Big names, world title spike sale of tickets brisk sales

~ About 500 tickets have already been sold for Sunday's visit.

Penny Williams won't be surprised if Sunday's visit by the Cardinals Caravan sets a record for ticket sales for the event.

Williams, who helps coordinate the annual visit by Cardinals players for the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, said about 500 tickets have been sold already.

"We've had about 780, 800 people in the past," Williams said. "This is going to be the biggest one. We've had calls from people from Rolla, Springfield and Paducah. We've been told we have some of the better players on this caravan."

The Cardinals have four caravans heading out Thursday through Sunday. At the same time, the team's Winter Warm-Up will be taking place (Saturday through Monday) in downtown St. Louis. That event is sold out.

Why all the Cardinals Caravan craziness?

The team in October beat the Detroit Tigers for its first World Series championship since 1982.

And the caravan that is coming to the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau on Sunday is scheduled to include Adam Wainwright, who saved four postseason victories; Chris Duncan, who was tied for second on the team in home runs; as well as John Rodriguez and Tyler Johnson. Former player Tom Lawless, a postseason hero in 1982, and broadcaster Rick Horton also are scheduled for the caravan in Cape Girardeau.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with the program to begin at 6 p.m. Players will speak about the prospects for the 2007 season and sign autographs.

Other caravans out this week include Randy Flores and Skip Schumaker; Josh Hancock, Josh Kinney and Chris Narveson; and Anthony Reyes, Aaron Miles and Brad Thompson.

Last year's caravan included Flores, Aaron Miles and Yadier Molina. The year before, the caravan was scheduled to include David Eckstein, who was unable to make it.

Williams said Cape has had other similar disappointments in the past, including once when Ozzie Smith was scheduled to attend but could not make it.

The Cardinals announced its caravan list on its Web site late last week, and Williams said she double-checked with the team before making the list public from her end. "Barring someone getting the flu or something we can't help," she said, "that's why they waited so long to announce the players."

Wainwright was 2-1 with three saves and a 3.12 earned run average in 75 innings in the regular season. The rookie took over the closer's job in the playoffs and finished out all three postseason series. He finished 1-0 with four saves and no earned runs in 9 2/3 innings.

Duncan hit 22 home runs in 90 games last season. Also a rookie, he hit .293 and drove in 43 runs.