As the sun sets on a remarkable baseball career, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has decided to serenade fans with a farewell concert at Busch Stadium.
Wainwright, a longtime fixture of the Cardinals pitching staff, will hang up his glove at the end of this season but not before showcasing his musical talents.
On September 30th, the second-to-last day of the baseball season, the 42-year-old right-hander will take to the stage to perform three original songs from his upcoming country album, giving fans a taste of his off-field passion.
“I’m excited about sharing some music with everybody, and hopefully they’ll like it,” Wainwright expressed during a recent interview. “It’s a fun opportunity for me.”
The Cardinals have announced that Adam Wainwright will perform a live concert at Busch Stadium during his final home weekend later this month
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Wainwright, who secured his 199th career victory on Tuesday night, has had an illustrious career in baseball. He has been a part of a World Series championship team, earned three All-Star selections, and collected two Gold Glove awards.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Wainwright has ventured into the musical realm at Busch Stadium. He notably performed the national anthem before the Cardinals home opener earlier this year, an experience he equated to facing a high-pressure situation in baseball.
“The anthem was a lot of pressure,” Wainwright admitted. “If I mess my own song up, I can get by, and no one will even know it because I haven’t put the album out yet.”
Manager Oliver Marmol shared his thoughts on Wainwright’s musical endeavors, stating: “I think he’s more confident on the mound. Once he gets going, he’s good. But he’s done the pitching thing a little longer.”
Marmol also revealed that Wainwright had shared samples of his music with him, often at unexpected hours.
“Whenever he comes out with a new song, he usually sends it to me, and it’s usually around midnight,” Marmol said. “I’ve actually gone to see him play. I enjoyed it. It will be fun.”
Wainwright’s fellow teammates are equally enthusiastic about his upcoming concert.
Reliever Matthew Liberatore, an avid country music fan, remarked: “He’s a really good guitar player. It’s mostly country, and that’s what I like. So I’m looking forward to hearing it.”
The concert promises fans a sneak peek into Wainwright’s forthcoming album, featuring a total of 15 songs.
“I’ll be putting some teasers out on social media until the album drops,” Wainwright shared. “This is more of an in-depth look at what we’re all about. It’s all songs about me and my upbringing.”
As he prepares to transition from baseball to music, Wainwright has big plans for the future.
“It’s going to be one of the chapters,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of chapters in the book – five kids and a wife. I’m going to do some broadcasting, too, but this will be part of it for sure.”