About Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, the second Busch Stadium, was a distinctive circular venue in downtown St. Louis defined by its ring of 96 arches along the roofline — a design meant to echo the nearby Gateway Arch. It served the Cardinals for 40 seasons and hosted some of the franchise's greatest moments.
Bob Gibson's legendary 1968 season — a 1.12 ERA that prompted baseball to lower the mound — unfolded here, as did Mark McGwire's record-breaking 62nd home run in 1998, which captivated the nation during the great home run chase with Sammy Sosa.
The Cardinals won World Series titles in 1967 and 1982 at Busch, and the stadium's downtown location made it a centerpiece of St. Louis civic life. It was demolished in 2005 to make way for the current Busch Stadium.
Fun facts
- The 96 arches ringing the rooftop were designed to mirror the Gateway Arch nearby.
- Mark McGwire's 62nd home run ball was caught by a groundskeeper named Tim Forneris, who returned it to McGwire.
- Bob Gibson was so dominant in 1968 that MLB lowered the mound from 15 to 10 inches the next year.
- The stadium was built on the site of old Chinatown in St. Louis.
Been to Busch Memorial Stadium? Track it — along with 390+ ballparks — and build your baseball story.
Get Ballpark Bucket ListMore historical ballparks
- Bennett Park · Detroit, Michigan
- Braves Field · Boston, Massachusetts
- Candlestick Park · San Francisco, California
- Cleveland Municipal Stadium · Cleveland, Ohio
- Colt Stadium · Houston, Texas