. ST. LOUIS PAST!!!Part Five

Some of you will remember this stadium as Sportsman's Park. Some will remember this stadium as Busch Stadium (one) . If you are Connie's age or younger your memory of this stadium will be from reading or word of mouth. The attached photos are not my best but please remember they are over 40 years old. They were taken with a Welty 35mm camera that was manually set and focused.
The first photo is looking west from the north east corner of Grand and Dodier.You are looking at the double deck right field grandstand. Looking right from the grandstand you see the front of what was called the right field pavilion. The pavilion was occupied primarily by African Americans and kids about twelve and older who were members of the Knot Hole gang and received reduced ticket prices. Unfortunately the left field bleachers is not shown. The bleachers were occupied primarily by men and boys. You set on rows of benches with no backs. The big attraction in the bleachers was price and for afternoon games you could take off your shirt and soak up the rays. The main entrance was to the left of the photo and down Dodier street.
The second photo was taken from the third base dugout looking toward right field. Currently Cardinal fans are in an uproar about two foul poles that obstruct their view. Please note all the steel girders in the grandstand that you had to find a way to look around. In 1981 I watched a football game in the old Milwaukee stadium and I am positive some of the same girders were in front of me and blocking my view.
Sportman's park [old Busch stadium] was home to both the Cardinals and the American league Brown's until they played their last game in St. Louis Oct. 1953. Then around 1962/63 the stadium became home to the Big Red our NFL football team.
I remember my first game as if it was yesterday but it was the summer of 1948. It was a hot Sunday afternoon and we rode the streetcar to see the Brows and the Chicago White Sox play a douleheader. Pat Seery an outfielder for the White Sox hit three home runs in the first game.
My personal list of big moments I saw at Sportman's park------
1---Games six and seven of the 1964 world series.
2---May 2nd 1952 Stan Musial hit five home runs in a doubleheader.
3---All star game in 1954
4--- Last night game played at Sportman>s park May 7, 1966.
5---Babe Ruth made a personal appearance in the spring of about 1949 and he could hardly speak and be heard by the crowd. He died shortly after the appearance.
Some of the great stars I saw play Willie Mays, Roberto Clementi, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, Warren Spahn, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campenalla, Yogi Berra, and I could go on for a long time.
Some of my favorite old time Cardinals that I saw play Stan Musial, Enos Slaughter, Terry Moore, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Red Schoendiest, Curt Flood, Marty Marion, Ken Boyer, and again I could go on for a long time.

FRIENDS of LONG STANDING
ARE Soooooo
SPECIAL!!!!


We first met Dean and Jan Patrick by my memory in either the fall of 1969 or spring of 1970. Quickly our two families became friends and spent lots of time doing things that cost little or no money. Why because we had very little at that time of our lives.
I purposely chose older photos to illustrate our friendship of over thirty five years. The picture of Dean is from the pictorial directory of 1991 and the family photo is from the early to mid eighties.[my guess] The picture of Dean and Joe is from our 1999 anniversary party.
One of our favorite couple activities was family camping and it was great as Dean would do the cooking. You have never eaten unless you tried Dean;s peach cobbler cooked over an open fire. Another great reason to camp with Dean is he took care of everything to free you up to simply have fun outdoors.
Dean,as you know I have learned many lessons of life from you. The three most important lessons are
1--- You attend every one time family event no matter what plans you have to change.
2--- Be involved with young people as they are the future. I have fond memories of Indian guides, [you helped me to get involved] your involvement with McKnight youth program and the way you started the young kids Easter parade at McKnight.
3---Put God first, your family second and always serve others.
To illustrate what a small world this is Jan and I both went to Roosevelt high school [we didn't know each other]. And Lucille [Jan;s mother] worked with my Aunt Dudell.
Sherri still remembers a car trip to Arkansas where you quickly learned when Dean stops the car you better go.
Dean and Jan YOU ARE SPECIAL to the entire Tritschler family.
If you have an opportunity I encourage you to visit briefly with Dean are send him an encouraging card as he is really battling a serious illness.

