission Tickets: Although online ticket sales have ended, fans can still purchase three-day passes for the event in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency from January 12-15. Ticket prices are $40 for fans 16 and older, $10 for fans ages five to 15, and free for kids under five. Members of the military, police and fire departments with an active ID can receive one free adult admission ticket which must be obtained in person at the ticket booth in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency during the times listed below.
- Warm-Up Will Call: All Admission Tickets purchased after January 4, 2018 must be picked up at the ticket booth in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency during the times listed below. A photo ID matching the name on the original order or a print out of the confirmation email is required to pick up your purchase:
- Friday, January 12th from 12:00–7:00 p.m. at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
- Saturday, January 13th from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
- Sunday, January 14th from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
- Monday, January 15th from 9:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. at Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch
- Autograph Tickets: Although online ticket sales have ended, remaining autograph tickets may be purchased in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency for a specific donation to Cardinals Care. Every dollar donated for autograph tickets will benefit Redbird Rookies and charitable grants to other non-profit organizations that help kids. Donation amounts can be found at cardinals.com/WWU. All free autograph tickets have been distributed.
- Second Floor: On the second floor of the Hyatt, fans will be able to find collectible memorabilia, baseball cards and more from more than 50 vendors, shop at the Cardinals Publications booth and Cardinals Authentics Shop, listen to informative presentations by Cardinals executives in the Dugout and Clubhouse Presentation rooms, meet Fredbird and watch the kids enjoy free activities at the Kids Room Stage.
- Fourth Floor: On the fourth floor fans will find the main stage, be able to meet their favorite players at autograph tables, bid on Cardinals Care silent auctions, shop the Cardinals Care Store and Official Cardinals Team Store, as well as visit booths for Adam Wainwright’s Big League Impact, Carlos Martínez’s Tsunami Waves Foundation, the Jason Motte Foundation, the Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation, Ballpark Village and more.
- Cardinals Care Store: Open throughout the weekend, the Cardinals Care Store is stocked full of Cardinals memorabilia such as discounted baseball caps, team-issued apparel, t-shirts, game-worn jerseys, autographed photos and bats, and more. Fans can even purchase photos for collecting player autographs and baseball cases for your new autographed collectibles. Also, any fan that purchased an autograph ticket for a pre-signed baseball from Lou Brock, Bob Gibson or Ozzie Smith may redeem their ticket at the Cardinals Care Store to receive their autographed item.
- Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle: Throughout the weekend, Cardinals fans, age 18 and older, can participate in the Cardinals Care 50/50 Raffle. Fans can buy tickets (priced 3 for $5, 10 for $10, or 60 for $20) from kiosks located on each level of the event, in the Cardinals Care Store, at the ticket booth in the lobby, or from roaming ticket sellers. Each day of the Winter Warm-Up, one lucky fan will receive 50 percent of the gross proceeds from the raffle ticket donations raised and the other half will benefit Cardinals Care.
- Cardinals Kids Club Booth: The Cardinals Kids Club will have a booth in the Kids Room on the second floor. To learn more about Cardinals Kids Club, visit cardinals.com/kidsclub.
- Official Cardinals Team Store: The Official Cardinals Team Store at Busch Stadium will have a large selection of Cardinals merchandise available at the Warm-Up next to the silent auctions on the fourth floor. The Official Cardinals Team Store, open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., will have specially-priced items on sale for the weekend too. The Majestic Store located on the north side of Ballpark Village will also be open Saturday and Sunday, sharing the same hours as the Team Store. Stop by either location for the latest Cardinals gear!
- Cardinals Publications: Fans visiting the Cardinals Publications booth at its new second floor location can take advantage of fantastic show specials, enroll in drawings for premium autographed items and start a subscription to Cardinals Magazine. New subscribers will take home two free tickets to a 2018 home game, the newest edition featuring Alex Reyes on the cover and gain automatic entry into a drawing to win a 16 x20 inch photo autographed by Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith. Fans who spend at least $25 in merchandise will receive automatic entry into a drawing for autographed magazine posters signed by Carlos Martínez and Rick Ankiel. Additional show-only sales include: 1) the 2018 Cardinals Official Calendar—spotlighting the top images by club photographers and featuring the complete spring training and regular season schedules—for just $10 each; 2) oversized Cardinals Magazine cover posters featuring the likes of Adam Wainwright, Carlos Martínez and Yadier Molina; 3) an extensive and affordable vintage collection of Cardinals Magazines, Yearbooks and Media Guides; and 4) Official Scorecard collector sets. Stay tuned for special announcements by Cardinals Publications via Twitter (@CardsMagazine) throughout the three-day event.
