435 Saigh Pleads No Contest, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 28, 1953. 393 Bob Hannegan: From Police Captains Son to A Millionaire, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, January 30, 1949. Cardinals load up on 2024 draft picks - Yahoo Sports The principal and interest on these notes would come due January 5, 1919. Pour en savoir plus sur la faon dont nous utilisons vos donnes personnelles, veuillez consulter notre politique relative la vie prive et notre politique en matire de cookies. Expectations for 1878 championship were high. 327 KMOX to Broadcast Baseball Score of St. Louis Teams. Charlie O. Finley, Larry McPhail, and Bill Veeck eventually employed sideshow attractions, like the "stadium club" and the shoot-the-chute. for the west parcel and planned to build a truck terminal on it. Only Boston and Brooklyn kept them out of the National League attendance cellar in a season shortened by World War I. 612 Tim ONeil, Cardinal Owners Share Schooling, Social Status, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1995. Fallstrom, Walt Jocketty Out As Cardinal General Manager After 13 Seasons, The Daily Journal (Flat River, Missouri), October 4, 2007. The Houston representative said I was making a big mistake and indicated the group could offer a considerably better bid than Anheuser-Busch price.447, Saigh received kudos. When a scout brought a young player to him, Von der Ahe turned the player away, saying Dot little fellow Take him over to the Fairgrounds and make a hoss yockey out of him.57 The player was John McGraw. Lefthanded pitchers Steve Carlton and Jerry Reuss did not agree to his terms before the 1972 season. Breadon relieved Rickey of his on-field duties on May 30, 1925 with the club in last place and a record of 13-25. Nor did the picture escape the eyes of the Chicago Miss who clapped her hands enthusiastically and exclaimed to her companion, Oh, isnt that a lovely shade of cardinal. McHale caught the explanation and a moment later had flashed over the telegraph wires to St. Louis in his introduction of the game that The Cardinals were confident of victory.114. These duties for Kuhlmann and Sauer were in addition to their executive positions at the brewerys stadium subsidiary CCRC.594, Two days before, Anheuser-Busch had announced it had signed a three-year deal with St. Louis television station KPLR. Spink obtained more players and the New Brown Stockings finished a season that lasted into November.14, At the end of the 1881 season, the partnership split profits of almost $25,000 in a back room in Von der Ahes saloon. 530 Neal Russo, Keane Quits As Manager Of Cardinals, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 16, 1964. Sam Breadon was hopeful his new second baseman would be able to fill Hornsbys shoes. Showing his patriotism, Rickey also wanted to have the Cardinals support the war effort by raising money for the third Liberty Loan Fund drive and put the solicitation for additional subscriptions on the back burner.248, Finding the money to retire the debt to Britton was proving problematic.. Rickey said that when money came in from the sale of stock subscriptions, it should be used to pay Britton rather than build up the team.249 Cash flow was so bad that in May when the second note payment was due only $10,000 was paid, $40,000 short. 621 Rick Hummel, Lamping Job: Build A Winner, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 20, 1994; Rick Hummel, Cards May Get New Executive, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 19, 1994. At a banquet held at the Mercantile Club in St. Louis on March 30, three hundred attendees were informed that $178,850 in stock was purchased enough to make the first payment of $150,000 to Britton, during the first week of April.226, When he wasnt pitching the idea of owning stock in the Cardinals to St. Louis business executives, Jones was looking for someone with a baseball background who could handle the daily off-field operations of the team. His father delivered beer for a brewery. The team would not be sold, with the present owners remaining in charge. The family tree Founded by Joseph Pulitzer in 1878, the Post-Dispatch was still owned by the media company Pulitzer Inc. until 2005. In 1899, von der Ahe, once the most successful owner in the AA, was forced to sell the Browns due to bankruptcy.[2]. As a result, the Cardinals announced that box seats and reserved seats prices would increase by 50 cents for the 1970 season. The professional baseball . When he bought the Cardinals, he was the firms president. 