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ST. LOUIS -
The 2009 All-Star game brought massive crowds to downtown St. Louis as baseball fans tried to make their way into Busch Stadium. Of course, the lines were long as the Commander in Chief made his way to St. Louis. But long waits could not dampen the spirits of Redbird fans as Albert Pujols was announced as the starting first baseman.
The NL was looking for its first win since 1996 in Philadelphia. The American League's 11-0-1 run since is the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history.
Sheryl Crow, who is from Missouri, sang the national anthem.
Obama's first pitch and the introduction of Cardinals great Stan Musial highlighted pregame ceremonies. The 88-year-old Musial carried a baseball and drew applause from players as he was driven in from right field. He greeted Obama near the National League dugout, handed him the ball for the first pitch and the two chatted while shaking hands. President Barack Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch -- a low toss to Pujols -- before San Francisco right-hander Tim Lincecum took the mound for the Nationals in the first All-Star game.
Wearing red jackets, five other Cardinals Hall of Famers were on the field: Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Bruce Sutter and Ozzie Smith.
Carl Crawford's glove and a dominant bullpen helped save the AL's streak. Crawford pulled back a home run with a leaping grab an inning before Curtis Granderson tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth, giving the American League a 4-3 victory Tuesday night at the new Busch Stadium.
The "knothole gang" during an Allstar game, with the president of the United States inside the stadium is a bit different than mos Cardinal game nights. Fans without a ticket had to crane their necks around an extra security fence. While they couldn't see everything those inside could see they could feel it.
Without spending a dime, or standing in line, fans found a way to an all star experience. One man even took it home with him. Denny Tidwell of Wood River, IL took a chunk of the red carpet that was used during the All Star parade.
"Well they were cutting out little squares and stuff the guy was tired of cutting. He said here take it all so I snatched it, and I'm gone with it."
Once the crowd going inside thinned out, those left without a ticket congregated on Clark Avenue. There were some who were there, hoping to score a last minute ticket for an inexpensive price, and there were those who came down, no intention of paying, but with every intention of feeling some baseball fun.
They staked out every spot possible to see the jumbotron, and they cheered for Albert Pujols, they saw Stan Musial rounding the bases during a moving tribute to him, and they even watched President Obama throw out the first pitch. They brought coolers, cameras, and one wild contraption. One kid used cardboard and mirrors to make a periscope. Then someone gave him a ticket to get inside, so he gave away the periscope, to Jeremy McAninch, without a ticket, but not without a good view..
"I can see home plate, the pitchers mound," he says. "If I move it around I can see some of the bases. Without it I can see nothing."
Baseball is so much of who the people are St. Louis are, the All Star game is where the people had to be. And even outside they were.
"This is the first time, maybe the last time ever that it might be in St. Louis so we're down here enjoying ourselves," said one mom with two daughters with her. "Better out than in, and a lot cheaper!"
The NL was looking for its first win since 1996 in Philadelphia. The American League's 11-0-1 run since is the longest unbeaten streak in All-Star history.
Sheryl Crow, who is from Missouri, sang the national anthem.
Obama's first pitch and the introduction of Cardinals great Stan Musial highlighted pregame ceremonies. The 88-year-old Musial carried a baseball and drew applause from players as he was driven in from right field. He greeted Obama near the National League dugout, handed him the ball for the first pitch and the two chatted while shaking hands. President Barack Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch -- a low toss to Pujols -- before San Francisco right-hander Tim Lincecum took the mound for the Nationals in the first All-Star game.
Wearing red jackets, five other Cardinals Hall of Famers were on the field: Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Bruce Sutter and Ozzie Smith.
Carl Crawford's glove and a dominant bullpen helped save the AL's streak. Crawford pulled back a home run with a leaping grab an inning before Curtis Granderson tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the eighth, giving the American League a 4-3 victory Tuesday night at the new Busch Stadium.
The "knothole gang" during an Allstar game, with the president of the United States inside the stadium is a bit different than mos Cardinal game nights. Fans without a ticket had to crane their necks around an extra security fence. While they couldn't see everything those inside could see they could feel it.
Without spending a dime, or standing in line, fans found a way to an all star experience. One man even took it home with him. Denny Tidwell of Wood River, IL took a chunk of the red carpet that was used during the All Star parade.
"Well they were cutting out little squares and stuff the guy was tired of cutting. He said here take it all so I snatched it, and I'm gone with it."
Once the crowd going inside thinned out, those left without a ticket congregated on Clark Avenue. There were some who were there, hoping to score a last minute ticket for an inexpensive price, and there were those who came down, no intention of paying, but with every intention of feeling some baseball fun.
They staked out every spot possible to see the jumbotron, and they cheered for Albert Pujols, they saw Stan Musial rounding the bases during a moving tribute to him, and they even watched President Obama throw out the first pitch. They brought coolers, cameras, and one wild contraption. One kid used cardboard and mirrors to make a periscope. Then someone gave him a ticket to get inside, so he gave away the periscope, to Jeremy McAninch, without a ticket, but not without a good view..
"I can see home plate, the pitchers mound," he says. "If I move it around I can see some of the bases. Without it I can see nothing."
Baseball is so much of who the people are St. Louis are, the All Star game is where the people had to be. And even outside they were.
"This is the first time, maybe the last time ever that it might be in St. Louis so we're down here enjoying ourselves," said one mom with two daughters with her. "Better out than in, and a lot cheaper!"
