St. Louis Cardinals

Shannon was known for entertaining listeners with his baseball insight and confounding them with his singular remarks, known as Shannonisms.

Tens of thousands of Cardinals fans flocked to Busch Stadium on Thursday to celebrate the return of baseball in an afternoon matchup against the Toronto Blue Jays.

After a season of achievements and a National League division title, the St. Louis Cardinals lose to the Philadelphia Phillies in a short series.

For many baseball fans, the excitement over Aaron Judge, Albert Pujols and the milestones they've been chasing has evoked bittersweet memories of the home run chases of baseball's "steroid era."

Playing the final days of his last big league season, the 42-year-old Pujols joined Barry Bonds (762 homers), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) in one of baseball's most exclusive clubs.

The 42-year-old is in his final Major League season and is hoping to join three baseball legends in reaching 700 home runs. Only Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds have done it. Pujols has 698.

When Albert Pujols left the Cardinals in 2011, it was right after the team won the World Series. There was some hurt then, but time seems to have healed those wounds as he makes a return to St. Louis.

Thousands of fans turned out to celebrate the return of St. Louis Cardinals baseball without pandemic restrictions for the first time in two years.

The Cardinals are starting a new season while marketing the 40th anniversary of the 1982 World Series victory.

Metro East residents who have relied on the service will have to find other ways to get to baseball games in St. Louis this season.