#214: Edward Jones Dome

Of all the cakes, this one was THE hardest one to get. That is, if you were picky about how you wanted to take the picture of this cake. I'm not gonna lie, this was my third attempt to get the cake, and I was able to do it at the right time. As you probably already know, I wasn't already a fan of indoor cakes. Luckily it's not just me. There's a lot of cake-hunting people out there wondering why this one is over-secured.

The Edward Jones Dome has been the home of the St. Louis Rams, the city's professional football team. It has been that way since 1995, back when the place was known as the Trans World Dome, or 'the TWA dome'. The name changed in 2001 after the ill-fated company was acquired by American Airlines. The Edward Jones company purchased the naming rights in 2002. It is in question if the Rams will be playing in St. Louis for the 2015 season.

The Rams were brought to St. Louis from Los Angeles, where they played starting in 1946. The team was born in Cleveland in 1937. The Los Angeles Rams were iconic during their stay in the 'City of Angels', with several championship appearances and bringing notable players including Bob Waterfield and Merlin Olsen. The team, because of its grand location, was featured in many movies and TV shows, notably in Warren Beatty's movie Heaven Can Wait. When it was announced in 1995 they were re-locating to St. Louis, it definitely wasn't a popular move among Southern Californians and team fans, as well as former players. Actor Fred Dryer (best known for TV's Hunter, who played defensive end from 1972 to 1981) was very bitter about the move, criticizing Georgia Frontiere (the team's then-owner) and the organization. To this day, the city of Los Angeles has not had a pro-football team. There have been rumors that the Rams will come back there, but no confirmation.

The Rams are St. Louis's fourth pro-football team, the first since the St. Louis Cardinals left in 1987. The first St. Louis football team was the St. Louis All Stars, who played one lone season at Sportsman's Park in 1923. In 1931, the St. Louis Gunners had a short-lived time as well, ending in 1940.

Since moving to St. Louis in 1995, the team has brought quite a legacy to its hometown. But in most ways, it was short-lived, as we saw a rise-and-fall glory. St. Louis had their first football championship in 2000 when the Rams won their first (and so far, only) Super Bowl winning title. Led by Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk, the team was very unstoppable during their 1999 season. They would return to the Super Bowl in 2002, but were defeated by the New England Patriots. Their last playoff appearance was in 2004, but since then the team has suffered a major slump. As noted above, due to many things, the team's stay in St. Louis is in question.

The dome has hosted many events, including the religious convention, the Promise Keepers. Billy Graham and his 'Billy Graham Crusade' brought 200,000 to the Dome in 1999. A monster truck show was featured there. College basketball and football have been played there as well. Concerts included U2's PopMart tour in 1997, the Rolling Stones that same year, and in 2001 the boy band N' Sync brought their Pop Odyssey Tour there. The most recent concert was OneDirection in 2014.

The cake, which focuses on the heritage of St. Louis:

Wikipedia link

701 Convention Plaza, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63101
Cake artists: Stacey Sandweg and Gary Lang

#159: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis

One of the most interesting parts of cake-hunting is standing in spots that were grand (or in a better sense of terminology, popular, alive, etc.). There I was at the Boys & Girls Club, off of Grand Avenue, just outside the busy part of the city. But then I thought, well...this was once a busy part of the city too! I was setting foot on what used to be Sportsman's Park 60 years ago.

As much as I hate to say it but it is often easy to forget that St. Louis had 2 Major League baseball teams at one time. First, you have of course...the Cardinals. Then you also have the St. Louis Browns, which played in the city for more than 50 years. Hard to believe if you think about that deeply enough! During the first half of the 20th century, St. Louis was still in the Top 10 largest cities in America, so it wasn't unusual for a large city like ours to have two teams. (Today, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City are the 3 biggest US cities and each have 2 MLB teams)

Another thing worth mentioning that is easy to forget: the Browns and the Cardinals played against each other in the 1944 World Series. Even more interesting enough, this was the only WS that was played entirely in one stadium, which was Sportsman's Park. You gotta remember though: in 1944 America was fighting in World War II, so some baseball players were not able to play. Some sports critics even called this World Series a 'fluke'. It had its moments though.

So what happened? Like why aren't the Browns with us no more? Well, technically the Browns do exist...but in a different city. They are now the Baltimore Orioles. Short version of the story: the Browns, in reality, were an underperforming team, only going as far as the 1944 American League pennant. Attendance was rapidly going down in the early 1950s, while the booming Cardinals were on fire. 1953 would be the last season the Browns would play in St. Louis, but there have been talks for the longest time to put the team in Baltimore. To this day, the Orioles have pretty much distanced themselves from their past incarnation.

The St. Louis Browns have quite an interesting history. For a detailed version of it, check out their Wikipedia page.

Sportsman's Park had been the home of both St. Louis teams for a long time. The Browns were the tenants, starting in 1902 up to their demise, while the Cardinals moved here in 1920. The Cards would play here in 1966, until their big move to Busch Memorial Stadium that year. It was on May 8, 1966 that a helicopter did a ceremonial move of the home plate from the old to the new stadium. The grandstand would be torn down later that year.

The Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club is now the home of the former ballpark. The ball field still exists; however, it is used for different purposes for all kinds of sports. You'll see a great tribute to both places in the cake pictures below:

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Sportsman's Park

Sportsman's Park Wikipedia page
Official website

2901 N. Grand Blvd., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63107
Cake artist: Richard Rice

UPDATE (8/24/2016): The cake is still there.

