ST.LOUIS (KMOX)- The 2023 MLB season was by all counts a massive disappointment for the St. Louis Cardinals, with the team guaranteed to finish last in their division for the first time since 1918.
While the Cardinals can officially prepare to compete for the 2024 after this weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds, it will still be special for Cardinal Nation as they will say goodbye to a face of the franchise this century.
The St. Louis community is set to honor starting pitcher Adam Wainwright all weekend against the Reds, and while he won't pitch at all this series, the weekend will still be special.
"What a great run it has been said John Rooney, the Voice of the Cardinals, "To help so many people with (Big League Impact) around the world, he's given so much joy to so many Cardinals fans that (Cardinal Nation) will give it back to Wainwright and give him a great send-off."
Rooney told Total Information A.M. the impact Wainwright has had on the community compares favorably to the impacts of former Cardinals greats.
"We been so lucky over the years to have Stan (Musial), Red Schoendienst, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, and now Ozzie Smith and they have done in the community," said Rooney, "Adam Wainwright joins that group. We've been blessed to have these great players, but also great human beings. There Hall of Famers on and off the field."
Mike Claiborne told 'The Show' during his appearance that he thought it was a good idea that Wainwright wasn't going to pitch this weekend's series.
"Why don't you end your career on a positive note?," said Claiborne, "How about you go out and pinch hit or something among that line? I think fans would get a kick out of that more than seeing Waino try to start a game and all of a sudden the wheels start falling off. You end it on a positive note and keeping going."
Their will be plenty of positivity to end a pretty disappointing 2023 season for the Cardinals. Among the events and promotions at Busch Stadium that will honor Wainwright include a postgame concert by Wainwright on Saturday, a 'Waino Era' t-shirt giveaway and of course, a pre-game ceremony on Sunday to honor Wainwright right before the Cardinals final game of 2023 starting at 1:30 p.m..
Fans are encouraged to arrive and be in their seats by 1:15 p.m..
