September 11: Jack Buck’s Poem Played At Busch Stadium To Remember 10th Anniversary

The St. Louis Cardinals observed the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001, in their own way Sunday, replaying Jack Buck’s poem before Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Buck originally read the poem on September 17, 2001, in a pregame ceremony at old Busch Stadium.

You can watch the video here, on FSN Midwest; the Cardinals’ website has the text of the poem and a video retrospective.

It’s amazing how close and how far away September 11 seems all at once. I’ll never forget what happened, but I look back now and Jack Buck was alive, Darryl Kile (the starting pitcher that day) was alive, Busch Stadium still stood, and Mark McGwire still played. That’s what 10 years feels like; you can put yourself back into that world without thinking about it—Albert Pujols is still around, after all—but when you do you’re reminded of everything that’s changed since. 

Jack Buck’s poem is a reminder of where we were, and of what got us past it. Thanks to the indefatigable Yadi2Second for finding the video.