This Weekend: Gateway Grizzlies Season Finale
Hello, Metro St. Louis baseball fans!
On the Missouri side, our St. Louis Cardinals are realistically done for the season. As of this writing, they are 3 games below .500, 17 games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, and 5.5 games back from the last Wild Card spot in the National League. The flailing Redbirds’ losing ways have led to sagging demand for tickets and sparsely attended games; yet, somehow (the rumor mill says) the Cardinals are planning to actually raise ticket prices for 2026. What’s a Metro St. Louis baseball fan to do?!
Fear not, dear readers! Over here on the Illinois side, our Gateway Grizzlies swept a doubleheader from the Florence Y’alls on Saturday night, taking 6-3 and 4-0 victories to clinch a third straight playoff berth for the first time in club history. Those wins brought their Magic Number to zero for at least a Wild Card spot in the Frontier League. The Frontier League regular season comes to a close for our Grizzlies with the final game scheduled for Sunday, August 30th. There’s still time for them to win their division, and playoff games start next week. Let’s talk a bit about the final regular season home weekend.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 29, 30, and 31, the Gateway Grizzlies host the Evansville Otters. All three games are promotional event nights. Friday night is a Military Appreciation Night, which includes a Jerseys Off Their Backs auction. Game time is 6:30, but you’ll want to go early for the pregame concert featuring the United States Air Force Band. A fireworks display follows the game.
Saturday evening, the Gateway Grizzlies honor their Host Families. The Host Family Program offers players a home-away-from-home during the season by matching them with local families. It’s also Season Ticket Holder and Fan Appreciation Night. First pitch is set for 6:30.
Sunday, August 31, is the Grizzlies’ self-described Greatest Night In Baseball. Game time is 6:05, but you’ll want to go early. There’s a pregame concert featuring Baseball’s Best Band, another Jerseys Off Their Backs auction, and a fireworks show after the game. But, the real fun happens before the fireworks when the last out is called and fans are allowed to T.P. the stadium! Go for the baseball, stay for mass hysteria!
Hope to see you there!
Joe Thebeau is taking on the role of grizzled Gateway Grizzlies correspondent. Joe’s contribution to local media has primarily been in the form of music writing, recording, and performing in his band Finn’s Motel. He’s also a lifelong baseball fan and Red State Refugee who has relocated to the Metro East.