ST LOUIS PAST PART FOUR !!!!

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

You and I remember this St Louis landmark as the Checkerdome however prior to the purchase by Ralston Purina it was simply the St Louis Arena.
My memory goes back to the forties and I remember a Police circus around 1945 and a huge thunderstorm that at age six I thought the roof would blow off or collapse. For many years after I dreaded attending events at the old barn [a nickname] yet I went and saw a Rodeo that had Roy Rogers and his horse Trigger as intermission entertainment. In addition I remember going right after the end of WW2 with my father, grandfather, and uncle to see a boxing match when the temperature was at least -8 below zero and we did not know the meaning of wind chill. I was about eight and of course the old car had no heater and it did not start.
In my teen years I remember my Uncle Bob taking me to a world championship boxing event that included Archie Moore,Willie Pep, and a St Louisan by the name of Virgil Adkins. In my young adult years my fiance Nancy and I saw an NBA all star game That included Oscar Robertson, Bob Petitt, Bob Cousey, Bill Russell, and many other legendary basketball players.
Over the years the Arena was home to the St Louis Bombers [pro.basketball] Flyers [minor league hockey] Blues [ NHL] Spirits [ABA] Steamers [indoor soccer]. In addition many other events including NCAA [basketball] Boxing, Wrestling, Harlem Globetrotters, concerts, [like Neal Diamond] and other events too numerous to remember.
I doubt when the Savis center comes to its end that it will have hosted as many varied and big events that the old barn hosted.

MAY 9 1959 THE BIGGEST DAY of MY LIFE


The births of my children were important,births of my grandchildren special, career was a necessity,but 5-9-1959 made all things possible.
I can still remember standing at the front of the church watching Nancy enter on her fathers arm and thinking WOW!!!.
Forty seven years later I still wonder how in the world I was so blessed that she said yes to my proposal.
The two of us have been blessed to parent three great children and to assist in the lives of six terrific grandchildren. I am always amazed at the blessings God has given us. Thankful Miss Nancy McCoy chose me to share her life.
Nancy,Happy Anniversary and I look forward to many more.

ST LOUIS---------Part Three
FOREST PARK HIGHLANDS
Gone but not forgotten. The top photo is the entrance way to the former Forest Park Highlands. Located across from Forest Park on the grounds that is now Forest Park Community College.
The next photo shows the cars and track of the Flying Turns a great ride especially when you are
a teenage boy riding a car
with a young girl.
When you started going to the Highlands as a little guy your big dream was to be tall enough to ride the COMET. A great all wooden roller coaster.[bottom photo] In the forties and fifties this was the ultimate ride.!!!!!!
In the spring the Highlands catered to school picnics and in the summer to families going on a day trip similar to going to Six Flags today. The big difference would be today you pay a day fee for all rides and at the Highlands you purchased tickets for each ride.
The park included a haunted house, Dodgem cars, Ferriss Wheel, Air plane ride, Boat ride, and all sorts of little kids rides. In attention you had penny arcade and many games of chance.
When you were driving you sometimes would take a date for an evening of dancing under the stars to a live band.
It truly was a sad day when the Forest Park Highlands closed.

ST LOUIS PAST ------- Part two

The St Louis Zoo has always been free but back when I was a child and a young father the Zoo also had three free animal shows. Pictured here is the world famous chimpanzee show. In addition there was an Elephant and Lion show and each had there own building for their performances.
I can vividly remember at age seven or eight going to the zoo with my paternal grandparents and seeing all three shows. We would get to the park by riding a street car and a bus. In addition we would bring a picnic basket lunch and eat in the park.
The pictures are from the sixties when I was a young father. We would go to the park in our air conditioned car and purchase our lunch. I sometimes wonder if my children and grandchildren are missing a lot of memory makers that public transportation brought to our lives
The chimpanzee show was the most popular of the three shows. I guess as the three animal trainers retired the shows were unable to continued.