STRICTLY BUSINESS: CATCHING UP: BEANIE BABIES AT BALL GAME

The Beanie Babies craze has landed on St. Louis Baseball Cardinal turf, and it is creating a stir.

"Stretch the Ostrich" and "Smoochy the Frog" will be promotion items for Cardinal games May 22 and Aug. 14.

Cardinal officials say sale for the two dates are brisk, actually making the dates the most popular after opening game and the Cubs weekend in August.

The Cards offer "freebies" throughout the year in marketing plans that include collectible pins for all ages, T-shirts, bats, posters, key chains and others.

But Cardinal officials are quick to point out the Beanie Babies are getting the biggest response.

Cardinal fans can expect 20,000 "Stretch the Ostrich" Beanie Babies to be given to youngsters 14-younger on May 22, through a sponsorship by the St. Louis Zoo.

On Aug. 14, "Smoochy the Frog" will be the feature hitter, courtesy of BFC Health System.

This won't be the first appearance of Beanie Babies at professional ballparks. The Cards' Beanie Baby move follows a similar move by the Chicago Cubs, which offered 20,000 "Cubbie the Bear" Beanies last year.

The Cubbie promotion was so successful the Cubs will pass out "Daisy the Cow" Beanies as a tribute to the late announcer Harry Caray, known for his "Holy Cow" exclamation. That will come on May 2, when Cards visit Chicago.

While the Cubs were the only major league baseball team to offer the Beanie Babies last year, a dozen teams will offer them this year, including the Cardinals and the New York Yankees.

Beanie Babies, it seems, are here to stay.

The soft animal toys have taken collectible shops by storm since they were first introduced by Ty Warner in the Chicago area in the summer of 1995.

They have been especially popular in the Cape Girardeau area.

On more than one occasion, stores offering the lovable little creatures, have attracted large crowds. People have formed long lines as early as 5 a.m. for 10 a.m. openings.

And only recently, a Beanie Babbies show, held at the Drury Lodge here, attracted a crowd of more than 1,400 people.

Various Beanie Babies have attracted large followings. People have paid more than $2,000 for Princess Di Beanie Babies. Erin the Bear was another popular Beanie, commanding up to $500 when it first appeared more than a month ago.

Beanie Babies sell for about $5 at their regular retail outlets, but those same $5 Beanies often sell for many times that amount on the "secondary market."

Banker, restaurateur, MRA president

Wayne Schweigert spent more than 18 years in the banking industry before stepping into the food service industry.

Schweigert, president and CEO of Schweigert Brothers Inc., which owns and operates the Ozora Truck and Travel Plaza at Interstate 55 and the M & N exit at Ozora, has been installed as 1998-99 president of the Missouri Restaurant Association.

Schweigert, part-owner and manager of the Family Inn Restaurant at Ste. Genevieve, has reaped a number of honors since his venture into the restaurant business more than a decade ago.

He was previously the MRA's "Restaurateur of the Year" in 1990, and has served as president of the Southeast Missouri chapter of the MRA, and has served as director and treasurer of the MRA Insurance Trust, a statewide, self-insured workers compensation trust.

Schweigert and brothers purchased the former Freda's Restaurant & Motel in 1986, to go along with the travel and truck plaza the Schweigerts already owned.

The restaurant name was appropriately changed to the Family Inn Restaurant. It is a family operation, including Wayne's wife, Susan, who serves as cashier and hostess.

The Ozora Truck and Travel Plaza complex today consists of 25 acres with more than 100,000 square feet of retail, warehouse, restaurant, lodging and office space. The Schweigert Brothers also own and operate the Bloomsdale Food Mart, at Interstate 55-Highway Y.

Wayne Schweigert continues to be an active member of his community. He has served as financial adviser for the Sacred Heart Church and School, treasurer of the Ozora Community Fire Protection Association, president of the Ste Genevieve Rotary Club, director of the First Financial Bank of Ste. Genevieve and board member of the Bank of Bloomsdale.

Other MRA officers inaugurated at the TWA Dome recently, include Bob Kirkwood, Trailhead Brewing Co., St. Charles, vice president; Steve Cole of Cafe Allegro, Kansas City, treasurer; and George Cascone of Cascone's Restaurants in Kansas City, chairman of the board. Cascone is retiring president of the MRA.

He is a graduate of Ste. Genevieve High School and has an associate degree from the Missouri Business College, St. Louis.

The Missouri Restaurant Association is a 3,750-member, statewide trade association for food service owners and operators in Missouri, western Illinois and parts of eastern Kansas.

B. Ray Owen is business editor for the Southeast Missourian.