Former Cardinals great Edmonds has son throw first pitch

ST. LOUIS -- Jim Edmonds admitted Sunday that throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at Busch Stadium would be "nerve-wracking, because you're out of your element, even if you're on the field."

So Edmonds, who patrolled center field for eight seasons for the Cardinals, landing in the team's Hall of Fame in August, found a way -- an out, if you will -- to alleviate his anxiety.

Edmonds had his young son, Landon, throw out the first pitch instead.

The sold-out crowd, gathered to watch the Cards try to tie their series against the Giants, cheered at a fever pitch nonetheless.

By now, Edmonds should be used to the cheers from the Cardinals' faithful.

Edmonds had a .293/.393/.555 line over eight seasons (2000-07) with the team, was a three-time All-Star and finished fourth in voting for the 2004 NL MVP Award as well. Edmonds, a dynamic defensive player, won six NL Gold Glove Awards during his time in St. Louis.

Edmonds was a member of the 2006 World Series team that defeated the Tigers, a popular figure for the way he swung the bat and the way he went after a ball in center field.

Edmonds pulled on the red jacket given to inductees into the team's Hall of Fame during an August ceremony that really tested his nerves, much more so than any first pitch ever had. But he wouldn't trade it for anything, and he's thankful to still be attached to the organization.

"It's been fun to stay connected to the team," said Edmonds, who works for Fox Sports Midwest, serving as an analyst on Cardinals Live pregame and postgame shows. "It's a special group of people here who run this organization, from top to bottom. It's a pretty telling sign of how special this organization is."

Edmonds was traded from the Angels to the Cards in the spring of 2000, and he hit 42 home runs in his first season with the team, finishing fourth in the NL MVP Award vote. Edmonds was dealt to the Padres in December 2007 for a Minor League infielder, David Freese, who went on to win the NLCS MVP Award and the World Series MVP Award in 2011.

Edmonds was clearly the biggest hit of the pregame ceremonies before Game 2, though the Budweiser Clydesdales got a big cheer as well as they circled the field.

Erin Bode, a St. Louis-based national recording jazz artist, performed the national anthem.