Amid opening-day thrills, team longs for Mac, Buck

ST. LOUIS -- In the city where opening day ranks just behind Christmas and the Fourth of July on the list of favorite holidays, Monday presented an odd mix of emotions.

As 50,000 people gathered for the Cardinals' opener against the Colorado Rockies, maybe a dozen wearing something other than red, there was the sense of excitement that a new season always brings. Even better, the Cardinals are projected to be among baseball's best teams, picked by some to win their first NL pennant in 15 years, perhaps even their first World Series in 20.

Current players and past heroes -- Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst -- rode into the infield on red and white convertibles in a pregame ceremony that included a first pitch by Ozzie Smith, who joins the Hall of Fame in July. It didn't hurt that the Cardinals beat the Rockies 10-2.

But there was something missing, both on the field and on the air.

Mark McGwire retired soon after a 2001 season in which his body shut down because of injuries, hitting .187 essentially off one leg. And Jack Buck, the Hall-of-Fame announcer who has called Cardinals games since Stan Musial was a young player, continues to recover from a string of ailments that have left him hospitalized since January.

Missing the pair

"I miss Mark, but I miss Jack most because he's been announcing for a very long time and I miss hearing him," said Debbie Schilli, who brought her mother, Barb DeLay, to the game.

Outside the stadium, fans stopped to sign a 5-foot-tall get-well card for Buck. By noon, hundreds had signed, and dozens of others stood in line to do so.

There was even some melancholy about the old ballpark that has been home to the Cardinals since 1966. If ownership gets its way, Busch Stadium will be replaced in 2005 by a new retro park near the same downtown site. State lawmakers are still haggling over whether to help pay for it; if they don't, the Cardinals might relocate to the suburbs.

In the upper deck of left field, a small section of seats are still designated "Big Mac Land," despite McGwire's departure. Not that anyone else on the Cardinals, or most other teams, is likely to reach it -- Big Mac Land is a good 450 feet from home plate.

Schilli said she'll miss more than the long homers by McGwire.

"He was such a gentleman -- still is," she said. "I wish I could have married him."

Filling the void

With McGwire gone, the Cardinals may not have anyone with 70-homer potential. Still, all three outfielders -- Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and J.D. Drew -- are capable of hitting 40. Newcomer Tino Martinez figures to be a big improvement over the 2001 version of McGwire at first. The pitching staff is considered among baseball's best, and the addition of Jason Isringhausen as closer strengthens the bullpen.

Now, if only Buck was here to make the calls. Monday was his first opening day away from the microphone since he took the Cardinals job in 1954. He had surgery for lung cancer in November, then was beset by infections complicated by Parkinson's Disease, which he has had for years.

Last month, Buck underwent surgery aimed at limiting the tremors and other inflictions associated with Parkinson's. Surgeons say that should aid in his overall recovery.