Once again, the St. Louis Cardinals have announced their list of freebies for fans heading to Busch Stadium in 2019 — which seems to be a work in progress, given the team has three entire home series without a giveaway at this point.
And once again, in the spirit of vaguely informed hot sports takes and civil tastemaking, we’ve gone through the latest full list to put together this guide.
Remember: Giveaways requiring a special theme ticket aren’t included here, and these rankings are not to be questioned, even though images aren’t available for many items. Why, you ask? Nice try sneaking in a question. And don’t forget: Everything here, even the straw hat, is free, so don’t pretend like you wouldn’t take it.
GRAND SLAMS: SURE-FIRE CROWD PLEASERS
•Adult Road Alternate Embroidered Jersey
Saturday, April 20 vs. Mets, 1:15 p.m.
As we’ve seen in youth fashion recently, the influence of the ’80s remains hot, and the Cardinals are no different, breaking out a version of the 1980s baby-blue jerseys for Saturday road games in 2019. Embroidered jerseys are always a big hit, and this one gives you a chance to sport the new blue at home.
•Adult road gray embroidered jersey
Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Reds, 6:15 p.m.
This embroidered jersey also features an embroidered front logo, so waiting until close to game time to grab one of these probably won’t work well.
•Kids Road Alternate Yadier Molina jersey
Sunday, April 28 vs. Reds, 1:15 p.m.
Why should adults get all the fun? Kids going to this game score big, with a baby-blue jersey of a fan favorite, a voucher for a free ticket and a free pre-game frozen treat.
•Yadi tumbler
Friday, April 26 vs. Reds, 7:15 p.m.
Might want to get to the park early for the stainless steel tumblers featuring the Cardinals’ catching legend. Last year, fans clamored for these cups. This time, the team will have another 30,000 for fans 16 and older. Ready, set, drink!
BOBBLEHEAD BONANZA
•Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst double bobblehead
Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Brewers, 6:15 p.m.
A must-have for any true Cardinals fan. The bobblehead honoring the 50th anniversary of Stan the Man’s induction into the baseball Hall of Fame and Red’s 30th anniversary celebrates two of the greatest players in team history.
•Marcel Ozuna Mystery Jersey bobblehead
Friday, May 24 vs. Braves, 7:15 p.m.
Yeah, yeah, we can already hear some of you from the cheap seats: The mystery with this bobblehead isn’t whether he’ll be worth his contract or if he’ll go a full season without oversleeping the start of a day game. No, the mystery is which of the Cardinals’ four jerseys the slugger will be wearing on your bobblehead.
•Mystery Hall of Fame Opening Day Car Parade bobblehead
Saturday, April 6 vs. Padres, 1:15 p.m.
A bobblehead showing the Wizard of Oz in a parade would make many fans’ entire season. Fans 16 and older will get a bobblehead featuring Ozzie Smith, Whitey Herzog or Bruce Sutter.
•Yadier Molina and Roberto Clemente double bobblehead
Friday, May 10 vs. Pirates, 7:15 p.m.
Here’s a bobblehead you’re not likely to see elsewhere. This giveaway for those 16 and older features the two Puerto Rican stars renowned for their humanitarian efforts. Plus, “double bobblehead” is fun to say.
•MV3 triple bobblehead
Sunday, July 28 vs. Astros, 1:15 p.m.
No mystery with this bobblehead — just some sort of design that features Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen, who each scored a top-five finish in the 2004 NL MVP race. Will all three heads bobble? Are they connected to the same body? So many questions…
SOLO HOMERS: STILL A BIG HIT WITH MOST FANS
•Adult 2009 All-Star Game jersey
Friday, July 12 vs. Diamondbacks, 7:15 p.m.
If the replicas of what Albert Pujols wore (above) also have the Cardinals logo on one sleeve and the Arch over the All-Star Game logo on the other, the red jerseys on the weekend after the All-Star Game will be a cool addition to your collection.
•Adult windbreaker
Sunday, April 7 vs. Padres, 1:15 p.m.
