Memorable Moments at Busch Stadium All Star Game Site: 1966 World Series Site: 1967, '68, '82, '85, and '87 Mark McGwire hit his 62th and 70th homeruns here. Home of Five time 20 game winner Bob Gibson  Site of Lou Brocks record 105th stolen base in 1974. Home to Shortstop Ozzie "The Wizard of Oz" Smith. BUSCH STADIUM 250 Stadium Plaza St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Ballpark Store More Ballpark Items

   Although Busch Stadium was once a multi purpose facility, its is now one of the best looking stadiums in the baseball. For years their had been talk about a midtown sports stadium in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals wanted a new ballpark after playing in Sportsman's Park for many years. In the early 1960’s Anheuser-Busch pledged $5 million, and the city pledged  $20 million toward a new stadium. On May 24, 1964 ground was broken for a stadium on 30 acres in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals played their first game on May 12, 1966 at Busch Stadium. Three tiers of 46,068 red seats circle the entire grass playing field, and a $1.5 million scoreboard with an electronic cardinal that chirped was located behind the outfield fence. Busch Stadium was called one of the best stadiums in the country when it opened.

Astroturf replaced natural grass in 1973, so the stadium could be converted from football to baseball more easily. However, Busch Stadium did not go under any more changes until the 1990’s. In 1993, the Mississippi River severly flooded many mid-west states, including downtown St. Louis and Busch Stadium. The stadium suffered some damage to the playing field and other areas. New ownership retrofitted Busch Stadium in 1995 after football was no longer played at the stadium. Grass replaced the Astroturf, new seats were put in, along with new scoreboards. The bullpens were placed behind the outfield fence, and the area behind the outfield was spruced up. A huge manual scoreboard was built over the seats in the upper deck in centerfield. Statues of Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst, and Jack Buck are located on the Plaza of Champions outside the stadium. Even though Busch Stadium looks much better than it did, the Cardinals have announced plans to build a in the St. Louis area, and hope to move into it by 2005.

         
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Name: Busch Stadium 
Location: St. Louis, MO
Tenant: St. Louis Cardinals
Capacity: 49,676 
Surface:  Grass  
Construction Began: May 24, 1964
Opened: May 12, 1966
Cost: $55 Million
Dimensions:  330-L, 372-LC, 402-C, 375-RC, 330-R
Architect: Sverdrup & Parcel and Associates; Edward Durell Stone
Seating Chart

Ballpark Photos

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