Record crowd turns out for festive home opener

ST. LOUIS -- It was practically a holiday in St. Louis -- the home opener for the Cardinals.

After beginning the season with six games on the road, St. Louis played its home opener Monday against National League Central rival Houston. The largest-ever regular-season crowd at Busch Stadium (46,918) was happy upon arrival and even more so after the 5-0 win that featured Albert Pujols' fifth homer of the season.

It was a scene that plays itself out countless times each season -- a capacity crowd, nearly everyone wearing red, cheering wildly for the hometown heroes.

But on opening day, the atmosphere is always a little more electric.

Scott Kelly, 46, of Affton, Mo., took his 8-year-old son, Jeff, out of school to attend the game and the festivities.

Former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog, left, and Cardinals great Stan Musial, both Major League Baseball Hall of Fame members, bump fists during the ceremony before Monday's home opener in St. Louis.

"I wanted him to take in the experience," Kelly said. "This is something he will never forget. I've been to a lot of these and it was time for him to go, too."

For Jeff, the game was secondary.

"I can't wait to see the players in the cars," Jeff said of the traditional motorcade of Hall of Famers and players before the game, led by the Budweiser Clydesdales. "That's what Dad said is the neatest."

Few places celebrate their baseball heritage like St. Louis and Monday was no exception, with loud ovations for the Hall of Famers, including the newest member of that group, Whitey Herzog, who managed the Cardinals to three pennants and a World Series title in the 1980s.

Herzog threw out the first pitch and his 1985 NL championship team was honored before the game on the 25th anniversary of their pennant. He was joined by '85 players Jack Clark, Ken Dayley, Ozzie Smith, Curt Ford, Rick Horton and others.

Perhaps the loudest ovation was for Stan Musial. The Man, now feeble but always smiling at 89, waved to fans as two people helped him from a golf cart.

Expectations are usually high for the Cardinals, but more so this season with Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright at the top of the rotation and Pujols and Matt Holliday -- newly signed in the offseason to a seven-year, $120 million contract -- in the middle of the batting order.

The pregame atmosphere outside the ballpark was like a carnival, with pep rallies, food booths, games and singers. One man was circulating a petition to make opening day an official holiday in St. Louis -- and he had plenty of signatures.

Even St. Louis police got in on the feel-good atmosphere -- the department waived parking tickets at meters in the vicinity of Busch Stadium.

Pujols said he and his teammates feed off the crowd.

"Opening days are pretty special here," he said after the game. "Obviously it's always exciting."