5 Things: St. Louis Cardinals Home Opener

Welcome to the best unofficial holiday in the bi-state area. It's Opening Day in Cardinal Nation and the University City Patch is bringing you five things to know for today.

1. Festivities begin early in the day but game time is 2:15 p.m.
2. St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright is making the opening day start of his career. He will face Jeff Samardzija of the Chicago Cubs.
3. The Cardinals are already on top of the National League's Central Division with their 2012 record of 5-2. 
4. This will be the first game in Busch Stadium for new manager Mike Matheny.
5. The Boathouse in Forest Park has a home opener special of a free appetizer. Anyone who presents a ticket stub for the home opener after the game is eligible for a free appetizer until 9 p.m. One appetizer per ticket stub holder.

Schedule of Events

According to the St. Louis Cardinals, the following is the schedule of events for Opening Day festivities.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• Cardinals official Opening Day Pre-Game Pep Rally. The pre-game pep rally will be in the Ballpark Village Lot, across from Busch Stadium.(Clark Street and South Broadway.) 
• Trixie Delight will perform from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
• Fredbird will give away Opening Day tickets, autographed items and other prizes. 
• Fans can get their picture taken for free at the Hardee’s Photo Booth.

11:45 a.m.

• Gates open.
• All fans with a ticket ages 21 and over will receive a magnet with the 2012 Cardinals schedule.

1:30 p.m.

• Pre-game ceremonies begin with an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales.
• Cardinals Hall-of-Famers will be introduced via a motorcade.
• Video tribute to the 2011 World Champions.
• Cardinals will escort the last four World Championship trophies: Mike Shannon (1967); Tommy Herr (1982); David Eckstein and Jim Edmonds (2006); and Tony La Russa and Dave Duncan (2011).
• The World Champion St. Louis Cardinals via motorcade.
• The family of U.S. Army Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. will raise the 2011 World Championship banner in left field.
• American Bald Eagle flight, courtesy of the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis.
• Color Guard presented by The U.S. Marine Corps
• A moment of silence to former Cardinals pitcher Bob Forsch
• Shannon Magrane, singer and Season 11 contestant on American Idol, will sing the national anthem.
• U.S. Air Force Flyover
• Ceremonial first pitch.

2:15 p.m.

• Play ball.