Dear Oscar Taveras,
It was just 13 days ago when Cardinals manager Mike Matheny sent you up to pinch hit in Game Two of the National League Championship Series. The result: a rousing home run to right field with your dazzling follow through. Today, just 13 days later, we hear the sad news of your passing. As a lifelong Cardinals fan and a fan of baseball in general, I mourn the loss of such a young talent. But more importantly, I mourn the loss of a man who had finally made it. The long-awaited debut of a player known as one of baseball’s top prospects was far from a disappointment. After all the injuries, being signed at age 16, and starting off your career with an exclamation point home run, you had finally made your big entrance on the national stage.
A great talent and better teammate, you quickly won the hearts of the St. Louis faithful. When we needed you most, you stepped up with the home run that now means so much more. The last memory of a career and life once again cut too short. The image of you peering towards the sky after crossing home forever branded into our memories. Gone too soon at the raw age of just 22.
Thank you for the sweat, thank you for the patience, and thank you for playing the game the right way. Thank you Oscar Taveras for being a Cardinal. Say hello to Stan Musial for us and hit ’em far in Heaven.
You will be missed. Enjoy your Happy Flight to the skies.
Sincerely,
Jesse Smith