445 Stockholders of Busch OK Stadium Backing, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 13, 1960. Henry Lucas had formed a team, called the Maroons, in the short-lived Union Association. Accessed February 23, 2019. The AstroTurf field was replaced, the outfield walls brought in and padded. With success, Von der Ahe became more and more vocal when the team wasnt playing well. The Cardinals had their best record since 1901 when her father was president, drew a franchise high in attendance as a National League team, and made a profit of $127,000.166 Just as her father had endured a near tragedy with the League Park fire in 1901, she had to endure a near tragedy when the team survived a horrific train wreck on the morning of July 11. There is a mistaken impression, that it was due to Comiskeys skill that the Browns were successful. 283 Broeg, His Cardinal Teams Won Nine N.L. 370 Pasquel Says Offer Was $130,000 for Five Years, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 7, 1946. 222 OConnor, 10,000 Local Fans to Buy Cardinals, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 28, 1917. Saigh grew up in Kewanee, Illinois, where his parents operated a grocery store. 200 W.J. St. Louis Cardinals (National League), 1900-1911. His mother was Margaret H. DeWitt and his father William O. DeWitt Sr.611 He attended Country Day School (now Mary Institute Country Day School) in Creve Coeur, Missouri. May 25, 2021. When the National League got rid of the joint ownership rule in 1900, it folded the Cleveland team and Stanley joined his brother in St. Louis. He was getting negative fan mail regarding his players push for greater pay and better treatment. Season ticket sales increased from 16,036 to 16,750.631 Shortstop Ozzie Smith announcing that 1996 would be his last season, plus a dogfight with the Houston Astros for the Central Division crown, led the Cardinals to draw 2,654,718 fans, and make the playoffs for the first time since 1987. Mike Shannon won two World Series titles as a player . Gussie had been among the most militant of the owners fighting the players. It was rumored Lane had agreed to a three-year contract for $45,000 a year plus an attendance bonus clause. The Cardinals reputation took a hit even though the investigation said that general manager John Mozeliak, who replaced Jocketty, was not involved nor were other Cardinal employees or officials.663, The on-field image of the team was affected when Tony La Russa retired and Albert Pujols left via free agency after winning the 2011 World Series. [14] In 2013, Forbes listed the Redbirds as one of the ten most valuable minor league franchises. The saloon became a popular destination for politicians, fans and the ball players before and after the games.1. 516 Neal Russo,Comic Tim McCarver Not So Funny to AL, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 13, 1966. Before all that happened, Breadon, had to turn down a megadeal for the Cardinals drawing card Rogers Hornsby after the 1920 season. McDonald was Herzogs handpicked general manager and Herzog would give him suggestions on player personnel decisions. Ward, St. Louis businessman, held 280 shares or 3.7 percent. 591 Rick Hummel, Impatience Motivated Clark, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 7, 1988. Radio Programs, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, April 18, 1934. He served as a board member of the NFLs Cincinnati Bengals and the World Hockey Association s (WHA) Cincinnati Stingers.615, Bill is married and his wife Katherine (Cramer) DeWitt also of St. Louis have four grown children, Katie, Bill III, Andrew and Margot.616, On the day that the purchase of the Cardinals by his group was announced, DeWitt Jr. was joined by other investors Frederick O. Hanser and Andrew N. Baur. 537 Al Levine, Rogs Right And On Tap For Season, Tampa Bay Times, January 11, 1968. Now, it cost manager Johnny Keane as well. 33 No Game, No Money, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 21, 1883. Louis Cardinal Radio History. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Business interests outside baseball include Reynolds, DeWitt & Co., which owns Arby's franchises and invests in U.S. 290 Capt. 405 Articles of Incorporation, Missouri Business Filings. Under terms of the lien for Aetna Iron Works judgment, Von der Ahe had to sell the Browns and the organizations property within six months.85, Just three months after the deed of trust reorganization, another fire struck New Sportsmans Park. Going into the board of directors meeting in January 1919, the Cardinals faced foreclosure. 