On the site, these look pretty slick, plus they’ll come in handy for games early and late in the season, when a little extra warmth comes in handy.
•Adult Cardinals hockey sweater
Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Brewers
While not a jersey in the traditional baseball sense, these still show you rep the Cardinals, just in a hockey sense. They went fairly quickly last year.
•Cardinals Build-A-Bear Workshop bunny
Sunday, April 21 vs. Mets, 1:15 p.m.
As part of a giveaway bonanza for those 15 and younger on this date (they also get free pre-game frozen treats and a free ticket voucher), kids coming to Busch on Easter Sunday can score a bunny sporting a Cardinals bandana. Hop to it, kiddos.
•Stadium sweatshirt blanket
Saturday, April 27 vs. Reds, 1:15 p.m.
It’s a sweatshirt! It’s a blanket! It’s a … stadium? The idea of a blanket during a chilly game day sounds good, although without a detailed description or photo, combining a sweatshirt with a blanket also conjures images that run the range from a Snuggie to whatever this is.
•2004 mystery player jersey
Friday, July 26 vs. Astros, 7:15 p.m.
Fans love jerseys, although this replica home jersey comes with a twist: The jersey will feature one of five players from the 2004 team that won 105 games, knocked off the Dodgers in 4 games and came back to beat the Astros (the same team they’re playing on this giveaway day) in 7, and … well, let’s not talk about that World Series. Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds (above) and Chris Carpenter seem pretty sure bets for four of the five players on the jersey. Would the Cards put 2004 starting catcher and former manager Mike Matheny on the fifth? Or maybe Marlon Anderson? Now there’sa mystery for you.
•Adult Cardinals mesh jersey
Friday, Aug. 23 vs. Rockies, 7:15 p.m.
This doesn’t rise to the level of the embroidered jerseys available on other dates, but it’s still a Cardinals jersey, even if it’s pullover mesh and we still don’t know what color it’ll be.
•2004 NL champions beer stein
Friday, Aug. 30 vs. Reds, 7:15 p.m.
Baseball, beer and St. Louis just go together. Kind of like driving in St. Louis and complaints about mistimed traffic lights. Fans 21 and over get the ninth stein in the championship series, which seems about as perfectly matched a giveaway as you can get.
Amber Vitale of St. Louis walks her dog Java in a pet parade as part of the 12th annual Purina Pooches in the Ballpark at Busch Stadium on Saturday, June 18, 2016.
•Adult fleece vest
Friday, April 19 vs. Mets, 7:15 p.m.
Though it’s tough to accurately judge these without any pictures, any fleece item with a Cardinals logo on it should be worthwhile — even if it’s missing sleeves.
•2020 free ticket voucher
Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Cubs, 2:15 p.m.
Score! Everyone gets a voucher for a free ticket to a regular-season home game (and hopefully another sweet giveaway) the next season.
SOLID DOUBLE THROUGH THE SHIFT:
MAKING YOUR TICKET PAY
•Cardinals Skyline mesh-back hat and Pack of Cards
Saturday, Aug. 10 vs. Pirates, 6:15 p.m.
While a pack of Topps baseball cards or a mesh-back hat that the team says will highlight the St. Louis skyline may not be every fan’s thing, chances are good most fans will dig at least one. Plus, the hat can be used at this night game to block the setting sun as needed in the early innings.
•Cardinals golf umbrella
Saturday, July 13 vs. Diamondbacks, 6:15 p.m.
Without a picture, it’s tough to accurately tell how attractive these will be, but an umbrella of any kind is always useful and one with a Cardinals logo would be welcome. If it’s truly a golf-sized umbrella with minimal space given to sponsors, this goes up a notch.
Cardinals left fielder Marcell Ozuna reacts after flying out in the Sept. 24 game against Milwaukee at Busch Stadium.
•Six Flags nights
Friday, May 24 vs. Braves, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 30 vs. Reds, 7:15 p.m.
Up to 30,000 fans with a ticket entering the stadium will get a free ticket to the famous amusement park. Not bad at all. One small catch: You’ll have just over two months to redeem the ticket.
