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darkcloud4579 · 07-03-2003, 09:48 PM

Nelly off to a HOT start

ST. LOUIS - Most fans outside St. Louis downright ridiculed the St. Louis Cardinals for bringing a former rapper, St. Louis native and former rap megastar Nelly into their fold. "People called and laughed. They didn't think we were serious." Especially considering the Cards were a contending team and St. Louis is one of the better drawing teams in baseball, few thought they needed to devolve into a stunt like this. "We were serious and Nelly hasn't proven us wrong."

Despite hitting .223 in Single-A, the Cards brought the fan favorite to the majors in September. What he managed to do, no one saw coming. "We figured he'd come up, get into a few games, we'd play his songs and everyone would cheer. That was it." said one unnamed Cardinals source.

Nelly took the 17-game honeymoon and put up big. He hit .343 with 3 homers, 12 RBI and slugged .627. "I never expected it. He basically tied my hands behind my back, because I couldn't get him out of the lineup." said Tony LaRussa.

Because of his performance, Nelly earned a spot on the post-season roster. Though the Cards didn't "Ride with him" to the World Series, Nelly hit a respectable .296 with 2 homers and 5 steals in his first post-season. "I learned a lot up here." he said. No one has stated whether they expect him back in the minors next season. "We'll have to give him a real hard look in spring training".

07-03-2003, 09:48 PM	#20
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,681	IT'S GETTIN' HOT IN HERE... Nelly off to a HOT start ST. LOUIS - Most fans outside St. Louis downright ridiculed the St. Louis Cardinals for bringing a former rapper, St. Louis native and former rap megastar Nelly into their fold. "People called and laughed. They didn't think we were serious." Especially considering the Cards were a contending team and St. Louis is one of the better drawing teams in baseball, few thought they needed to devolve into a stunt like this. "We were serious and Nelly hasn't proven us wrong." Despite hitting .223 in Single-A, the Cards brought the fan favorite to the majors in September. What he managed to do, no one saw coming. "We figured he'd come up, get into a few games, we'd play his songs and everyone would cheer. That was it." said one unnamed Cardinals source. Nelly took the 17-game honeymoon and put up big. He hit .343 with 3 homers, 12 RBI and slugged .627. "I never expected it. He basically tied my hands behind my back, because I couldn't get him out of the lineup." said Tony LaRussa. Because of his performance, Nelly earned a spot on the post-season roster. Though the Cards didn't "Ride with him" to the World Series, Nelly hit a respectable .296 with 2 homers and 5 steals in his first post-season. "I learned a lot up here." he said. No one has stated whether they expect him back in the minors next season. "We'll have to give him a real hard look in spring training".