Cardinals Caravan hits MSSU to signal the start of the baseball season

It was another exciting rendition of the Cardinals Caravan at the Taylor Performing Arts Center on the Campus of Missouri Southern University on Saturday.

Fans of the Redbirds were lined up before doors opened at 10 a.m., eagerly waiting the chance to hear from the Cardinals’ players and representatives. The lobby buzzed with excited chatter—kids clutching baseballs and gloves, parents snapping photos of the Cardinals banners draped across the walls, and longtime supporters swapping stories about memorable seasons past.

St. Louis brought players Victor Scott II, Jose Fermín, Kyle Leahy, JJ Weatherholt and Leonardo Bernal as well as Ricky Horton and Kerry Robinson. 

“That's really, really important for me, to be able to be in the face of these people in their backyards,” Scott II said to KZRG when asked how important the Cardinals Caravan is. “Just in their homes to say, ‘Hey, we're here, we're showing you the visions of next year and hopefully you guys get excited.’”

Inside the auditorium, rows of seats filled quickly as the clock ticked toward 11:30. The lights dimmed slightly, and a ripple of anticipation spread through the crowd when the familiar bird logo appeared on the big screen. Soon the stage came alive with the arrival of several current Cardinals players, a couple of beloved alumni, and, of course, the ever-energetic Fredbird, who immediately had the younger fans on their feet cheering and waving.

“It's a special experience. I mean, I'm super happy that they've invited me this year and being able to come out here and meet the fans and just kind of get that special treatment that you get as being a part of the club,” Weatherholt said. “It's special to me. I'm just very happy to be here. And like you said, you get to see the Die Hard fans. It's awesome.”

For the next hour and a half, the event went off without a hitch. The players shared lighthearted stories from the dugout, answered questions from the audience—everything from batting tips to favorite road-trip snacks—and signed autographs for anyone who lined up. 

Fredbird darted through the aisles, high-fiving kids and posing for imaginary snapshots. 

For one morning in Joplin, the Cardinals Caravan had brought a slice of Busch Stadium magic to Missouri Southern, reminding everyone why they loved the game and why they’d be counting down the days until Opening Day.

“You know, I love doing this,” Fermín said. “We get the chance to connect with the fans. I said it earlier in an interview that when I got traded here, I heard from players and people that we had the best fans in baseball, and they were not wrong. The love we feel on and off the field, it's amazing, and we're really grateful for that.”