Brian Finch, Manger of Stadium Tours and Museum Outreach for the St. Louis Cardinals, loves his job and his team. He and his staff welcomed the opportunity to share their love of the game with our GRADS last month by offering them a unique, hands-on tour.

After much planning, on a cool morning in March, a month before opening day, 27 Delta Gamma Center GRADS sat in the radio broadcast room at the stadium and talked about their favorite players. They went to the dug-out, tried out the phones there, and joined Brian and his staff in a rousing round of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” They ran the distance from home plate to the outfield wall, stopping to feel the grass and a base. They felt the differences in the carvings of the Cardinal logos on the wall and on the field and talked about baseball trivia. They were delighted to have the opportunity to feel different kinds of bats, toss around different kinds of balls, feel and try on official jerseys, and put championship rings on their fingers.

There were no crowds or vendors in the stands or players on the field, but the game came to life that morning for our group, and they came away with a new appreciation for the game, ready to usher in a new season with a heightened level of enthusiasm. Thanks to Brian and his staff, there was no question in anyone’s mind when we left the stadium that this month’s outing was a hit and that the Cardinals are winners in the hearts of our GRADS!