The MLB Cardinals are "actively planning" a Pride Night at Busch Stadium that "could take place as soon as this season" and no later than '18, according to Derrick Goold of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. The team’s sales department has "started contacting groups in the St. Louis area to help organize and promote a theme-ticket event." The Cardinals’ "outreach also comes during LGBT Pride Month." Pride St. Louis, a nonprofit group that organizes the annual PrideFest, worked with the Blues on a January Pride Night at Scottrade Center. Pride St. Louis has been involved in "Out at the Ballpark" events at Busch Stadium in past years. There are eight MLB teams with hats for sale on ’47 Brand’s web site that "feature a rainbow-colored team logo," but the Cardinals are not one. Entering Spring Training this year, the Cardinals did "expand their programs for players when it comes to discussing diversity and inclusion." An official said that it was important to "include sexual orientation in that conversation, not just religion, background, race, language, or home." Goold notes a gay minor-league pitcher in the Cardinals’ organization alerted MLB that he retired from the game because of "hostile and homophobic attitudes he experienced in the clubhouse" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/9). SB Nation's John Fleming, who late last month wrote a blog post encouraging the Cardinals to host a Pride event, tweeted, "Real credit to the @Cardinals for proving many doubters wrong." Independent Cardinals reporter Chase Woodruff: "Very good news. Ignore the inevitable backlash, which happens *everywhere*" (TWITTER.com, 6/9).
