The Cardinals in solemn silence stood.
They watched clips of a young man on a screen until years glowed.
22 years old.
Oscar Taveras wore 18, and Carlos Martinez wears the number now to honor his teammate.
That number is also marked in white on a black dot on the outfield wall.
His initials are there, too. OT.
Overtime.
A bonus for sports fans, those who long for a few more minutes to see their team play.
Maybe because it’s easier to enjoy what’s happening when time is limited.
Martinez is just a young man, himself, a wonderfully gifted pitcher who may get many more years to play the game he loves.
But first he watched his friend memorialized on a screen.
Martinez shook with tears. His teammate, Lance Lynn, draped his hand over the pitcher’s shoulder.
Last time Taveras played at Busch, he tipped his cap to cheering crowds.
Those fans stood in silence to remember him.
Just a few baseball highlights from his life.
All 22 years.
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