Author: olabner

Welcome! I've followed baseball since I was 8 years old and started this site to illustrate the beauty of the game in prose, poetry, and photography. I have a Master's in Creative Writing at Missouri State University. For my thesis I wrote a collection of nonfiction micro essays about working in remote Alaska fishing lodges for five summers in my 20s. After graduation I worked as a northern lights guide in Bettles, Alaska, for 8 months. You can find my favorite aurora photographs at bestnorthernlights.com I am a freelance writer and photographer. You can find my portfolio at maryellenchiles.com

Austin Warner, St. Louis Cardinals organization

Posted by olabner on March 23, 2020March 23, 2020 in Interviews, Minors, MLB, Springfield Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals

Jupiter St. Louis Cardinals’ pitching prospect Austin Warner, who split last season between AA-Springfield and AAA-Memphis, was playing at minor league camp in Jupiter, Florida, when spring training was shut down. He wasn’t totally surprised. March Madness was supposed to…

Davis Schwab, Atlanta Braves organization

Posted by olabner on March 17, 2020March 17, 2020 in Atlanta Braves, College, Interviews, Minors, MVC

Davis Schwab, a left-handed pitcher, finished his career at Missouri State University in 2019 and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves that in the 37th round in June. Last summer he played rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League in North…

Baseball in the Age of Corona

Posted by olabner on March 11, 2020March 11, 2020 in College, Ethics, Fan, Missouri State, MVC, Photos

Welcome back. I was supposed to be on a plane today but postponed my flight because I had a cold and didn’t want to fly to the PNW considering certain factors. Besides, American Airlines will call you back in a…

fave pix of 2019

Posted by olabner on December 9, 2019 in Minors, MLB, Photos, Springfield Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals

I have been remiss in posting for a few reasons, so pardon me and enjoy some of my favorite pix of the year … share on social if you like and please credit @OlAbnerBaseball or @MaryEllenChiles on Instagram. xoxoxoxo …

The best $60 I ever spent: my view at the greatest World Series game in history

Posted by olabner on October 16, 2019July 28, 2022 in AL, Fan, MLB, NL, Playoffs, St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, World Series

Behold. First published in similar form on a previous blog of mine in late October 2011. I bought a standing room only ticket for the World Series in St. Louis, arriving at noon for the 7 pm start. It was…

Baby Birds are Comin’ to Town

Posted by olabner on July 30, 2019August 3, 2019 in Minors, Photos, Springfield Cardinals

These uniforms. I just can’t. It’s the belts. The stocking caps on the birds. The candy cane bats. The lights! Here are some non-Carpenter pix from Xmas in July. by

Jolly Old Saint Carpenter visits SGF

Posted by olabner on July 28, 2019August 3, 2019 in Minors, MLB, Photos, Springfield Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals

Matt Carpenter visited Springfield to play third base for the Baby Birds and gather his wings to fly back to St. Louis. He went 0-21 in five games. Next – to Memphis (AAA)! A slideshow from July 26 – night…

minor league day

Posted by olabner on July 11, 2019August 3, 2019 in Minors, Photos, Springfield Cardinals

Just a few kids trying to make it big … by

a few photos: June 29, 2019: Sgf vs. NWA

Posted by olabner on July 1, 2019July 1, 2019 in Fan, Minors, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Photos, Springfield Cardinals

by

Albert! Albert!

Posted by olabner on June 24, 2019August 3, 2019 in Fan, MLB, Photos, St. Louis Cardinals

Albert Pujols visited St. Louis for the first time since he left for the LA school systems after the 2011 season. He was greeted with standing ovations for each plate appearance. From the heavenly realm of Busch cheap seats, I…