Jeffrey Thompson

Essays: Last at Bat

Night after night, more than 50,000 fans packed the seats of Busch Stadium to watch their Cardinals chase a pennant. It was a home that had been host to six World Series Championships. It was a home that helped rejuvenate downtown St. Louis. And it was a home that, after 39 years of service, was torn down. This is a look at the moments - and memories - of the fans that made Busch Stadium their own during the final summer under the arches.

   
Ten-year-old friends Rachel Craig, left, and Bethany Brockman, both from St. Peters, Mo., watch the Cardinals battle the Milwaukee Brewers from behind the scoreboard at Busch Stadium. Rachel, whose dad works the manual scoreboard, said, "You can see everything from up here."
   
Friends, from left, Nancy Schuster from Hazelwood, Mo., Yvonne Suess from Brentwood, Mo. and Margaret Bruno from St. Charles, Mo. document their visit inside the Cardinals' clubhouse during the Cardinals Campout. The women were three of more than 300 people that had the opportunity to tour the clubhouse, dugout and bullpens during their overnight stay at Busch Stadium.
     
  
Stanley Glover prepares a grill full of onions and all beef hotdogs before the start of a Cardinals game. Glover said he took the job with Best's Kosher Dogs and Onions because he wanted to be part of the last season at Busch Stadium.
   
Cardinals' slugger Albert Pujols hits one of his 39 home runs during a game against the Atlanta Braves.
   
Fans, including Kyle Sanders, 18, of Millstadt, Ill., center, react after David Eckstein belts a ninth-inning grand slam over the fence at Busch Stadium to give the Cardinals the win over Atlanta.
     
  
An usher watches the final minutes of the Cardinals' game with the Florida Marlins as fans do the wave in the upper deck of Busch Stadium.
   
Fans leave their marks on Busch Stadium during its final year, including signitures and messages written on the left field foul pole.
  
A supportive fan exits the bleacher section of Busch Stadium.
     
  
A lone light illuminates the infield of an empty Busch Stadium following a Cardinals game with the Florida Marlins. After 38 years of service, Busch Stadium is being torn down.