Yet another Fall Classic

I've never played professional baseball in my life, and yet I sat Thursday night "reliving" some old feelings as I watched my Cardinals - yes, MY Cardinals - squeak out a win over the Mets to get to their 17th World Series.

I'm spoiled. In the 80s, I thought we had it good when we went to the playoffs (and the World Series) 3 times in the decade. Now, we've been to the playoffs (counting this year) six out of the last seven years, and to the World Series two out of the last three. Unbelievable.

As usual, I am wearing my bright red Jack Buck vintage sportscoat wherever I go these days. It got me to thinking about days ago and when I was first introduced to Cardinal Nation. It wasn't through a family member or friend; it wasn't by being taken to a game. The first time was through the description and from the eyes of John Francis Buck. I remember listening to Jack through my summers, listening to he & Mike describe the games through the static off of the powerhouse "Voice of St. Louis" KMOX. During west coast swings, my small radio was pressed up against my ear while I had my head under the sheets of my bed. I still remember some of the calls like they were yesterday...in 1987 versus LA in a mid-summer game...

"A 1 and 1 count as (Jack) Clark stands in against (Bob) Welch here in the 9th. The pitch...swing and a long one! Would you believe it? Would you believe it? Another home run by Clark against the Dodgers. And the Cardinals LEAD in the 9th against the Dodgers, 3-1. That's his 29th of the year; 91 runs batted in. He did it again!"

His vintage home run call in a tied World Series game 6 between the Twins & the Braves in 1991...

"Puckett swings and hits it deep into left field...and we will see you...tomorrow night..."

The Cards' first World Championship in 15 years (and their last, to date) on a cold October night in St. Louis in 1982...

"Sutter comes set, and the pitch to Gorman Thomas...swing and a miss! And that's a winner! That's a winner! A World Series winner for the Cardinals!"

Jack loved his team, loved his family, and loved life. His son, Joe, spoke so eloquently at his funeral back in 2002, remembering some phrases from Jack's life he passed along to his eight children.

"Worry? I'll tell you when to worry."
"Don't holler til you're hurt."
"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out."

His son, Joe, is such a reminder to Cardinal fans - and to all those who considered Jack the voice of their childhood summers - of days gone by and a quick glance over our shoulders to the way things used to be; a less complicated time when all that mattered was what's for supper and what am I doing this weekend.

As I sat there Thursday - in the midst of running the most important state campaign in Missouri according to many - I was able to take just a few moments, shut out the world, sit with breathless anticipation, and relive the summers of my childhood. As the final curve pressed into the back of Yadier Molina's mitt, 20 years were shaved off of my life, if but only for a moment. I was a kid again, and I couldn't have been happier.