•Cardinals adult and kids beanie
Sunday, Sept. 15 vs. Brewers, 1:15 p.m.
All kids and 30,000 fans 16 and older get a beanie to wear during the winter. What will it look like? Good question.
•Rawlings kids glove
Sunday, June 23 vs. Angels, 1:15 p.m.
Look, getting your own glove with a Cardinals emblem on it and using it to try to snag foul balls is pretty sweet. If this glove is like the one handed out last year, older kids won’t want to use it in a game, but it’s fine for the T-ball set and a pretty cool giveaway either way.
•2019 magnet schedule
Thursday, April 4 vs. Padres, 3:15 p.m.
Magnet schedules aren’t the most exciting thing, but they always fit and are always welcome, though because of the beer sponsor, these only go to fans 21 or older.
•2020 magnet schedule
Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. Cubs, 6:15 p.m. AND Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. Cubs, 2:15 p.m.
This won’t have game times on it, but it will have game dates and opponents to help you see into the future. By the way, mind giving us a few winning lotto numbers while you look ahead?
•Cardinals kids tumbler
Sunday, May 26 vs. Braves, 6:05 p.m.
When asked to tick off things that get them excited, most kids aren’t going to put a 14-ounce tumbler with a straw near the top. But the team promises a design that highlights “a few greats from the current Cardinals lineup,” which might entice kids to try to keep track of this item. Unlike most anything else.
•Kids Cardinals pajama pants
Sunday, Sept. 1 vs. Reds, 1:15 p.m.
As cooler temperatures loom in the not-too-distant future from this game, the pajama pants will come in handy, especially because they’ll have a Cardinals touch. Of course, two hurdles remain: The design, which isn’t available, and trying to snag a pair of pants in a size that remotely comes close to fitting the kid that gets them.
•Yadier Molina Funko POP! exclusive
Monday, Sept. 2 vs. Giants, 1:15 p.m.
Funko fans certainly will get a kick out of getting a Busch Stadium exclusive (plus it will feature Yadi in some way) and it might be a neat giveaway even for those who’ve never heard of the company that makes pop culture collectibles. That said, what’s being offered could certainly change that assessment, given that the company makes figurines, bobbleheads, plush items, and much more.
•Ice cream Sundays
Starting two hours before every Sunday home game
It’s true: The team offers free frozen treats starting two hours before every Sunday home game in the plaza behind the center field stands until supplies run out. Word of advice: Unless you enjoy standing in a long line with antsy kids, get there early, especially in warmer months. And if supplies are low by the time you get up front, let the kids have the treats. Afterward, there are plenty of kids to play with and places to help run off the sugar (and duck out of the heat in the summer).
BALL FOUR: NOT THRILLING,
BUT THESE WILL KEEP A RALLY GOING
•Yadi Dog Bowl
Saturday, May 25 vs. Braves, 6:15 p.m.
In honor of the annual Purina Pooches in the Ballpark game, when a section of Busch Stadium will go to the dogs, adult fans will also get a dog bowl that honors Yadi Molina in some way. Because you just know Spot’s been plotting all this time how to talk you out of your Yadi jersey. Wait, what?
•Cardinals mystery adult PKWY socks by Stance, Inc.
Sunday, Aug. 11 vs. Pirates, 1:15 p.m.
For most people, stylish (hopefully) socks and an August day game go together as well as a hot dog sitting in a cup of beer roasting on the concourse for a few summer innings. That said, socks hold up much better than said hot dog, and as we all know, sock weather covers a large part of the year in St. Louis. The big question is whether whatever design you get will be worth waiting to show them off.
•Adult Cardinals performance T-shirt
Saturday, May 11 vs. Pirates, 1:15 p.m.
Again, tough to gauge this one without a photo, but hey, it’s a T-shirt that’s allegedly made with material to keep you cool. So, that’s something.
•1944 replica World Series championship ring
Sunday, Aug. 25 vs. Rockies, 1:15 p.m.
