Busch Stadium from the Chronology

Apr 10, 2006 - The Cardinals defeat the Brewers, 6-4, in the 1st game played in the new $365 million Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The new stadium will seat 40,713 through July 12 and 46,861 after that date. Mark Mulder gets credit for the victory, and also hits a HR in the contest.

Aug 29, 2001 - The Cardinals down the Padres‚ 16-14‚ in the highest scoring game of the season. St. Louis scores 9 runs off Bobby Jones in the 2nd inning‚ while Ryan Klesko goes 5-for-6 for San Diego‚ with 2 HRs‚ 2 doubles‚ and 5 RBIs. One of the homers travels an estimated 472 feet‚ the longest by an opposing player at Busch Stadium since figures were recorded in 1988.

Jun 20, 2001 - Using the long ball‚ the Cubs record their first win at Busch Stadium in 13 tries over last two seasons‚ beating the Cards‚ 9-4. Sammy Sosa belts a 2-run homer and a grand slam‚ and makes a diving catch to save a run. Gary Mathews‚ Jr. adds a 3-run homer.

Sep 26, 1998 - McGwire stands alone as he parks #67 and #68 at Busch Stadium‚ but his Cards lose‚ 7-6‚ to Montreal.

Sep 25, 1998 - The home run race continues unabated as Sosa blasts his 66th homer in the 4th inning at Houston‚ and McGwire responds in the 5th inning with his 66th in the 5th inning at Busch Stadium. Sosa's solo shot ties the game at 2-2‚ but the Astros score in each in the next 4 innings to win‚ 6-2. Kevin Tapani fails in his bid to win his 20th. The Cards top the Expos‚ 6-5‚ as McGwire adds another single and J.D. Drew a pair of homers.

May 16, 1998 - At Busch Stadium‚ Mark McGwire crushes a Livan Hernandez pitch for a 545-ft. homer to lead the Cards to a 5-4 win over the Marlins. "It's the best ball I've ever hit‚" says the Cards slugger. On May 12‚ he hit a homer 527 feet.

Apr 18, 1998 - The Cardinals unveiled a bronze statue of Bob Gibson outside Busch Stadium‚ then beat the Phils‚ 6-5.

Sep 16, 1997 - Mark McGwire hits his 52nd home run hours after signing a three-year contract with the Cards for $28.5 million. But Cardinals' closer Dennis Eckersley collapses in the 9th and the Dodgers come back to win‚ 7-6. McGwire's 517-foot first-inning blast‚ the longest ever measured at Busch Stadium‚ ties him for the ML lead with Ken Griffey Jr.

Feb 13, 1996 - The Cards announce that they are laying nearly three acres of natural grass over the field at Busch Stadium‚ replacing the artificial turf that has been used for 26 years. The turf will be ready for the April 8 opener against Montreal.

Jul 26, 1991 - Cincinnati 3B Chris Sabo pushes an autograph seeker into a window in Busch Stadium following a 5-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Apr 27, 1986 - The Mets win their 9th consecutive game 5-3 at St. Louis‚ and in the process end John Tudor's 18-game winning streak at Busch Stadium. Kevin Mitchell hits his first ML home run for the Mets.

Oct 13, 1985 - The Cardinals rout the Dodgers 12-2 to even the NLCS at 2-2‚ but also lose rookie sensation Vince Coleman to one of the more bizarre injuries in ML history. Coleman is stretching before the game when his left leg becomes caught in Busch Stadium's automated tarpaulin as it unrolls across the infield‚ trapping him for about 30 seconds. He is removed from the field on a stretcher and will not play again this year.

Oct 12, 1985 - St. Louis runs the Dodgers out of Busch Stadium 4-2. The Cardinals' first 3 runs are aided by 3 stolen bases and 2 errant pickoff attempts.

Sep 25, 1974 - Pittsburgh regains 1st place by edging the Cardinals 13-12 in 11 innings at Busch Stadium. Pittsburgh scored 4 times in the 9th to take a 12-9 lead‚ but St. Louis scored 3 times to tie it.

Apr 8, 1969 - In the Padres opening night 2-1 victory over Houston‚ the leadoff batter at Jack Murphy Stadium is Astro outfielder Jesus Alou. Brother Matty‚ with the Pirates‚ was the first batter up at the opening of Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium on April 12‚ 1966‚ and Brother Felipe‚ playing for Atlanta‚ was the first batter up when Busch Stadium opened in St. Louis a month later.

Aug 4, 1968 - In pre-game ceremonies at Busch Stadium honoring him‚ Stan Musial is joined by his 1941 Cardinal teammates. a 10-foot bronze statue of Musial at is unveiled at one of the Stadium entrances. The crowd of 47‚445 then watch as Bob Gibson battles the Cubs for 12 innings before Chicago P Lee Elia singles home the winning run in the 13th. Cubs win 6-5.

May 8, 1966 - In the last game at old Busch Stadium‚ San Francisco slugs out a 10-5 win over St. Louis.

Oct 7, 1964 - Ailing Whitey Ford struggles as St. Louis wins the WS opener 9-5 at Busch Stadium. Mike Shannon homers in a 4-run‚ St. Louis 6th inning. Tom Tresh loses Flood's triple in the rally. Ray Sadecki and Barney Schultz combine for the win.

Sep 16, 1963 - The Dodgers and Cardinals begin a first-place showdown before 32‚442 fans at Busch Stadium. Ron Perranoski saves a 3-1 win for Johnny Podres and the Dodgers.

Jul 17, 1961 - Bill White goes 8-for-10 in a doubleheader‚ as the Cards sweep the Cubs 10-6 and 8-5 at Busch Stadium.

Apr 14, 1961 - At Busch Stadium in St. Louis‚ the Reds Wally Post lines a tape measure shot off the Budweiser sign atop the scoreboard in the Reds‚ 7-3 win. If the ball had not hit the sign‚ some estimate the shot could have traveled close to 600 feet.

May 4, 1953 - Busch Stadium bans bottles from the park during a game due to fans tossing soda bottles during a 7-6 Browns loss to the Yankees on April 28th. Meanwhile‚ at Pittsburgh‚ the Cards Vinegar Bend Mizell shuts out the Bucs‚ 5-0.

Apr 28, 1953 - A wild fight occurs after Browns Clint "Scrap Iron" Courtney lines a ball off the wall and comes into to 2B spikes high on Phil Rizzuto in the 10th inning in St. Louis. In the brawl‚ umpire John Stevens dislocates his collarbone. Six players are fined for their actions. Courtney retaliated after being knocked over in the top of the 10th when Gil McDougald scored the go-ahead run in an eventual 7-6 Yankee win. New York took a 5-0 lead on a 3-run homer by Mantle off Bob Cain in the 3rd‚ a moon shot that cleared the LF wall of the newly renamed Busch Stadium. The Browns tie the game at 6-6 to set the stage for the brawl that ends with a shower of bottles from angry fans. Outside the stadium‚ the Yankees need a police escort to board their bus. Courtney will be fined $250 for the fisticuffs‚ with five other players receiving lesser fines. The total of $850 in fines is the most ever for a brawl.

Apr 9, 1953 - August Busch buys Sportsman's Park for $800‚000 from Browns owner Bill Veeck. Busch gives a 5-year lease to the Browns‚ turning the tables in a manner of speaking‚ since the Cardinals had been tenants of the Browns since 1920. Busch initially renames the stadium Budweiser Park‚ but in response to protests about the commercialization of his ballpark‚ he renames Budweiser Park‚ Busch Stadium. The following season his company comes out with a new beer‚ Busch Bavarian Beer.