Cardinals Caravan stops at Osage Centre today

Southeast Missouri will get a preseason glimpse of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals today when the Cardinals Caravan makes the annual stop at the Osage Community Centre in Cape Girardeau.

The visit to Cape will be the fourth and final stop for the Redbirds, who traveled to Marion, Ill., and Memphis on Saturday before stopping by Ripley, Tenn., today.

Doors will open to the public at 5 p.m., an hour prior to the event. The program ends at around 8 p.m.

Cardinals players expected to attend the event are catcher Yadier Molina, pitcher Randy Flores and newly acquired infielder Aaron Miles, who the Cardinals received in a trade with the Colorado Rockies in early December.

Longtime Cardinals broadcaster Al Hrabosky is scheduled to serve as the emcee, and St. Louis mascot Fredbird also is expected to be present.

Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Facility and Recreation manager Penny Williams said other players may attend, but the Cardinals have not released any information.

"I'm sure that there will be other players," she said. "They don't want to say somebody is going to show up and then they don't, so I haven't heard about any other players coming."

The program will consist of discussion about the upcoming season, door prizes, a question-and-answer segment and an autograph session for children.

"We've had a lot of calls, and I anticipate it will be as good as it's been in the past," Williams said, adding that she expects about 750 people from all over Southeast Missouri to attend. "I expect people from Farmington, Perryville and Poplar Bluff. It's a big deal; the Cardinals are a big draw.

"Who around here is not a Cardinals fan?"

Tickets for the event will be sold at the door for $3. Proceeds benefit the Parks and Recreation Department Foundation.