HOUSTON VS. ST. LOUIS
Coming down off that ALCS high, Sox fans now turn their attention to the next opponent: St. Louis or Houston.
Game 6 of the NL Championship Series is Wednesday in St. Louis as the Cardinals try to stay alive against the Houston Astros, who lead 3-2.
While they prepare to play on the field, we played around on paper.
–REDEYE
WHICH WOULD APPEAR TO MAKE IT EASIER ON SOX FANS?
Flying down is kind of a hassle, and driving 1,108 miles isn’t much fun either. You could also canoe down the Mississippi River and make a right at the Gulf of Mexico.
Location, location, location. It becomes “The I-55 Series” as fans drive down for a weekday Game 3, 4 or 5 and drive back in time for work the next morning.
WINNER: St. Louis. You could canoe there too. Much shorter trip.
WORLD SERIES HISTORY
They’ve never been to the World Series, and the franchise is 0-5 when it comes to clinching the NLCS overall.
The Cardinals are 9-7 in the World Series overall (including last year’s loss), but the city had a crosstown classic when the Cardinals beat the St. Louis Browns in 1944.
WINNER: Houston. Quit hogging, St. Louis.
NOTABLE FANS
Former president George H. W. Bush (left), father of current President George
W. Bush.
Former “American Idol” competitor Nikko Smith (right), son of Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith.
WINNER: Push. Father, sons, baseball. Pass the tissues.
And God bless America!
“IT’S THEIR YEAR!”
Houston didn’t even have a team the last time the Sox went in 1959.
The 40-year-old Busch Stadium in St. Louis will be demolished immediately after this season.
WINNER: Houston. Look, Busch is blowing up one way or the other.
FAMOUS MOVIE MOMENTS
In “The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training,” the Bears play the Toros in the Astrodome before an Astros game, and the pro players let the little guys finish their game.
In “Parenthood,” Steve Martin takes his family to a Cardinals game and displays outstanding physical skills packing them into the car for the ride home.
WINNER: Houston. Eight Astros made the credits. And, yes, that really was third baseman Enos Cabell.
MASCOTS
The Astros’ Junction Jack (left), is a large stunned-looking jackrabbit. His Web page says his favorite song is “We Will Rock You” by Queen. “That song gets me hoppin’!”
The Cardinals have Fredbird (right). Want him to appear at your next event or party? It’s $250 for one hour, $350 for two hours.
WINNER: St. Louis. Fredbird just looks like he wants it.
LANDMARK
Close your eyes, hear the word “Houston,” and you think of the Astrodome (above), home to neither the Astros nor the NFL’s Texans.
Now close your eyes, hear the words “St. Louis,” and you think of The Arch, especially if you’re an Illini basketball fan still aching over last spring’s game against North Carolina.
WINNER: Push. And don’t ever mention “North Carolina” again.
SOX VS. CUBS IN ’05 SPLIT 3-3 SO …
The Cubs went 9-7 against the Astros
The Cubs went 10-6 against the Cardinals.
WINNER: St. Louis. And explain again how the Cubs didn’t make the playoffs?
OVERALL WINNER: Tied after regulation, we went to the coin flip. St. Louis won.
These things happen, Houston. Better luck next time.
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Edited by the sports staff of RedEye
