Cardinal Caravan: Trip makes ex-players feel like part of the family

(From left) Ryan Ludwick, Connor Thomas, Dylan Carlson and Michael McGreevy sit in front of fans Friday during the Cardinal Caravan visit at the Missouri Farm Bureau. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)
(From left) Ryan Ludwick, Connor Thomas, Dylan Carlson and Michael McGreevy sit in front of fans Friday during the Cardinal Caravan visit at the Missouri Farm Bureau. (Ken Barnes/News Tribune)

For the first time since 2020, the Cardinal Caravan came back to Jefferson City.

Three current players in the Cardinal organization, one Cardinal alumni and play-by-play announcer John Rooney brought the event back to Missouri Farm Bureau Center where the players took questions from young fans and signed autographs.

“It just makes you feel like part of the Cardinal family,” Cardinal alumni Ryan Ludwick said of being asked to be part of the Caravan again. “The organization, whether its the people in the front office or the security team or the players or John Rooney and the guys calling the games, we’re all part of the family. I think that’s what, you hear the term ‘The Cardinal Way’ everyone wants to be part of that. You’re a true Cardinal. … The rich history and tradition, the fan base, there’s nothing like it.”


 Gallery: 2023 Cardinals Caravan at Missouri Farm Bureau


Ludwick participated in the Cardinal Caravan twice as a player, but had his first experience as an alumni Friday. Although Jefferson City was only the first stop on the three-day Caravan that will make a stop in Columbia today and Hannibal on Sunday, Ludwick said he expected the experience as an alumni to be slightly different than his trips as a player.

“Way different,” Ludwick said. “When you get to this stage of your career, played a long time, been out of the game since 2015, I’m in more of a coaching role now, it’s a lot more relaxed. As a player, especially these guys who haven’t done it before, it’s a little more nerve racking, I guess.”

Ludwick joined current Cardinal Daniel Carlson and minor league pitchers Connor Thomas and Michael McGreevy in answering questions from Jefferson City kids such as “What was it like playing with Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright?” “What’s your favorite thing about being a major league baseball player?” and “How much did you practice as a kid?”

“With Mike McGreevy and Connor Thomas, those are names you’re going to hear a lot of in the future, the fans will love them” Rooney said. “They enjoy being here and that’s a big part of it. There’s nothing like, ‘Oh no, we have to go on the Caravan.’ We’re all really looking forward to it and it’s great to be back out and be able to see people face to face, be able to talk to everybody and tell a few stories, have a few laughs, sign some autographs and see the kids again.”

Rooney emceed the event, introducing the players, taking questions and telling stories for the crowd.

For McGreevy and Thomas, the event is a great way to introduce themselves to young fans who they hope will cheer them on for years to come. Ludwick said the Cardinal Caravan and other events throughout the community are one of the best ways to connect with people and create lifelong bonds to the Cardinals.

“In the community, whether it’s something like this or reaching out to children’s hospitals or when I was in St. Louis I would do a day with Fredbird where we would go to classrooms and hang out with kids,” Ludwick said. “Just getting your face in front of the fans and let them know who you are, because once they know who you are, this fan base, they’ll really know who you are. They wont forget because they’re knowledgeable. These guys are on their way up and it’s a great thing to get their name out there for when they make their debuts.”

Rooney said being able to get back in front of the fans after two years of not being able to hold the Caravan will be a great way to build up excitement for another season of Cardinal baseball. He said the excitement from the fans as the season gets started will help encourage the younger players as they push to achieve their major league dreams.

“We say, ‘You’re the best fans in baseball,’ and we believe that, we feel that,” Rooney said. “They feel that in Boston, they feel that in other places. But the players who come into St. Louis, the opponents, they feel it when they make a great play and they get a standing ovation because the fans love what they just saw. … Our young players come up and experience that, especially opening day. They see the parade with our Hall of Famers and the World Series trophies there around the circle at home plate and the fan reaction and the Clydesdales coming through the wagging gate in right field making their way around the field. That’s pretty special that you don’t see in many places, and it’s all part of the spectacle of baseball in St. Louis.”