32,255 attended. DeWitt III defends Cardinals; releases owner names Branch Rickey was the Cardinals first official GM however, his role initially called for him to function more as a business manager as he pioneered certain functions attributed to the contemporary GM, such as developing the forerunner of the minor league farm system that all Major League Baseball franchises use today. Before the second half began, the Leagues owners enacted a resolution to cut player salaries 20 percent, blaming poor attendance in most of the cities. Breadon approved the idea for the 1926 season and Thomas Patrick Convey gave his first game reports and scores on May 11, 1926.327 But, the broadcasts were dropped because KMOX and Breadon concluded the cost of the phone line from the stadium to the radio station was too high.328, Fans thirst for baseball broadcasts increased after hearing Graham McNamees calls of the Cardinals-Yankees World Series that year, and Breadon put the game accounts back on KMOX for 1927. 281 Pierce-Arrow Plant Draws Many Visitors, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 28, 1919. Lamping said the owners wanted to open the ballpark in April 2006. I have no comment. 276 Bob Broeg, His Cardinal Teams Won Nine N.L. According to the Cardinals owner, Chandlers accusations damaged his reputation and made him look like a criminal.429 All of this came into play when Chandler, at the 1949 winter meetings, asked major league owners for a new seven-year contract even though his current contract would not be up until April 30, 1952. [2] Bill DeWitt III is the president of the Cardinals. They were David R. Calhoun Jr., president of St. Louis Union Trust; William C. Connett, vice president of First National Bank; Gwynne Evans, former president of Evans Coffee Co.; Sidney Salomon Jr., insurance executive and former executive with Hannegan in the Post Office Department; and George W. Simpkins, attorney who represented Hannegan in purchasing the Cardinals.409. 218 W.J. Britton and Husband Testify in Suit for Stock, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 29, 1912. This is more than a company or business to me. Robison entered professional baseball in 1887 when he organized the Cleveland Blues of the American Association. He cited examples such as players not stopping to sign autographs, pushing fans out of the way when taking pictures and not honoring scheduled appearances. 406 Denies Cards Used Own Cash to Finance Sale, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 29, 1947. 275 Sam Breadon Dies at 72, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 1949. They have become like our churches, schools, hospitals, parks and press, one of St. Louis s finest civic assets. In 2000, the franchise was valued at $219 million,[23] a growth rate of 327%. KMOX is still the flagship station of the St. Louis Cardinal Radio Network located in eight states with a total of 110 affiliate stations plus broadcasts in Spanish.658 DeWitt and the Cardinals still hold a stake in KTRS with CH Radio Holdings and actor St. Louisan John Goodman but percentages of ownership were unavailable.659, Fox Sports Midwest (FSM) which started televising Cardinal baseball in 1994, became the exclusive television network for the franchise in 2011. Britton had two suitors for the Cardinals and Robison Field. "[22] Concurrent with the growth of Major League Baseball, the Cardinals value has increased significantly since the Baur-DeWitt purchase. 524 How Oddsmakers Figure Flag Races, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 12, 1964; Bob Broeg, Cards See High Roost, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 12, 1964. 155 Mrs. 352 League President Verifies Sanction for Night Baseball in St, Louis, St. Louis Star and Times, October 31, 1936. Britton Eager to Make Trades, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 27, 1916. 649 Bernie Miklasz, Face It Folks; The Better Team Is Series Bound, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 21, 2005. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported the partners had used over $2 million of the Cardinals funds to pay Breadon for the purchase, reducing the cash available for salaries and improvements in the team. Von der Ahe said that the players who caught the late train would have to reimburse the club. By mid-March, Cardinal fans had already purchased 1.8 million tickets which surpassed 1995s total attendance. She could at her discretion foreclose on the team and sell it to the highest bidder. 113 One for the Red Caps, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 8, 1900. 89 A New Grandstand, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 24, 1898. The Browns were asking $222,500 in damages.421, On May 2, 1950 St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Robert L. Aronson ruled that the Browns had no basis. MLB Mexico City Series: Game times, how to watch At the time, it was the highest penalty imposed by Major League Baseball. With Saigh and DeWitt Sr. not liking each other, their disagreement went to a hearing with Commissioner Happy Chandler on March 9, 1949. 