2 December 2004
Springfield Cardinals vs St. Louis Cardinals
By John Brayfield
Things just keep getting better and better for the Springfield
Cardinals' fans, and they haven't even played their first game yet. They also
made this year's Christmas shopping just a little easier.
On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the Springfield Cardinals announced in a news
conference held at Hammons Field (home of the Springfield Cardinals)
that they will host the 2004 National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals
in a pair of exhibition games, April 2 and April 3, that will serve as
the franchise's Springfield debut. The newest team to join the Texas
League also introduced their radio and television partners, announced
when tickets would go on sale and when and where fans can begin to
purchase official team merchandise.
The Springfield Cardinals will debut at Hammons Field on Saturday,
April 2, at 3:10 p.m. versus the 2004 National League Champion St. Louis
Cardinals. The series will conclude on Sunday, April 3, with the first
pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
"I can't wait to see the look on Jim Edmonds' face when he walks out
on our field and looks down the right field line," Said Matt Gifford,
vice president-general manager of the Springfield Cardinals. "I think he
is going to be impressed."
According to Gifford, the team has reached an agreement with JOCK
98.7 FM (in Springfield) to be the official "Voice" of the Springfield
Cardinals. JOCK 98.7 FM will carry the entire 142 game schedule, which
includes both exhibition games against the 2004 National League Champions.
"The Springfield Cardinals are proud to join the St. Louis Cardinals
in the Meyer Communication Radio Group," said Gifford.
"JOCK 98.7 FM is committed to remaining the leader in sports coverage
throughout the Ozarks and adding the Springfield Cardinals to our
programming only proves that fact," said Ken Meyer, owner/president of Meyer
Communications who owns JOCK 98.7 FM, a 100,000-watt station that
covers the entire southwest Missouri area and its sister station, KTXR 101.3
FM, a St, Louis Cardinal broadcast affiliate.
Gifford said that the team is equally proud to announce that they
have reached an agreement with KY3 and UPN15 to be the exclusive
television partner of the Springfield Cardinals. KY3 and Upn15 will carry up to
12 home games this season, Including both exhibition games against the
St. Louis Cardinals. KYTV, or as it is locally known as KY3, a NBC
affiliate, is the leading television station in the Springfield market. In
addition to carrying the Springfield Cardinals, KY3 and UPN15 will
become the St. Louis Cardinals affiliate for the Springfield area.
"We are very excited to add both St. Louis and Springfield Cardinals
baseball to our programming," said Mike Scott, president and general
manager of KY3 and UPN15. "We couldn't think of a better place for the
Cardinals to be than KY3."
Scott also announced that Springfield's legendary broadcaster, Ned
Reynolds, will anchor the broadcasts of the Springfield Cardinals games
at Hammons Field.
"The thing we have been getting the most inquiries about from fans is
'when can we buy team merchandise'?" said Gifford. "Well, we are proud
to announce that the Springfield Cardinals will offer, for the first
time ever, authentic merchandise for their 2005 inaugural season in a
two-day Holiday sale. On Friday, December 17 and Saturday, December 18,
the Springfield Cardinals will host this exclusive Holiday sale at
Hammons Field from 10 am until 6 p.m. each day." Gifford said that special
items for the sale will include team branded caps, shirts, jerseys, and
novelties.
Season ticket assignments for the Springfield Cardinals inaugural
season are underway, according to Gifford.
"The team projects that they will have locations assigned by late
December or early January," Gifford said. "The Cardinals will contact
each season ticket holder to inform them of their location and ticket
plan."
Season ticket holders will be given priority to purchase tickets for
the two exhibition games prior to the general public. Full season
ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase their season tickets
for both games. Half season ticket holders will be entitled to purchase
half of their season tickets for both games. In addition, half season
ticket holders will be able to purchase the other half of their ticket
allotment in other seating sections, locations will be based on
availability. If a half season ticket account has an odd number of seats, the
ability to purchase tickets for special events will be limited
accordingly.
Quarter season ticket holders will be placed on a priority list to
purchase a limited number of tickets to a least one of the exhibition
games.
Springfield Cardinal 2005 single game tickets, including the two
exhibition games, will go on sale Saturday, Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. Tickets for
the exhibition game will be priced the same as 2005 Springfield
Cardinals single game tickets.
Season tickets can still be reserved in all ticket packages (full,
half or quarter season) and in all seating sections except the Dugout
Boxes. Applications for season tickets will now be taken on a first come,
first serve basis and will be assigned a seating location after the
first round of seating assignments have been completed, said Gifford.
New season ticket inquires should call (417) 863-2143 for more
information, or stop by Hammons Field for a ticket packet.
The Springfield Cardinals will hold their regular season home opener
against the Tulsa Drillers on Tuesday, April 12, at Hammons Field.
