ST. LOUIS –  Going from first-hand experience as a long-time journalist, there have been colder and rainier opening days. 

But despite Mother Nature’s best attempts, with temperatures in the mid-50s and the occasional rain shower, opening day is a celebration. 

It’s the most hopeful day of the year in St. Louis. 

“We’re out here having fun living life and enjoying it,” says Michele Reeves with friend Mary Depur. “Enjoy it, baby!”

Baseball is back and the sure sign that St. Louisans are ready to root on their Redbirds, even if they’re not going to the game, is the pep rally. 

“I’m a teacher and (I) been at school. but we happened to be on spring break,” says Brady Demling. “But I coach. But we don’t have a game today, so it was a perfect time to come on out without skipping school and be part of the atmosphere for St. Louis Cardinals.”

In Kiener Plaza, there was a good gathering of fans who were dressed in red, keeping traditions almost like a local holiday. 

Many say they took the day off from work for Opening Day.

“I took off work just so I could come here,” says Buffie Phillips. “National Opening Day, you have to take off. Cardinals got to celebrate. It’s a holiday.”

At Ballpark Village, former Cardinals player Andy Van Slyke greeted those in the Gateway City who wanted to be a part of the pregame celebration. 

And when the rain came back and fans sought cover, the former center fielder made a nice save for this camera, getting us into the stadium. 

“It’s the best in baseball,” says Andy Van Slyke, a former St. Louis Cardinal player. “I know a lot of people brag about Chicago or Cincinnati, but this is opening day baseball.  As a player, when you see all the other opening days and what they do versus the Cardinals. The Clydesdales are just the candles on the cake. We just do it better than everybody else.”