651 Kevin C. Johnson, Dave Matthews Hits It Out of the Park, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 9, 2008. Once the sale was complete, Saigh owned 1557.9 shares. To allow their purchase of the Reds in 2005, the rest of the group bought out Castellini's and the Williams brothers' shares, totaling an estimated 13%. 654 Dan Caesar, Cards Flock to KTRS, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 5, 2005. 287 Parker, Transfer of Cardinals to Sportsmans Park, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 25, 1920. Flags And Six World Series Titles, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 11, 1949. 307 Cardinals Have Deal on for Stock in Syracuse Club, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, January 23, 1921. We hope it will be reflected favorably in the percentages.486, The new 1956 uniform model had the Birds on the Bat replaced with the script Cardinals which was red with an underline coming from the S going to the left. 396 Robert E. Hannegan Dies at Home Here, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 6, 1949. We need to supplement the Jefferson Expansion Memorial (Arch project.) Hornsby dropped his selling price to $100 per share. Accessed September 2, 2020. After the League meetings Robison approached Hanlon about obtaining McGraw and Robinson. On January 27, 1949, Hannegan sold his portion of the team to Fred Saigh his partner. His desire to keep Herzog in charge was usurped. The cost of the new ballpark was announced as $387.5 million. Britton to Take Charge of New Job at Once, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 19, 1916. 1926 was the season that it all came together for Breadon, Rickey, the Cardinal players and their fans. I expect the Cardinals to come damn close to winning a pennant in 1957, and 1958 is going to be a sure thing or Frank Lane will be out on his rump.489 At the time, Lane claimed the boss was joking, but despite a second-place finish that season, and an $815,000 profit for the brewery, Lane left for the Cleveland Indians after 1957. 305, Rickey had returned from World War I with the conviction the Cardinals couldnt compete with the big-market New York Giants and Chicago Cubs who bought promising players from independent minor league operators. Without disclosing details of the purchase Saigh vehemently denied the report. When the team was winning pennants, it was easier to do.42, One of the times that Comiskey couldnt defuse a volatile situation was the day before a game in Kansas City. He also surmised that Becker changed his mind because he felt that he would have gotten a better deal at a public sale. 251 Cards Stockholders Asked to Subscribe $60,000 to Prevent Loss of Control, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 23, 1918. A total of 14 general managers (GM) have served for the Cardinals. Breadon was counting on his farm system to turn out players just as talented. Lane was flooded with complaints demanding the logos return. 208 Mrs. It took the press out of my pants.517 The game itself lasted 10 innings but took only 2 hours and 19 minutes. The Cardinals maintained their administrative offices at Cardinal Field, but didnt announce any long-term plans for the venue.289 The park was still used for amateur soccer matches and baseball tryouts.290 In 1922, the St. Louis Board of Education, which wanted the site for a high school, began negotiations with Breadon and eventually bought the land for $212,000.291. Yahoo Sports. Louis Brewery to Make New Beer, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, August 8, 1955. Still, Von der Ahe would not relent and Robinson would have to pay the fine despite players and fans asking the owner to drop it. St. Louisans have been loyal to the club in its adversity in the hope that the man who downed the League would show some of his former energy and liberality in building up the team.71 In conclusion Von der Ahe had been more interested in 25-cent admissions, Sunday games and beer than in protecting the playing quality of his team. The offer matched Apexs and gave the brewery 62.5 percent of CCRCs shares. It didnt work. 578 Dick Kaegel, Single Dimension Catches Up with Rapp, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 26, 1978. 628 Jim Davis, Forbes.com. 433 Chandlers Six Year Reign Ends Today, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 15, 1951. More and more, the team was riding the coat tails of Stan Musial, with help from Red Schoendienst and Harry Brecheen, but little support from the minors. Vous pouvez modifier vos choix tout moment en cliquant sur le lien Tableau de bord sur la vie prive prsent sur nos sites et dans nos applications. Shrubbery and flowers were added in front of the bleachers to make it more aesthetically pleasing. 