By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (January 24, 2025) — Five current and former St. Louis Cardinals baseball players spent the afternoon at Fort Leonard Wood Jan. 17 to meet with fans in Nutter Field House.

Cardinals’ players Alec Burleson, Luken Baker and Jimmy Crooks, along with alumni Matt Adams and Mitch Harris, and longtime radio broadcaster John Rooney were on post as part of the Cardinals Caravan, which brings players and broadcasters together with fans outside of St. Louis each year during the offseason.

About 200 Department of Defense ID card holders and their families attended the caravan where the players signed autographs, answered fan’s questions and posed for photos.

“I really enjoy giving back to the people that sacrifice their blood, sweat and tears to protect our country,” said Matt Adams, former first baseman for the Cardinals.

Harris, a former Cardinals pitcher who served in the U.S. Navy prior to his baseball career, said this was his first time visiting Fort Leonard Wood.

“It feels good to be able to support our military and spend some time with them,” he said.

Getting to visit Fort Leonard Wood’s service members is “absolutely special” to Harris, but he said he has a special place in his heart for military families.

“I feel like sometimes the families are forgotten for what they must deal with and go through,” Harris said. “Being able to give back to the families is always special to me and to let them know that we’re pulling for them, as well as their service member.”

Harris said the caravan members were excited the Waynesville R-VI School District was out of school while they were on post, because they would get to spend time with their youngest fans.

“Maybe they want to follow in their mom or dad’s military footsteps and maybe they want to play baseball, too. I like being able to have a conversation with them and show them they can have both dreams. I can relate to those kids,” Harris said.

According to Harris, the caravans are just as important to the players as they are the fans.

“I think the fans don’t understand how much we appreciate them, because without them we’re not playing, you know,” Harris said. “I enjoy getting to be face-to-face with baseball fans, even though it has been a few years since I played. I like having conversations with them and watching them realize we’re normal people, just like they are.”

Six-year-old baseball fan, Marshall Garrison, said he came to the event to meet “real major league baseball players” and his favorite part was getting his baseball glove signed.

Military spouse and Marshall’s mom, Christine Garrison, said she brought her family to the event because they love “America’s favorite pastime.”

“We’re a big baseball family. We love the sport, love the camaraderie and the wholesomeness of all of it,” Garrison said. “I think this event is fantastic. These are moments our family will remember for a lifetime.”

Adams agreed, and said the Cardinals Caravan members are also making lifelong memories.

“These fans are taking time out of their busy schedules to meet us. It is a wonderful experience. Sure, they come out to Busch Stadium or watch us play on television, but it feels different when we get to interact with fans and see the smiles on their faces. We are making memories,” Adams said.

More photos from the event can be viewed on Fort Leonard Wood’s Flickr page.

Fort Leonard Wood community members line up inside Nutter Field House to meet with St. Louis Cardinals baseball players and alumni Jan. 17 during the Cardinals Caravan’s visit to the installation. (Dawn Arden, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Fort Leonard Wood

Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 80 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.

Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.

More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Editor’s note: Amanda Sullivan, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office, contributed to this story.)