Photos: For fans, Cardinals' opening day is an unofficial holiday
A sea of red engulfed downtown St. Louis as the Cardinals Nation showed up for the Redbirds' first game and home opener of the 2022 Major League Baseball season, Thursday, April 7, 2022. With Wainwright, Pujols, and Molina in the lineup, fans fully packed Busch Stadium for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic, to see the Cardinals open their 131st season in the National League with Oliver Marmol as the new manager.
Photos by St. Louis Post-Dispatch staff photographers
St. Louis Cardinals 2022 opening day
Greta Bryant turns to talk with her friend Rhonda Yocks as they take their seats for the St. Louis Cardinals opening day ceremonies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Landon McNelly, 6, joins his dad Zach Hilliar for the singing of the national anthem as they watch opening day from Ballpark Village on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Bobbie Haven of Fairview Heights dances in his Chewbacca costume with Anrya Tutson on Kiener Plaza during a pep rally before opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Play Ball on opening day at Busch
The World Series trophy is illuminated by the morning sun as St. Louis Cardinals fans arrive for opening day at Ballpark Village on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Play Ball on opening day at Busch
Richard Otis, seated center, and David Gore arrived at 5 a.m. for a front spot in line for 'First Pitch' tickets before the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on opening day, Thursday, April 7, 2022. "I didn't know what to expect," said Otis of his early arrival. "I wanted a guarantee." The line of fans is seen through the legs of the Ted Simmons statue. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Todd Thomas leads St. Louis Cardinals fans in cheers at a opening day pep rally in Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
St. Louis Cardinals fans fill a trash can with beverage remnants before entering Busch Stadium security on opening day on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
A Ukrainian flag flying past Busch Stadium is pulled by an airplane circling over downtown before opening day of the St. Louis Cardinals' season on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The flyover was organized by Dr. Bill Droege in support of refugees who may come to the St. Louis region. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
St. Louis Cardinals fans sing 'Take Me Out To The Ballgame' at an opening day pep rally in Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals host opening day at Busch Stadium
The first St. Louis Cardinal fans enter Gate 3 for opening day on Thursday, April 7, 2022, before the opening-day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals host opening day at Busch Stadium
Young St. Louis Cardinal fans hoping for autographs press against the netting along the third base line on Thursday, April 7, 2022, during batting practice and workouts before the opening-day game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Photo by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
St. Louis Cardinals fans jockey for a souvenir tossed during an opening day pep rally in Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
An unidentified St. Louis Cardinals fan celebrates winning opening day tickets by answering a trivia question at a pep rally in Ballpark Village outside Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
The Running Man statue is draped in St. Louis Cardinals red in Kiener Plaza during a pep rally before opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Wendy McGregor, center, and Tommy Thomas, left, enjoy the music of the Danger Zone band in Kiener Plaza during a pep rally before the St. Louis Cardinals play opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Ten Hochman: What Cardinals opening day means to St. Louis, especially in 2022
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Recordia Kennedy 'spanks' Tommy Thomas as they dance to the music of the Danger Zone band on Kiener Plaza during a St. Louis Cardinals pep rally before opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Weary Cardinals fans, many who arrived before sunrise, await 'First Pitch' tickets before the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates to open their season at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Play Ball on opening day at Busch
Richard Otis, center, and David Gore arrived at 5 a.m. for a front spot in line for 'First Pitch' tickets before the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on opening day, Thursday, April 7, 2022. "I didn't know what to expect," said Otis of his early arrival. "I wanted a guarantee." Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Play Ball on opening day at Busch
"Everyone is a friend or family on opening day," said Trevor McCullough of St. Ann, who wore his best onesie to stand in line for 'First Pitch' tickets before the St. Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. "It's just great to be back." Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Early tailgaters, opening day Cardinals baseball
From left Nick Mensio and Cierra Duff, of Lake St. Louis, and Michaela and Joe Friederich, of Wentzville, arrived about 8 am downtown to continue their 15-year tradition of tailgating on opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals. On their menu was breakfast omelets, and bloody marys, and mimosas, with brats for lunch. They all have tickets to the game. Photo by Hillary Levin, hlevin@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
It's standing room only in Ballpark Village as St. Louis Cardinals fans flood the building for opening day outside Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
The Budweiser Clydesdales exit Busch Stadium after circling the warning track during opening day ceremonies on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Cardinals open their season at Busch
Kevin Hunter waves to a Ballpark Village television screen as Albert Pujols is introduced on opening day at Busch Stadium on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals opening day 2022
"It's always cold up here when the wind blows, but it's well worth it" said Kathleen Driskell, from Owensville, who took her seat in the last row of Busch Stadium hours before the first pitch of the St. Louis Cardinals 2022 season in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals opening day 2022
Gerry Hager, from Florissant, bundles up against the cold and wind for her first opening at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals opening day 2022
Shelly Schroder, left, and Melba Pulaski, from Troy, Ill. cheer the St. Louis Cardinals scoring a run in the first inning at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals opening day 2022
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals line up on the baselines in front of a stadium full of fans for the national anthem during opening day ceremonies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals 2022 opening day
Friends Greta Bryant, Rhonda Yocks, Becky Johns, and Janie Goss talk with other fans about their wigs before opening day ceremonies for the St. Louis Cardinals 2022 season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, April 7, 2022. The groups says they have been to 22 opening days. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
St. Louis Cardinals 2022 opening day
Former St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire waves to fans as he circles the stadium during opening day ceremonies at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Thursday, April 7, 2022. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Robert Cohen
Robert Cohen is a photographer at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Hillary Levin
Hillary Levin is a photographer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Christian Gooden
Christian Gooden is a photographer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“I'd be surprised if this is last season, to be honest — just how good he looks,” Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks said.
The 131st season in the National League begins with a DH in the lineup and a need to improve at home, where offense sagged toward bottom of baseball.
We are not used to hearing recent Cardinals managers swing away so freely with the barrel of blunt honesty.
Hicks will start Tuesday against Kansas City, and the Cardinals are targeting him for around three innings in his first appearance, building from there.
Every player in opening-day lineup hit double-figure home runs last season. Wainwright is 21-7 against Pirates and has 99 career wins at Busch.
After two COVID-impacted seasons openers — one canceled, one abbreviated — throngs of fans show up Thursday at Busch Stadium for the area’s unofficial holiday.
Said Pujols: “Just to be back here, where everything started for me, and to try to finish my career here and finish strong with a championship, I think it’s pretty special."
How much fun is Adam Wainwright having? Even a traffic jam brings him joy.
Former slugger relates how he told manager La Russa it would be 'dumb' not to take rookie Pujols onto the team.
The Pirates are going to be terrible again this season. But had they lost third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes to a serious injury in first inning on Opening Day, that would have been catastrophic.