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Reviving Ballpark Village One Of DeWitt III's
First Priorities As Cardinals President |
New MLB Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III's "immediate challenges include reviving the team's signature off-field endeavor, Ballpark Village, and proving to Cardinal Nation that his promotion is about more than just family ties," according to Jake Wagman of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. DeWitt III, the son of Cardinals Owner Bill DeWitt Jr., last week was promoted from Senior VP/Business Development to replace outgoing President Mark Lamping, who resigned to become New Meadowlands Stadium Co. CEO. DeWitt III, the third generation of his family to work in the Cardinals' front office, said of his new role, "I know I'm stepping into some big shoes." DeWitt III joined the Cardinals in '96 as head of merchandising, and in his Senior VP role has "had his hand in Cardinals projects big and small, from the lay of the gems on the team's World Series rings to the design" of Busch Stadium. DeWitt III also "helped develop the team's spring [training] home" in Jupiter, Florida, and "has been the point man for Ballpark Village, a project that so far has produced only delays." Wagman noted DeWitt Friday "fielded a barrage of inquiries about the fate of Ballpark Village," and DeWitt "insisted Ballpark Village will become a reality, but probably not by July 2009," when the Cardinals will host the MLB All-Star Game (
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/15).
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz wrote that after Lamping's departure and the January death of VP/Community Relations Marty Hendin, Busch Stadium is a "colder place now." Lamping for 13 seasons had "authority over virtually every non-baseball aspect of the franchise," and Miklasz noted Dewitt III "from an intellectual standpoint ... can handle the duties. But will he be an effective front man for the franchise?" Miklasz asked, Can DeWitt III "rise above the cynical view that he's the beneficiary of nepotism" and "reach out and network with local businesses and politicians to get things done?" Former Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty last October was fired from the team, and Miklasz wrote "this is a full DeWitt operation now." Miklasz: "As is the case with any family business, we'll know who deserves the credit -- or the blame" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 3/16).