80330 Certificate of Incorporation, Missouri State Archives. A crowd of 17,803 paid a final farewell to the old Sportsmans Park.511 After the game, home plate was removed by retired groundskeeper Bill Stocksick, who had laid it at Sportsmans Park in 1909. The firsr dividend declared by the Cardinals board of directors was for the 1922 season and $35,000 was distributed to the shareholders.344 Breadon having 72 percent of the shares received $26,250. Von der Ahe did his part by demanding players board in buildings he owned so he could keep an eye on them. The brewerys commitment to the team was increased in August 1981 when it concluded a difficult campaign to acquire the remainder of the shares of the Civic Center Redevelopment Corporation. Official St. Louis Cardinals Website | MLB.com 372 Wrays Column. https://bsd.sos.mo.gov. The Cardinals began showing improvement on the field and at the gate under Branch Rickey. With financial markets plummeting and banks beginning to fail, Breadon said he felt plans to build the 40,000 seat Breadon Bowl at Spring and Chouteau, were unfeasible at best. Some club managements get criticized unfairly, but some players do, too.551 McCarver was politic, It was well said and I do think an annual get-together like this would be good for the club and players.552, Getting lambasted by Gussie took the wind out of his players sails. Five years before, Breadon had forced out legendary general manager Branch Rickey, who had quickly resurfaced with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Gussie, however, was now in his eighties and showing the infirmities of old age. 344 Knot-Hole Stock Holders Receive First Dividend. Louis. 284 Mrs. 601 Lorraine Kee, Presto Change-o! 140 Cardinals Increase Stock, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 19, 1903. 610 Tim ONeil, New Card Owners: We Want To Win, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 23, 1995. The grocery business was very successful, serving the German residents and quarry workers. 491 Jack Herman, Cards Paint Books With $21,891 in Red Ink, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, January 6, 1959. Peckington secretary of SPCA.83 Von der Ahes claims against the organization totaled $108,962.There were 28 other creditors with unsecured claims between $125 and $3,925 and an additional dozen with unsecured claims between $7 and $90.84, But the deed of trust did not supersede mortgages held on the ballpark, other judgements held against the association, Edward Beckers note for $23,000 and $20,000 in bonds. 33690), Missouri Business Filings. How Major League Baseball's First Female Owner Came To Lead The Cardinals Correa was fired, then banned from baseball for life, along with serving a prison sentence of 46 months. She felt that it would be a safer venue to buy tickets instead of venturing into a saloon.164 The second was instituting Ladies Day on April 15, 1912. Cronkite School at ASU The outfielder could go into the seats to retrieve a fair ball but had to throw it to a fielder in the pitchers box before a runner could be put out.18 In addition to the renovations Von der Ahe planned to have the park wired for electricity.19 He wanted Sportsmans Park to be a multi-use facility, with space for track and field meets, soccer and lacrosse.20, The first game of St. Louis American Association season and first as the franchise occurred on May 2, 1882 at Sportsmans Park against Louisville. First making his mark as a local automobile dealer, Sam Breadon first purchased a minority stake in the Cardinals in 1917 for $2,000, thus commencing 30 total years as owner of the Cardinals. 428 Steven Goldman, Jackie Robinson Day MLB. But things still didnt go smoothly with her male colleagues in St. Louis. Head of the parent company of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Michael Pulitzer, 71, owns nearly $201 million in known assets, including $105.6 million in Pulitzer Inc. and $93.9 million in. Bob Howsam, who had replaced Bing Devine, was creating friction between the players and the front office through 1965 and 1966. Dies Suddenly, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 27, 1930. The original deal in 1947 had been a 50-50 division between the two of them.413, With the purchase of Hannegans portion, Saigh now owned 90 percent (1,557.9) of the 1,731 shares outstanding in the Cardinals. Accessed June 8, 2020. DeWitt Jr., optimistic with these numbers, bought a 30 percent stake in FSM.660 He commented This (deal) does give us a great deal of stability (after it starts) for the next 15 years and does so in a market that has been shifting.661, Having a stable front office was a staple of the success the Cardinals had under DeWitt Jr.s ownership from 1996 through 2019. Fans and sportswriters did not share Breadons optimism. After the 1987 season, Jack Clark was one player that Whitey had at the top of the priority list to re-sign. 378 Broeg, Breadon, Frick Pacified Feeling, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 9, 1947. The Watts are now minority owners of a Premier League club. Herzog put on his general managers cap again during the 1981-82 offseason and acquired three players: Lonnie Smith, Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee. The impact of Herzogs loss of total control steadily became apparent. The team said it sacrificed some 5,000 potential revenue-producing seats.632 Scores were updated every half-inning by seven Manual Scoreboard Guys (MSGs). 