Fans get a chance to wear Cardinals history (sort of) with this replica championship ring from 75 years earlier. The detail on the actual 1944 rings is worth owning, so if the replicas are close to that and don’t obviously look like plastic, it’s a win.
•Kids free ticket vouchers
Sunday home games
April 7 vs. Padres, 1:15 p.m.; April 21 vs. Mets, 1:15 p.m.; April 28 vs. Reds, 1:15 p.m.
Kids 15 or younger get a voucher for a handful of regular-season home games later in the season. And, before any beyond-tired parents ask, as tempting as it might be to drop off the kid for a few hours and take a nap, you’d better buy at least one other ticket to sit next to the youngster.
•MLB Network tote bag
Sunday, April 28 vs. Reds, 1:15 p.m.
According to the team’s site, the bag is “designed around the new road alternate” jersey, which means it’s almost certain to have a heavy dose of baby blue. And potentially a large MLB Network logo.
•2004 Mystery player NL champions ring
Saturday, July 27 vs. Astros, 6:15 p.m.
The NL championship ring will bear the name of a player from the loaded 2004 team. The ring comes off from its base and is wearable, which seems like something young fans might do. Only problem is the ring goes to adults, who might proudly sport the presumably plastic ring if they’ve also snagged the straw hat (see next section below) from a previous game.
•Mystery Cardinals Hall of Fame hat
Saturday, Aug. 24 vs. Rockies, 6:15 p.m.
It’s a mystery! It’s a hat! It’s both: A hat that the team says will highlight the 2019 fan vote inductees to the Cardinals Hall of Fame. What player(s) will be on it? What will the hat look like? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
STRIKE THREE: CAUGHT LOOKING
AT SOME NASTY PITCHES
•Cardinals decal
Tuesday, June 4 vs. Reds, 7:15 p.m.
It’s a … Cardinals sticker with a sponsor logo on it. (And for the love of all things baseball, we hope it doesn’t look anything like the one above, which Waino slapped on Skip Schumaker’s vehicle last season.) The team says it will have four different designs you “will want to collect.” You only get one sticker with your ticket, so if you want the other designs, it’s time to begin bartering. “Sayyyy, fellow fan, what’s it going to take to get you interested in this fresh, hot box of popcorn?”
•Cardinals crossbody bag
Sunday, May 12 vs. Pirates, 1:15 p.m.
If you’re a Cardinals fan, you already think the team is solid gold. And now you can sport a red bag to put across your body that features a gold “STL” logo and “many other enhancements.” Hopefully one of those enhancements is a free beer, which should match the gold logo well.
•Adult Cardinals tank top
Friday, Aug. 9 vs. Pirates, 7:15 p.m.
Always wanted to show off your pythons in Cardinals style? Then this giveaway’s for you, perfectly timed for the heat of the summer. The team has yet to provide a picture of the tank top, though it’s hard to imagine many of the 30,000 fans getting these would feel comfortable wearing any tank top in public, but, hey, if you’re fine with your place in the arms race, let ’em breathe!
•T-shirt of the Month
Tuesday, April 23 vs. Brewers, 6:45 p.m.; Tuesday, May 7 vs. Phillies, 6:45 p.m.; Wednesday, June 26 vs. A’s, 6:15 p.m.; Monday, July 15 vs. Pirates, 7:15 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 22 vs. Rockies, 6:45 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 16 vs. Nationals, 6:45 p.m.
Getting fans in the park for midweek games is always a challenge, and, yes, fans like free T-shirts. The design on these shirts, however, will be voted on by fans. Unless you’re a YouTube star, chances are probably high you’re not big on having thousands of strangers pick out part of your ensemble.
•Cardinals large brim straw hat
Sunday, July 14 vs. Diamondbacks, 1:15 p.m.
The team’s promotion page says fans will add a new fashion headware to their lineup. Sure, but it’s a straw hat. The question is whether it’ll be better than this freebie from last year. Still think it’s worthy of your fashion lineup? Do you also wear Crocs with socks? You do? Might we interest you in a T-shirt picked out by strangers at a ballgame?
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
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