Cardinals' annual stop lures local fans

With about 500 fans cheering them on at the Osage Community Centre, former and current players Ken Reitz, Jose Oquendo, Kerry Robinson, Luther Hackman and Kevin Joseph answered questions and signed autographs as the Cardinals Caravan made its annual stop.

"It's a little payback to the fans in the more rural areas who don't get a chance to see the players up close like this," said former Cardinals third baseman Reitz, who moderated the question-and-answer session. "They're the ones who come to 10 games a year and enjoy seeing the players."

Oquendo, the team's third-base coach and former Cardinal, said, "It's great because they can ask questions and talk to us just like talking to a friend."

Cardinals outfielder Robinson said he remembers attending the Caravan while playing as a member of the baseball team at Southeast Missouri State Universty.

"I always said if I got a chance, I'd like to come back as a Cardinal," he said.

Redbirds fans, young and old, stepped to the microphone to ask the panel questions ranging from the status of Rick Ankiel, the promising young lefthanded pitcher, to what will happen to Big Mac Land at Busch Stadium now that its namesake -- Mark McGuire -- has retired.

Reitz drew some chuckles when he suggested that it could be renamed Robinsonville. Robinson is not known for his long-ball hitting.

Young fans like nine-year-old Hunter Kinder of Cape Girardeau beamed as they clutched their newly acquired Cardinal memorabilia.

"It's really cool," Hunter said.

Then there was 42-year-old Ron Vervymck, standing in the autograph line with his baseball bat.

"I'm a little older," he said, "but I've always aspired to be a professional baseball player. I was going to ask one of those guys if I still had a chance."

Vervymck is already in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N. Y., by virtue of being caught on a video of Mark McGuire's then record-tying 61st home run in '98.

As McGuire rounds third base, there is Vervymck and a pal in the background holding a banner which says "Thanks for the tickets, Patty."

llewis@semissourian.com

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