By Ryan K Boman for The Lou Information Station | July 8, 2025

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There’s an old expression that says speed kills. Well, if that’s the case, then the St. Louis Cardinals of the 1980s could be considered mass murderers. Because their speed helped them streak to success and also reshape the game of baseball, especially for those of us who spent our sweaty summers in the stands.

For many who fall into the category of Generation X, the first big league game we ever saw was in the ‘old’ Busch Stadium (or Busch II). It was a perfectly round, ‘cookie-cutter’ ballpark that was the fashion of the day. Cities were building multi-sport facilities in places like Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, and our own Busch Stadium’s architecture was very similar. 

However, our copy-and-paste building included a nod to the city, with its multiple arches incorporated into the design. And it was all topped off by Astroturf, which would get so hot on an August afternoon that you could see the waves of warmth coming off the field. 

It was as if the environment was made to match the feverish pace the Cardinals set in the 1980s, capturing three pennants and a World Series title along the way. Their strategy to push the envelope… Read More HERE

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