The St. Louis Cardinals unveiled their new ballpark with a 4-3, 12-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves
On May 12, 1966, the St. Louis Cardinals debuted their new ballpark, Busch Memorial Stadium. In the first game in what is now referred to as ‘Busch II’, the Redbirds beat the Braves 4-3 in 12 innings.
The circular, multi-purpose stadium immediately became one of the defining landmarks of downtown St. Louis, rising beside the Gateway Arch during a transformative era for the city. Built to replace aging Sportsman’s Park — later known as Busch Stadium — the futuristic venue reflected the growing trend of cookie-cutter stadiums that emerged throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Yet for Cardinals fans, Busch Memorial Stadium quickly developed its own identity and charm.
The Cardinals wasted little time turning their new home into a winner’s stage. Just one year after the stadium opened, St. Louis captured the 1967 World Series behind National Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Lou Brock. Two years later, the club returned to the Fall Classic again in 1968, cementing Busch Memorial Stadium as the backdrop for one of baseball’s proudest franchises.
Over the next four decades, the stadium hosted countless memorable moments, including postseason triumphs, All-Star festivities, and the speed-driven “Whiteyball” era under manager Whitey Herzog during the 1980s. Although Busch Memorial Stadium was eventually replaced in 2006 by the current Busch Stadium, its legacy remains deeply woven into the fabric of Cardinals history and the city itself.