The Cards (New) Secret Weapon

Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo is affectionately dubbed "The Secret Weapon" for his uber-versatility during his 12-year career.

Among the team's fan base, however, the title could be applied to Jacque Niekamp.

Last season, the die-hard fan provided inspiration to Cards reliever Jason Motte and his teammates, even when the club fell 10.5 games behind Wild Card-leading Atlanta on Aug. 24. Even in the club and fans' despair, Niekamp pulled Motte aside and told him: "Don't give up."

Fast forwarding two months later, Motte found himself on the Busch Stadium mound to close out the club's 11th world championship. And during the postgame celebration on the field, the flame-throwing right-hander spotted Niekamp in the stands and told her: "We didn't give up."

Niekamp's support of Cardinals baseball dates back to the early 1980s as a season ticket holder -- the Whitey Ball era -- but her family's affection for the club dates back to the 1920s. Her mother, Mary Jane Thaman, started attending games in 1926, the first year the Redbirds won a World Series.

Through last season, Niekamp and Thaman sat together for every home game in section 145, row D -- adjacent to the St. Louis dugout. In that spot, they've became familiar faces to players and staff, usually among the first fans to arrive at the ballpark.

In March, however, Thaman passed away at age 92. Naturally, Niekamp misses her mother's presence at home games, but remains assured that she continues to enjoy Cardinals baseball and provide unwavering support of their Redbirds.

"Her viewpoint of the game is just in a different location," she said.

-- Gabe Kiley