- Busch Stadium Tours & Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum: Guided tours of Busch Stadium are available during the 2018 Winter Warm-Up each day from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. These tours will be offered at regular tour prices, but will also include a stop inside the Cardinals Clubhouse—the only time each year the Cardinals’ locker room is open to tours. Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum entry is also included in all tour ticket purchases. Fans who purchase Stadium Tour or Museum Admission tickets during the holiday weekend will receive a special gift while supplies last. The Cardinals Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and includes a new exhibit titled “Goodwill through Baseball: Cardinals Across the Pacific.” A portion of the proceeds will benefit Cardinals Care. To purchase tickets, visitcardinals.com/tours.
- Cardinals Authentics & Personalized Bats: Cardinals Authentics—the only official source of memorabilia directly from the team—will be selling unique game-used, limited-edition, exclusive and autographed memorabilia at the Winter Warm-Up. Cardinals Authentics is offering their lowest prices of the year (this weekend only) along with other special offers and gifts with purchases. Also at the booth, fans can buy a personalized Louisville Slugger baseball bat. Each bat, which comes in different sizes and color options, can feature up to three lines of custom text and two logos, including the collectible 2018 Winter Warm-Up logo. The Cardinals Authentics Store, located on the first floor of Cardinals Nation inside Ballpark Village, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on January 13-15 and daily from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Show your Winter Warm-Up admission ticket at the store in Cardinals Nation and you will receive 20% off of your purchase all weekend long. Stay tuned for special announcements by Cardinals Authentics via Twitter (@CardsAuthentics) throughout the three-day event.
- Green Team: The team’s “4 A Greener Game” initiative will have a booth on the second floor where fans can learn more about the Cardinals Green Team—a group of volunteers who collect recyclables from fans throughout each game at Busch Stadium. In exchange for volunteering, fans are able to watch the game in standing room only sections of Busch Stadium. Visit cardinals.com/green for more information.
- Cardinals Nation Restaurant & Bar: Cardinals Nation Restaurant and Bar in Ballpark Village is open daily during the Winter Warm-Up, and throughout the entire year: Monday–Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. During Winter Warm-Up weekend, attendees can show their admission ticket and receive 10% off their bill. Make reservations online at cardinalsnation.com or by phone at 314.345.9880.
Social Media
Throughout the Cardinals Caravan and Winter Warm-Up, fans can stay connected by following the Cardinals on Twitter (@Cardinals), Facebook (@Cardinals), Instagram (@Cardinals) and Snapchat (Cardinals) for the latest news, event updates and behind-the-scenes content. Fans can join the conversation and share their own photos and experiences by using hashtags #CardsWarmUp, #CardsCaravan and #CardsCare.
Traffic & Parking
For the most up-to-date alerts regarding construction and winter road conditions this weekend, fans can visit the Missouri Department of Transportation’s website at modot.org. Winter Warm-Up event parking can be found just two blocks south of the Hyatt Regency at the Stadium East Parking Garage, with entrances located on South Broadway and South 4th Street.
Cardinals and Cardinals Care Sponsors
Cardinals Care and the St. Louis Cardinals would like to thank the following sponsors for helping to make the 2018 Winter Warm-Up possible: Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, Edward Jones, Budweiser, FOX Sports Midwest, KMOX, PSAV Presentation Services, Rawlings Sporting Goods, FastSigns of Bridgeton, Syberg’s, Hollywood Casino St. Louis, Radio 1120 AM, KMOV News 4, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, In Focus Marketing, Nehmen-Kodner, Wireless USA, Coca-Cola, Gwin’s Travel, Companion Bakery, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Belleville News-Democrat, Framin’ Place & Gallery, Betallic Balloons, RBO Print Logistix, The Cup, Estate Auction Pros and Tom Lange.
About Cardinals Care (#CardsCare)
Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the organization to help children in our community—both on and off the baseball field. Established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested over $22 million to support St. Louis area children and built or renovated 23 youth ball fields in local under-resourced neighborhoods. Most recently, the Cardinals dedicated Dexter Fowler Field at Hess Park in Decatur, Ill. in July 2017. This season marks the 15th year of Cardinals Care’s innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 3,000 kids who participate in the program each year. To learn more about all of Cardinals Care’s programs visit cardinals.com/community.
*Winter Warm-Up schedule—including all players, dates, & times—is subject to change.
