ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Opening Day at Busch Stadium is finally here in St. Louis with the Cardinals set to have their home opener against the Miami Marlins.
The significance of Opening Day festivities at Busch Stadium, where you see plenty of Hall of Famers, former All-Stars, Cardinals Nation, the Budweiser Clydesdales and many more hasn't waned over the years, especially for those inside and close to the Cardinals.
Cardinals TV Broadcaster Chip Caray is set to take in his second Opening Day at Busch Stadium Thursday and when he experienced it for the first time in last season's home opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, he said it felt amazing.
"Growing up in St. Louis, (2023) was my first Opening Day I got to see in person as a fan or broadcaster," said Caray. "The Hall of Famers, the sea of red, the Clydesdales, the sense of civic pride the fans and Cardinals have was really reaffirming to me of my deep roots in St. Louis even though I haven't lived here for a long time."
Cardinals Opening Day starter Lance Lynn has seen his fair share of Opening Day at Busch Stadium during his first stint with the Cardinals from 2011-17, but it will be the first time in seven years Lynn will experience of Opening Day in Busch Stadium since he left the organization.
"To be back after the years off and to be able to throw the home opener is pretty cool," said Lynn. "What they do with the Hall of Famers in St. Louis, they do it right and they always have. To be able to start that game, bring in the first home series of the season, that's going to be great."
Lynn says his mindset for the game is simple: just go with the flow.
"You just don't know how the flow goes with the ceremonies and stuff, but (the Cardinals) have always done a great job with it," said Lynn.
Cardinals Manager Oli Marmol, who is set experience his third Opening Day fesitivities as manager and seventh overall, says the feeling getting driven around the Busch Stadium track on a Ford truck and of getting off during pregame ceremonies of it at Busch Stadium is still special for him.
"It's hard to put it into words when you are going around that track," said Marmol. "It feels like we have been on the road for a really long time. To be able to come home in front our fans, playing good baseball, and when the trucks drop you off at home plate, meeting the Hall of Famers there, it's the best. I take my time shaking each and every one of them."
Marmol says he responsibility of needing to do well on the field from just taking in the festivities of Opening Day at Busch Stadium.
"You just the responsibility of doing well and gosh darn, I'm looking forward to it."