102 Caught on the Fly, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 19, 1899. He got involved in politics, becoming a party activist and a supporter of mayoral candidates.2 St. Louis was a fast-growing city, reaching a population of 350,518 in the 1880 census and German ancestry figured prominently in the citys political and social life. They planned on additional revenue from selling personal seat licenses to 10,300 seats before potential ticket holders could buy tickets.644 In commenting about the financing switch from public to private money, Lamping said, For the Cardinals to be able to privately finance the new ballpark is a real tribute to Cardinal fans and testament to the strength of St. Louis as a Major League Baseball market.645, Fans clicking on the Cardinals website could look at an artists rendering of the new park, a red brick, glass and steel structure with an estimated capacity of 46,681 (in 2006). 341 Martin J. Haley, Browns Pass Up Action on Night Game Preparation, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, December 23, 1934. Despite the championship, Gussie had to do damage control to get the fans back on his side. 452 Gussie Busch Dies at 90, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 1989. 184 Ed Bang, Schuyler P. Britton Groomed to Head Cardinals, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February 1, 1913. 120 MGraw Not the Manager, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 20, 1900. 45 Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, SABR/Baseball-Reference Encyclopedia, https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Brotherhood_of_Professional_Baseball_Players, accessed October 11, 2021. I raised his salary from seventy-five dollars a month to five thousand a season and an interest in my team. OConnor, Cardinal Vote Saves Job for President Lynch, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 4, 1911. As his percentage of shares increased, Breadon got bigger slices of the dividend melon. 262 Directors to Decide Fate of Cardinals Under $89,000 Debt, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 23, 1919. 1 J. Thomas Hetrick, Chris Von der Ahe and the St. Louis Browns (Lanham, The Scarecrow Press Inc. 1999), 4. Stanley said he would prefer men go coatless and unbutton their collars and shirtwaists on hot days rather than to risk the loss of attendance by 25 to 50 percent.142. Breadon also announced that due to the sale there would be no dividend prior to the team going to Hannegan and Saigh.390, The breakdown of the sales proceeds between shareholders was as follows: Breadon, with 81% of the shares, received $3,289,248; Mark Steinberg, if his holding of about 10% was accurate, received $406,080; Adolph M. Diez, with 4.1%, received $166,492.80 and 225 small shareholders with a cumulative 4.9% of the stock, received $198,979.20.391, St. Louis Cardinals (National League), 1948-1952 Yahoo Sports. If Breadon felt the Cardinals werent looking successful financially for a particular year, or to make a good year financially better, they sold their stars with the confidence that the farm system had replacements. https://hosbeg.com/difference-between-a-partnership-and-a-limited-liability-company. It wasnt until 1944, when the Browns stood at the top of the mountain overlooking all the other American League teams, that they could claim the St. Louis home attendance crown in their own ballpark. 209 Mrs. The financial situation that Rickey inherited was a shoestring at best. 347 Martin J. Haley, 100 Rookies Ruled Free Agents, St. Louis Globe-Democrat, March 24, 1938. 2 The Primaries: An Address to the Anti-Overstoltz Voters, St.Louis Post-Dispatch, March 26, 1881. Gussies interest in being the owner was to stay in the public eye. Preliminary clearing of the construction site started in November 2003.642, The project was financed mostly privately and the DeWitt ownership group owned the stadium, instead of leasing it. [citation needed], In January 2014, the city of Memphis cleared the Cardinals to purchase the Memphis Redbirds from the MRF.