Much has been made, and rightfully so, about the Cardinals adding their 11th World Series trophy to their well-stocked case of achievements. Only one team has ever won more titles, making the Cardinals quite the success story.
But, with every story, there are memories made. And in more than 100 years, there is a wealth of novel-worthy memories that gather dust on a shelf somewhere.
In 2008, the Cardinals decided to match the newly constructed Busch Stadium III with a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame Museum that would allow fans young and old the opportunity to see Cardinals history first hand. The stories were there, the artifacts were gathered, the plans were drawn.
(click the image to go to the intro video)
Ah, if only it was that easy!
Now, more than three years later, the organization is still waiting for funds to construct the Ballpark Villiage that will hold the museum, themed restaurants and the “Live Plaza” for entertainment just north of the ballpark itself.
In the meanwhile, however, more than a century of Cardinals history goes unseen by St. Louis fans. At least, until now.
This week, the organization launched a virtual version of their comprehensive museum. The St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum website is a temporary display featuring the collections that tell the stories of Stan “The Man” Musial, the “Birds on the Bat,” the 11 Championship runs, and more.
In a video introduction on the site, Mr. Bill DeWitt himself explains the extensive efforts to gather the best baseball collection outside of Cooperstown for the benefit of Cardinal Nation, and anyone who appreciates a good dose of MLB history. After millions of dollars spent beefing up the archives, the pieces are in place … they just don’t have a permanent home yet.
In a perfect world, their home would be the downtown showcase. But in the meantime, this site makes an acceptable Plan B.
"Birds on the Bat," circa 1926
No, pictures on the Internet don’t quite live up to seeing the real “1st Major League Home Run” ball from Stan the Man, or an actual 1926 jersey with the oldest of “old school” logos across the chest. (That embroidered logo, by the way, initially boosted uniform costs to a shocking $3.75 a piece in 1922, just after the Cardinal was adopted as part of the team’s identity.)
No matter the medium, though, the stories remain the same. And with this new tool, the history can now be shared.
The interactive sight creatively intertwines the Cardinals’ past and present with virtual exhibits explaining things like the history of the team’s name alongside video packages showcasing the latest archive additions — a Lance Berkman post season bat, Yadier Molina’s shoes and a Chris Carpenter jersey, to name a few.
Within the “Virtual Exhibits” and the “Inside the Collections” tabs, the curators carefully explain the items on display, speaking with great pride and passion about the players, teams and fans that saw it all happen.
There is even an exhibit of items that almost seem irrelevant until you read their story. Like a light fixture from Sportsman Park. The first night games were held in 1940 when both the American League St. Louis Browns and the National League St. Louis Cardinals shared the park.
Or a fiddle. Yes, the musical instrument. This particular fiddle was played in the 1930s by members of the Gashouse Gang who liked to entertain while they were on the road.
See this and more in the "Virtual Exhibits" of Cardinals' history
Even fan giveaways from years past can be seen, like this paper hat.
The gallery caption reads,
During the late 1960s the Cardinals developed programming specifically for women fans under the leadership of Mrs. Del Wilber, wife of the former Cardinals catcher. Learning about the finer points of the national pastime and encouraging more participation by women was a key concept.
It’s these stories that connect fans of the past to fans of the present.
The site also has a uniquely interactive feature that allows those fans to play a part in the story. The “Question to the Fans” section asks for fan responses to varying questions on the team and its place in their history. This week’s question asks,
Where were you when David Freese hit his walk-off home run in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series guaranteeing the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers would be playing a winner-take-all Game 7 the following night?
It’s special for fans who invest so much of themselves in the characters on the field to have a chance to play their part in the storytelling process.
You don’t find that in most traditional museums!
So we wait for the Village to open. But, while we do, we have unrestricted access to pieces of Cardinals history at our very fingertips. As magical as this organization’s “dream seasons” tend to be, that’s a pretty appealing option to have.
Plus, with a club like the Cardinals, there will be plenty to add as the years go by.
Like Mr. DeWitt said, “New chapters … are being written each day.”
Tara is a St. Louis Cardinals reporter for Aaron Miles’ Fastball and a contributor to Around the Horn. Follow her on Twitter @tarawellman.
