Friday, Jul. 10, 2009

FanFest: 'Hundreds of things to do, thousands of things to see'

You might want to get there early and wear a good pair of walking shoes if you plan to attend the All-Star FanFest.

The exhibit, which covers nearly half a million square feet over two floors of the America's Center, is going to keep baseball fans busy for more than a little while.

"There are hundreds of things to do and thousands of things to see," Major League Baseball director of special events Jacqueline Secaira-Cotto said Thursday while workers hammered, wrenched and screwed together displays in anticipation of the opening of All-Star Game festivities this morning. "And, once you've paid for your ticket, all of the activities and events are free for kids and kid-adults."

The FanFest is open from 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. Friday through Monday and from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday. An auction will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m.

On Thursday, workers were busily setting up in anticipation of the 1 million fans expected to file through FanFest starting today.

Visitors of all ages can hit in a batting cage, get a baseball card made wearing the jersey of their favorite team, or try to strike out a video version of a fearsome major league slugger. Kids can get instruction from former major leaguers. On Thursday, Cardinals Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith was working out with youngsters from the Boys and Girls Club of Alton.

Niccolas Edwards, 16, of Alton, took a few cuts in the batting cages Thursday while he waited for his chance to get on the field with Smith, a 15-time All-Star who won 13 Gold Gloves.

"It's wonderful that we get to do this," Niccolas said between turns in the batting cage. "I can't believe we get to see all of this."

When asked about getting to meet Smith, one of the greatest players in Cardinals history, whose retired number 1 is on the outfield wall at Busch Stadium, Niccolas wasn't sure what to think.

"I'm not really sure who he is," Niccolas said. "But they told me he is in the Hall of Fame, so that's pretty cool."

In his defense, Niccolas was 3 years old when Smith retired in 1996.

Even if some of the young fans can't remember when he was a perennial All-Star, Smith said he is thrilled to see the game come to St. Louis for the first time since 1966.

"This is a great chance to really show the world what a great baseball city St. Louis is," Smith said. "The fans are going to love it. It was fantastic and exciting back when I participated in it, but now (All-Star week) is twice the size it was then."

Smith said he wished that he could have played in an All-Star Game in St. Louis. And if he could give any advice to first-time Cardinals All-Stars Ryan Franklin and Yadier Molina, it would be to soak up every bit of the excitement and pageantry they can.

"Today there is technology like the video cameras that you always see the players with at the All-Star Game," Smith said. "If I was playing today, I would love to be able to have a video of that. And it is going to be really special for those players. Especially when they announce their names in front of the hometown fans."

Scattered throughout the America's Center are displays of historic baseball memorabilia. Displayed in cases were a 1946 autographed jersey worn by Cardinals second baseman and manager Red Schoendienst, St. Louis' three most recent World Series trophies from 1967, 1982 and 2006, and a bat and a cap worn used by slugging Gas House Gang outfielder Joe Medwick in the 1930s.

There's a display of more than 100 items from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum that includes a 1930 Babe Ruth game-worn jersey and another that features the stars of the Negro leagues.

A miniature baseball stadium will be the backdrop of fielding and hitting clinics hosted by major leaguers. The diamond is complete with a dugout, and if you walk past the bench, there's a doorway replica of a major league clubhouse that will be stocked with the uniforms of All-Star Game players.

Operators of baseball card shops, memorabilia stores and sellers of bats, balls, gloves and jerseys were stocking their shelves.

"I think this is our seventh year, and the FanFest is the only show we do," said Ken Weaver, a dealer of old fashioned baseballs, vintage-looking uniforms and replica gloves, who was setting up his shop. "It's a great event, and the crowds are amazing."

On Thursday David Hunt, of Hunt Auctions, set up a display with more than 800 lots of historical baseball items to be sold to the highest bidder. The items include a 1930s vintage New York Yankees cap worn by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig that is expected to fetch up to $125,000. There is also a Babe Ruth bat that is estimated to bring as much as $75,000 and a Ted Williams autographed Boston Red Sox jersey Hunt thinks could bring up to $50,000.

"We're not only going to have an auction, but we're going to be offering a free appraisal service throughout the FanFest," Hunt said. "You can bring in something from your baseball collection and find out what it's worth."