A poem regarding Opening Day. With thanks to Clement-Clark Moore, who wrote “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (aka ‘Twas the Night before Christmas).
By Mary Ellen Chiles
March 27, 2026
‘Twas the season ope’ner, and New Busch was packed
Forty-five thousand – all decked in red caps
with popcorn and hot dogs and Budweiser, too,
the fans gathered round with all hope renewed.
With Ozzie and Willie and Vince Coleman there
Everyone stopped to see Ted Simmons’ hair.
Red jackets reminded us of better times
The Central Division is not hard to climb!
Last season was painful, as records recall
Under .500’s no way to play ball!
with Donnie and Nolan and Contreras gone,
the roster looked weakened; the season loomed long,
but hope springs eternal, and Chaim Bloom’s now in charge.
The payroll is tiny, but the heart still looks large.
Game one remained scoreless until the third inning
The Wetherholt era had its beginning.
Drafted in twenty-four and still just a kid
he hit a home run for his first big league hit!
A shot to dead center, it fell on the green
Where 15 years prior, Freese lived out a dream.
(Do you recall how the moment stood still?
I stood in the stands: Oh my, what a thrill!)
Here, Libertore gives up a home run –
The umps reviewed it, and Fredbird had fun.
The ball was just foul, and the call was reversed.
The Cardinals’ fans cheered. The Rays’ fans just cursed.
Williams then struck out; S-T-L led by one.
Looks like these defenders can throw and can run!
Church started in outfield and stopped at the track –
He reached over the wall and brought the ball back.
Fans checked out new jerseys at the Mercantile
While Aranda homers to right center field.
Tied in the sixth: bloop over J.J.’s head
next up comes Mullins, who pops out instead.
Now pitching is Svanson; man on, a man out.
We really want something to cheer about!
Williams hits a single, Diaz hits a bloop
Oliver Marmol jumps off of the stoop
Bruihl pitches now, and Simpson in to pinch
He slaps a ground ball – Winn misses by an inch.
The Rays load the bases; Aranda to bat
He hits a fly ball, but it’s only a sac!
3 -1 is okay, see it’s nothing at all
Caminero at bat, where he takes four balls.
So now it’s Chris Roycroft; he’s in from the pen
Can he get the defense off the field again?
Williamson with the hit, the throw will go wide
4-1, bases loaded, and nowhere to hide!
Then DeLuca gets a hit up the middle
The Cardinals’ pitchers just can’t solve this riddle
Fortes hits a dribbler, there’s no play at first
Tampa leads 7-1; this is the worst!
It’s only the 6th, Cards down a half-dozen
Need to fight back, and get the crowd buzzin’
Burly hits a single; a real one at that
Winn hits a double, and Gorman to bat
Poor kid; he seems to strike out a ton
An overturned call makes it 0-1
Oh no, 0-2, I know how this goes
‘til Nolan hit that ball on the nose!
But Walker has struggled, really for years
He just hit a double – I may burst into tears!
Church hits the ball, and the crowd loudly shouts
It’s 7- to – 5 and there’s nobody out!
Pages is up, Victor Scott is on deck
And Bill DeWitt, Jr, looks up from his checks
A hit up the middle, it’s now first and second
This rebuild will work, DeWitt probably reckons
Scott bunts himself on, and takes a stolen base
Encyclopedia Brown: I’ve got you a case!
Sac fly from J.J., and then from Herrera
This rebuilding year is the start of an era
The fans all go crazy, it’s still baseball heaven
The Cardinals have just tied this game here at 7!
Burly to bat, and a quick 2-strike count
(The runner at third will make pressure mount!)
But he hits the ball over the left center wall
He jumps and he shouts; takes a curtain call
So on to the 9th, Cards up by just two
3 outs left to get – see, those are the rules
St. Louis leaves men on, but no need to panic
They’ve got a closer – his name? Ryne Stanek!
A pop-out, a walk will leave fans in a lurch
No matter when Simpson hits it to Church
Aranda is up; he challenges the call
And so the first strike turns into a ball
He gets the walk later, and two men are on
Too many baserunners can make it go wrong
Caminero is up, and he’s their best hitter
The thing is, none of these guys are quitters
Fans on their feet, and they all start to shout
Twenty-six men down, and just one more out!
But first a third walk, and the Rays load the bases
The fans will still cheer, but they cover their faces.
Two strikes down now, and Stanek still to throw
A strikeout could only surpass his flow
He does it and someone should pay for his dinner
The fans get to hear it: “Hey, now, that’s a winner!”
(Photo of Ryne Stanek taken by me at St. Louis vs. Springfield exhibition on Monday, March 23, at Hammons Field in Springfield, MO.)
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