Cardinals' KMOX Announcer Hits Chesterfield Doubletree Hotel

The silky smooth voice of the Cardinals' radio announcer came with John Rooney to Chesterfield's Doubletree Hotel Wednesday as keynote speaker of the city's Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber member and Logan College of Chiropractic official Tom Keller arranged the headliner.

Rooney was preaching to the choir during his time at the podium, with a critique of plays, players, competition, teams and leagues—but not managers. Someone asked about current Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.

"Baseball—we've all been around it, we all know a little bit about baseball—so we can all manage," Rooney quipped.

Rooney described how he believes La Russa takes the team losses hard.

"You'd have to scrape him off the floor with a spoon," Rooney said, after a tough game. And about La Russa's style: "There's nobody more prepared for every game, than Tony," Rooney said.

Rooney went on to venture a prediction about the Cardinals' next season.

"There's going to be some changes next year. I think it's going to be a little different ball club. It's the economics of the game. I think Tony will be back. And I think Albert (Pujols) will be back on first base next year," Rooney said.

Rooney travels on the Cardinals' schedule and gets face time with players and coaches.

"I see Mark McGwire every day. He stays late and comes early, working with everyone," Rooney said.

McGuire was hired in 2010 as a hitting coach for the Cards, amid some public rumbling. The former Cardinals slugger hit 70 home runs in 1998 to top Roger Maris' 37-year record of 61 homers in a season, yet some were still unhappy over the steroids controversy.

(Barry Bonds went on to top McGwire's record in 2001 with 73 homers in a season, but was later embroiled in steroid controversy.)

Rooney held out a bit of hope about the tag end of this Cardinals season.

"There's a focus to this club I haven't seen all year. They're playing like there's no tomorrow," Rooney said. "There is a chance."

Rooney was wearing his blazing gold, diamond and ruby ring from the 2006 World Series win, on Wednesday. It's a beauty. (See photos.)

"Mine was missing this one little diamond here when I got it. I took it over to show the (official) to get it fixed, and he couldn't see it. Albert Pujols walks by, glances, and says, 'there's one missing there.' That guy's got great eyesight."

FAST FACTS:

• Rooney, 57, is from Richmond, MO.

• Rooney started with the Cardinals in 2006, the year they won the World Series and inaugurated the new Busch stadium in St. Louis.

• Q: What's Rooney most exciting announcing moment ever?
  A: Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for the Cardinals.
  Rooney is the first announcer ever to call back-to-back World Series games for different clubs. He called the 2005 series for the Chicago White Sox.

• On coming to work for the Cardinals from the White Sox:
  "St. Louis is perfect for me. It's a place I could go work and it's still OK to hate the Cubs." 

John Rooney and Mike Shannon can be heard on KMOX AM radio 1120, announcing every Cardinals game.