After 5: 'I was there!'

My team had just won the World Series, and I was there.

I don’t consciously remember the last time the St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series. I turned 6 the day the Cards beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 in Game 7 of the 1982 Fall Classic.

I didn’t start watching baseball until a couple of years later, and I instantly became a Cardinals fan.

There are myriad Cardinals moments emblazoned in my memory from the 1980s and 1990s, but none better than when my dad caught a Pedro Guerrero home run ball.

He caught that ball barehanded. My dad had strong, caring hands, and I miss them more than anything in the world. He was my Cardinals buddy, and after he passed away in July 2003, I couldn’t bring myself to watch another Cardinals game until the next season.

I certainly wish my dad could have experienced what I did during Game 5 of this year’s World Series.

There I was – row six, section 437. I was actually there. I tried to avoid thinking about the Cardinals’ opportunity to clinch, because I didn’t want to jinx anything. I was anxious all day, but I relaxed a little after the first inning.

While Cardinals pitcher Jeff Weaver carved up Detroit hitters in the first, Tigers starter Justin Verlander was wild and loaded the bases. The Redbirds looked focused, and the Tigers looked rattled.

I cheered as loud as I could, even though I felt my voice getting hoarse in the 42-degree night air. I didn’t care. I wasn’t a stoic reporter that night. I was a fan.

By the time we got to the ninth inning,

I couldn’t keep still. I was too cold and too excited. Then it happened. Adam Wainwright struck out Brandon Inge, and the Cardinals won the World Series right before my eyes.

I hugged and kissed Jennifer Vernon, the woman I love. Jennifer accepted my marriage proposal just eight days earlier, the night before my 30th birthday. The Cardinals’ victory capped what may have been the greatest week of my life.

As the confetti flittered through the air, I was numb, and my world was flawless.

I held my girl tightly, watched my team maul each other on the field and whispered thank you to God.[[In-content Ad]]