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MLB

Randal Grichuk, Former Chiefs P Sam Tuivailala Headline 2015 Cardinals Caravan

By Nathan Baliva
January 6, 2015

ATTENTION: TICKETS TO THE CARAVAN LUNCHEON AT DOZER PARK ON JANUARY 19TH HAVE SOLD OUT!

  The Peoria Chiefs, St. Louis Cardinals and 1290 WIRL have announced that the 2015 Cardinals Caravan will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in East Peoria on Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. The Caravan will be hosted by 1290 WIRL and tickets for fans are $3.00 and available at the door. Proceeds benefit the Oldtimers Baseball Association.

     The attendees will be Cardinals rookie outfielder Randal Grichuk, former Chiefs RHP Sam Tuivailala who made his MLB debut in September, rookie first baseman Xavier Scruggs, newcomer Ty Kelly, former Chiefs and Cardinals Cliff Politte and Brad Thompson. Dan McLaughlin, Cardinals TV-broadcaster for Fox Sports Midwest, will emcee the event.

     Grichuk, 23, made his MLB debut in the 2014 season for the Cardinals and hit .245 in 47 games with three home runs and eight RBI in the regular season. The right-fielder then hit two home runs and drove in three during the Cardinals playoff run. A former first round pick of the LA Angels of Anaheim, Grichuk played in Cedar Rapids in 2010 and 2011.

     Tuivailala pitched twice for the Cardinals in September, making his MLB debut 12 months after pitching in Peoria. With the Chiefs in 2013 the converted shortstop pitched 28 times and struck out 50 batters in just 35 1/3 innings while recording a save. He cruised through three levels in 2014 going 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA, five saves and 97 strikeouts in 60 MiLB innings.

     Scruggs also made his MLB debut in September appearing in nine games and collecting three hits in 15 at-bats. The 27-year-old had a double and two RBI for the Cardinals. A 19th round pick in 2008 out of UNLV, Scruggs played for Quad Cities in 2009 and has hit 134 MiLB home runs.

     Kelly was acquired by the Cardinals in a November trade with the Mariners. He spent the 2014 season in Triple-A Tacoma batting .263 with 15 homers, 19 doubles, 11 steals and 80 RBI. In six Minor League seasons with the Orioles and Mariners, Kelly has 39 homers, 123 doubles and a .282 average.

     As a 22-year old in 1996, Cliff Politte put together one of the best seasons for a starting pitcher in Peoria Chiefs history. In 25 starts he went 14-6 with a 2.59 ERA while striking out 151 batters in 149 2/3 innings. Eighteen years later he is tied for 5th on the Chiefs single-season wins list, eighth in strikeouts and 12th in ERA. As a Major Leaguer he pitched for St. Louis, Philadelphia, Toronto and the Chicago White Sox from 1998- 2006 picking up 330 appearances, 22 wins and 15 saves. While winning a World Series ring in 2005 with Chicago, Politte racked up a career-high seven wins and 68 appearances while posting a career-best 2.00 ERA.

     As a 21-year old, Brad Thompson went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 30 games for the 2003 Peoria Chiefs. He started four games and struck out 43 batters over 65 innings before an August promoted to Palm Beach. In 2007, Thompson was named to the Chiefs 25th Anniversary Team in an online fan vote. Thompson pitched 201 times in the Majors with the Cardinals and Kansas City Royals going 21-21 over 405 innings. His best season was 2007 when he went 8-6 with 17 starts and 44 appearances covering 129 1/3 innings for the Cardinals. During the Cardinals 2006 World Series run, Thompson pitched four times out of the bullpen and struck out three over two innings of work.

     McLaughlin, a St. Louis native has broadcasted Cardinals baseball for 16 seasons on Fox Sports Midwest. An Emmy Award winner for outstanding play-by-play, McLaughlin has called a variety of sports for ESPN, FOX, FOX College Sports and served as a studio host of St. Louis Blues hockey on both radio and television broadcasts     

     The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the players and coaches will sign autographs before taking questions from fans. In a new autograph policy implemented by the Cardinals in 2013, the first 400 kids 15 and under through the door will receive one autograph per player.

     On Monday, January 19, fans can have lunch with the Cardinals players as part of the 2015 Cardinals Caravan. A pasta lunch will be served at Dozer Park at Noon and tickets are $17 for adults or $12 for kids 12 and under. The luncheon includes a short Q&A plus a baseball for autographs from all the Caravan attendees. Space is limited and tickets must be purchased by Noon Central Time on Thursday, January 15. TICKETS TO THE CARAVAN LUNCHEON HAVE SOLD OUT!