Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Cards invite fans to celebrate Schoendienst

Day-long #LoveRed2-A-Thon to take place on social media platforms

ST. LOUIS -- Having introduced their #LoveRed2 campaign in April to recognize the 70 years' worth of contributions that Red Schoendienst has made to the organization, the Cardinals are making another push for fans to celebrate Schoendienst as the club prepares to enter the second half.

The Cardinals will hold a #LoveRed2-A-Thon on Thursday, a day on which they hope fans will help honor Schoendienst by posting short video messages on social media platforms Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, along with the hashtag #LoveRed2. The Cards plan to retweet many of these messages throughout the day. More details on what to include in a video can be found at www.cardinals.com/lovered2.

Additionally, the team will post multiple videos on its own social media platforms to commemorate the seven decades Schoendienst has spent in a Major League uniform.

Red, as he's affectionately known around town, remains a regular at Busch Stadium, dressing for batting practice, offering suggestions and providing his insight now 70 years after the Germantown, Ill., native made his Major League debut as a sub for Stan Musial, who had left the club to go serve in the United States Army.

Cardinals players and broadcasters taped a series of #LoveRed2 messages earlier this season that have already been unveiled.

Video: I Love Red 2 ceremony

"To do it that long and have the passion he has and the impact he has on this team, it's amazing," All-Star closer Trevor Rosenthal said. "Having him in here has been amazing, something I'll never forget and something I don't take for granted. I make sure to try and talk with him every time I see him."

Over his 19-year playing career, Schoendienst spent parts of 15 seasons with the Cards. He appeared in three World Series, 10 All-Star Games and amassed 2,449 career hits. Schoendienst ranks fourth in franchise history in at-bats (6,841), fifth in games played (1,795), sixth in runs (1,025) and hits (1,980) and seventh in doubles (352).

"Obviously, with Mr. Musial no longer with us, I think Red has kind of taken that banner for the Cardinals that this is what a Cardinal looks like," manager Mike Matheny said. "And it's something that even our young guys, they'll get online and pull up Red and see his stats, and then they'll see how humble he is around here and to me, that just embodies what we do."

Schoendienst went on to serve as a coach on the 1964 World Series championship team and later managed for 12 seasons. His 1,041 managerial wins ranks as the second most in franchise history. Schoendienst, who now serves as a special assistant to general manager John Mozeliak, was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

"It's just great to come in here every day and see someone with such experience, somebody who really does love talking about the game," reliever Randy Choate said. "Just the different things he's experienced over the years -- whether it was being the manager of that first million-dollar team or the players he has had under him and how the game has changed and progressed -- he just has so much to share, so much knowledge."

Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB, like her Facebook page Jenifer Langosch for Cardinals.com and listen to her podcast.
Read More: St. Louis Cardinals