#62: Busch Stadium

What else there is to say? The home of the St. Louis Cardinals! Actually, there is plenty to say...but where to start? Well, it is named after the team's former owner(s) - the Busch family, who of course, are the people behind Anheuser-Busch. The family and company owned the team from 1953 to 1995. The same year they bought them, Sportsmans Park was re-named Busch Stadium. The Cardinals moved to their new home downtown in 1966, with the round, so-called 'cookie cutter' stadium called Busch Memorial Stadium. It was called that until 1981, and that stadium was last used during the 2005 season. It was eventually demolished after they completed the playoffs.

The current Busch Stadium, often referred to as 'the newer stadium' or 'Busch Stadium III', opened in 2006. Since then, the Cardinals have hosted one All-Star game (2009) and three World Series. Busch Stadium was the first ballpark in over 100 years to have its team win the World Series at its inaugural year ('06). The Cardinals went on to win the World Championship in 2011. As I write this in mid-September 2014, the Cardinals are currently trying to make their way into the playoffs. Who knows, maybe it will host another championship and World series?

The new Busch Stadium currently seats close to 44,000. This does not include rooms and luxury suites. Since its opening, the stadium has had a great share of sell-out crowds and standing room-only games. Ironically, the highest attendance at Busch Stadium for any event was a football game starring British teams! On May 28, 2013, over 48,000 people watched the Chelsea Football Club play against the Manchester City Football Club.

There is so much I can say about the Cardinals. In short, they are one of the most successful major league baseball franchises of all-time, as the National League team with the most World Series wins (11). Only the New York Yankees have more - actually waaayyyy more than any other franchise, with 28. The Cardinals have had a long history with memorable players, including those who did more than play ball. From Stan the Man to Enos Slaughter, from Bob Gibson to Lou Brock, from Ozzie Smith to Albert Pujols. Yes, I said Albert Pujols. To me, he deserves credit for helping to reboot the team in the mid-2000s. Several players went on to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Memorable names associated with the Cardinals that were not players include broadcaster Jack Buck (who was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame), and several managers and general managers who led and made tough decisions for the team.

Here are some random facts about the Cardinals, as well as Busch Stadium, found on its page.

The side which displays the Cardinals' championship and World Series wins years. Its better viewed off I-64/Hwy 40

A view of Busch Stadium from the Gateway Arch

Busch Stadium also has hosted concerts, as well as the previous stadium. Since the new stadium's opening, the Dave Matthews Band and the Eagles have performed there. In July of 2011, I attended U2's famous 360 tour. One of the best concerts I've ever attended, by the way!

Me in front of 'the claw', which was part of U2 360's stage setup

The cake, as designed by Katherine Nelson. I bet she had a thrill doing this one, but at the same time, a dilemma, as what to put on it. I think she made the right choice: 

Back of the cake

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Busch Stadium

NOTE: For various reasons, the cake is not outside Busch Stadium at the moment. It is unknown if this is temporary or permanent.  (September 2014)

Busch Stadium on FB
Wikipedia link
St. Louis Cardinals Official website

700 Clark Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63102
Cake artist: Katherine Nelson

#61: Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center

It makes perfect sense to have one of the most popular female athletes in the last 30 years have something named after her. Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born in East St. Louis in 1962. She won six Olympic medals.

Facts about the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center:

• Opened in 2000.
• $12 million was raised for the building, including donations from Anheuser-Busch and Monsanto
• Unfortunately due to mismanagement and money matters, the JJK Center was closed for a short time from 2010 to 2012, as it is back in operation.
• Joyner-Kersee herself is on the board, serving as President.
• Building contains indoor basketball courts, computer rooms and a cafeteria. Also there are football, softball and baseball fields that are spread across 37 acres.

An episode of KETC Channel 9's 'Living St. Louis' devoted to Jackie Joyner-Kersee

Source: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/joyner-kersee-isn-t-giving-up-on-center-bearing-her/article_249ce674-4601-5eff-9ba3-0696c405f1a2.html

101 Jackie Joyner-Kersee Circle, EAST ST. LOUIS, IL, 62204
Cake artist: Linda Thompson

#38: Francis Field

St. Louis was host to the Summer Olympics in 1904, having been the first city in the Western hemisphere to have the Olympics. By the way, that same year, there was also the World's Fair. So it is without doubt, 1904 was 'the year' of St. Louis.

• Francis Field is part of the campus of Washington University, and it is used for football, track, and many other outdoor sports
• Opened in 1904, it is one of the oldest outdoor sports venues on the western side of the Mississippi River that is still being used
• It is named after David R. Francis, who had quite a resume for a politician (see his Wikipedia page for more details). Francis was president of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Expedition.
• Up until 1984, the field seated 19,000. Today it seats 4,000.
• The professional soccer team, The St. Louis Stars, once played here in the 1960s

The cake, which past tribute to the 1904 Olympic games:

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

NOTE: There are many Francis Fields around the country, including nearby Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois!

Wikipedia link
Francis Field on Washington University's website

6900 Forsyth Boulevard, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63105
Cake artist: April Morrison

#28: Scottrade Center

Opened in 1994.
Sits on the former Kiel Auditorium site.

The Blues

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Wikipedia link
Scottrade Center on FB
Official website

1401 Clark Avenue, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63103
Cake artist: Jeremy Brooks  (He is the son of multi-cake artist Rich Brooks)