This season has offered little for St. Louis Cardinals fans to celebrate. After being labeled sellers at the July trade deadline, the team’s moves haven’t exactly sat well with the fanbase. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak, preparing to step aside for Chaim Bloom in 2026, has focused on stocking the organization with prospects rather than holding onto veterans with expiring contracts.
Despite those efforts, the Cardinals are still clinging to postseason hopes. Following Monday night’s walk-off win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, they hold a 65–67 record. That leaves them 16.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and 5.5 games behind the New York Mets for the final Wild Card spot.
However, the on-field battle wasn’t the main story from Busch Stadium. Monday’s game marked a historic low for fan turnout. The official attendance was announced as 17,675 — the smallest non-COVID restricted crowd in the history of Busch Stadium III.
The game, featuring Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy against Pittsburgh’s Johan Oviedo, failed to draw much excitement. As The Athletic’s Katie Woo noted, this was the lowest-attended game since the ballpark opened in 2006. Busch Stadium has been the team’s home for nearly two decades, following earlier versions in 1953 and 1966.
For a franchise long known for its passionate fan support, Monday’s turnout underscored just how difficult this season has been for Cardinals Nation.
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