Spring Training 2014: The Cardinals Trucks Are Packed

The St. Louis Cardinals have started the process of defending their 2013 National League championship as they are packing up equipment and preparing to make the trip from Busch Stadium in St. Louis to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida for Spring Training 2014. It will be a trip that will take roughly 1,136 miles–close to 16 hours, 10 minutes–give or take a few.

On Thursday, the clubhouse staff loaded the first of two trucks full of Cardinals equipment such as uniforms, batting helmets, baseballs, and more. The trucks were provided to the team by A-Mrazek Moving Systems, Inc. The moving company is the official mover for the Cardinals.
Image credit: Taka Yanagimoto, St. Louis Cardinals
The trucks are expected to be at Roger Dean Stadium on Monday.

That’s not all. According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Derrick Goold, many pitchers and catchers are already in Jupiter tossing the ball around such as Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller, Joe Kelly, and Tony Cruz.

Hall of Fame writer Rick Hummel is starting his 17th spring training in Jupiter. He has another 20 Spring Trainings under his belt from when the team prepared in St. Petersburg, Florida–when MLB expanded to to create the Tampa Bay Rays, the Cardinals feared a loss of support in the Tampa Bay area so they looked to move–an opening was found when the Atlanta Braves moved to the complex at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. He shared some of his favorite memories in Jupiter.