Hello, Fodorites... I'm appealing to any traveling and baseball-loving souls out there. I realize this is not the most appropriate place to ask, but if anybody would be willing to vote for me in an on-line contest I'd really appreciate your support. I'm trying to be chosen as the Ultimate Cardinals Fan... the grand prize includes fabulous opportunities, including throwing a first pitch and watching BP from inside the dugout. My e-mail is [email protected]. Send me a message if anyone would like to help in my quest and I'll send you the details. I have taken numerous trips to see my Cardinals play in different cities and have received much advice on this forum for those trips. I'm going to San Diego and Los Angeles in about six weeks for just that reason.

Thanks for listening, and I sincerely apologize if I have offended anyone.

Sandi

Geez, Sandi, you did not offend me ;-)! Yes, I will help you out. I am also a big baseball fan,,,,I have to be for self preservation...my husband is a true fanatic! We are big Braves fan and are becoming huge Marlin Fans...sorry about that;-) . We saw the Marlins get beat by St.Louis . Judy

Sandi,
I'm willing to help in your quest. But, I think we first need to establish that in fact you are the Ultimate Cardinals fan.

1) Approximately how many hits did "Country" have.? Bonus: How many came in a uniform other than a St. Louis uniform?

2) How many men who managed the Cardinals are in the Hall Of Fame? Bonus: Which two are most closely assciated with other teams. Hint one had a Stadium named for him and one is responsible for a major event in baseball history.

3) Which team originally drafted Willie McGhee? Bonus: Who was he traded for and when.

I'll check back!

Boy Ryan, are you strict!!...8^)

You think I'm being strict? That's nothing compared to what I ask people when they ask me to sign a petition to get XYZ candidate on the ballot.

In this case, I don't view it as strict. I just think it's fair relative to others in the competition. Who are we to judge who is or who is not the Ultimate Cardinals fan. Maybe there is some guy/gal out there who really is the ultimate Cardinals fan, but not as savvy in terms of getting support from the internet masses. Providing a basis for that claim shouldn't be to much to ask.

Judy,
Thanks for your offer to help me. How do you like J.D. Drew in Atlanta? I'm happy to see him doing so well there. I know Eli was hurt earlier but I thought I heard he is better now. He was such a good Cardinal... I especially hated to see him go. But it's been a good trade for both teams. Ray King and Jason Marquis have definitely made good impressions on St. Louis fans. Wainright looks promising for the future.

Ryan,
I'm afraid you've stumped me on all your questions. I could research it and give you the answers but that really wouldn't be fair. As I wrote in my contest entry essay, I did not attend my first game until April, 1996, so I'm a very new fan in the realm of Cardinals history.

I believe Red Schoendiest is in the HOF and he managed the team for a while. I truly hope Tony LaRussa will make the HOF... I missed his 2,000th win last September by one game.

So I guess I'm not the "Ultimate Fan" in terms of my historical knowledge, but I'd still like to try and win. I do appreciate your interest and your time to pose those questions to me.

No problem Idnas, I'll shoot you an e-mail. Passion certainly counts.

BTW,

1) Enos "Country" Slaughter had approximately 2,300 hits, of which about 2050ish were with the Cardinals.

2)9 (which will likely rise with Whitey Herzog, Joe Torre and Tony LaRussa.) Among them are Charles Comiskey (as in Comiskey Park) and Branch Rickey of the Dodgers - the man who signed Jackie Robinson.

3) The Yankees and it still pains me that they traded Willie McGhee for Bob Sykes in 1981.

Good luck!

Ryan I don't know lots of sport trivia, but I do know a good fan when I see one! Just being able to regurgitate facts does not make you an "Ultimate" fan...I can google facts about anything I want. It is the "heart" that matters IMVHO.

Sorry to be short with you, Ryan, we must have posted at the same time....I agree that passion counts . Idnas, we Braves fans love JD Drew....Just to make you all feel better, my DH says it will be the Yankees and the Cards for the World Series...go Cardinals!!

Thanks, Ryan. Somehow I had a feeling you would still be willing to help me out.

Judy,
I'm so excited at the prospect of seeing a World Series game in St. Louis... my sleeping bag and lawn chair are ready to throw in the car at a moment's notice for the ticket line.

And I'm sorry to any folks out there who feel my thread is totally not appropriate for a travel forum. I'm just a bit desparate. That's why I just left my e-mail address instead of a direct link.

Sorry guys...just came across this thread after coming from the game last night - and it's the CARDS!!!! and the Red Sox headed for the W.S.

Ryan, you're killing me...you're spelling E.T.'s name wrong...it's McGee!!

Hey Marty,
Get some sleep and relax. Clearly the stress is showing through that I'm "killing you" for misspelling Willie McGee's name on a post from 4 months ago.

BTW, did you consider that MAYBE I misspelled the name to catch how big of a Cardinals fan they are?

Good save...

Ryan, name all nine Cards World Series managers. I can name only four- LaRussa, Schoendienst, Hornsby and Rickey.

Unless the names include "I" "Don't" and "Care", I'm at a loss.

There was the guy in '64, Johnny Keane, I believe that won over the Yankees, then became the Yankee manager during the "Horace Clark" years.