The 2009 All Star Game - St. Louis

Mark one off my Bucket List. 2009 has been a great year for us to make it to St. Louis for Opening Day, another Bucket List check off and now the 2009 All Star Game. Last fall when I found out this game was going to be in St. Louis I watched for tickets. Fortunately an angel was watching out for us and offered us Home Run Derby tickets. Luckily we were in the right place at the right time to get All Star Game tickets too. We are so very thankful and blessed we were able to experience this absolutely amazing event!!


Here are several photos of the goings on around Busch Stadium before and during the game. I have a few pics of the game, but thought you'd find these more interesting. Warning, if you are not a baseball fan, feel free to maneuver yourself away from this blog. We started game day with the Red Carpet Parade. All the players, vets and the Home Town Heroes rode on the red carpet in very nice vehicles. I'll save those pics for a later post. You'll see the Home Town Heroes a few pics down.

The above picture is of some of the press people before the game. Trust me, they were everywhere.


Soldiers from Ft. Leonard Wood. Most had just returned from Iraq. I thought they were there on special security. They were able to roam the field for a bit.

Official 2009 All Star Photos

Since President Obama was scheduled to throw out the first pitch, sharp shooters were posted atop the stadium. And everywhere else I presume.

Our official SRO seats. My camera overheated during the Red Carpet Parade and hubby had the bright idea to hurry up and get in line at the stadium. Gates opened at 3:15. He wanted to get into position under the press box so we would have an excellent view. That it was. Notice the first guy all decked in red. His name is Brian. He was quite fun. I stood beside him all evening and had many, many conversations with him. Doesn't he look like Joe Torre. Maybe his brother? I told hubby he had to be Joe's brother. Even an usher told him he looked like Joe Torre, but Brian didn't seem to like that. He was fun. I'll never forget him. When Molina got on base he high-fived me so hard I thought he fractured my right hand. No one has ever high-fived me that hard. He was so excited!

Highway 40 was closed down to accommodate the security of the President of the United States.

This is a smaller group getting into Busch that day. Everyone had to go through special security.

These guys arrived and moved some people out of SRO. We weren't sure what kind of weapons they had. Brian thought they were fancy potato guns. Later we learned they were streamer shooters. One old man couldn't take it. He had to ask.

Official sniffers.

One of my very favorite things about St. Louis. The Clydesdales. I hope InBev doesn't do away with them. Any Missourian knows these majestic animals are iconic to St. Louis. My heart races every time I see them.

The soldiers from Ft. Leonard Wood had the privilege of carrying the flag.


Introduction of the starting lineups.

One of my favorite shots of the day.

Home Town Heroes. 30 individuals from across the United States who give their own time to do wonderful things.

All living presidents spoke on the jumbotron.

Missouri's own Sheryl Crow. My SRO neighbor Brian went absolutely kookoo when she came out.

From this angle you can see why.

The Stealth Bomber. The pilot's sons were at the game holding up a sign stating their dad was the pilot. I love the Stealth. The Bat Mobile has nothing on the Stealth.

Living legends.

Stan Musial unable to make the walk got a special escort. And a special visit from President Obama.

The first pitch. He did good!

See this young fella? He's headed to Milton, Ohio for a Little League World Series this weekend. The team he is on is the state champions of Tennessee. That's his dad, all grins. He was quite proud telling us about his son and how his son hopes to be on a professional field some day.

The fans were amazing!

Greg

THE Cardinal

The President left the stadium.

This was just before my right hand got bruised from a monstrous high-five.

Hubby had just left to get a drink. This was when I went kookoo. Bradley Cooper was somewhere in the sections below us. I about melted when I saw him on the big screen. So I got his picture. My SRO neighbor Brian had no idea why I was going kookoo. "He's my Sheryl Crow!!!" "AH!", he replied.

Sara Evans sang during the 7th inning stretch. I'm not a fan, but she did a great job!!

My Very Favorite Fan!!