Play ball!

The St. Louis Cardinals had their first spring training game on Friday, February 28 against the Miami Marlins. It was a close one, but the Cardinals fell short 4-5. Since then, the St. Louis team lost to the Marlins (4-5) on March 1, dominated the New York Mets (7-1) on March 2 and fell to the Detroit Tigers (5-8) on March 3.

The Cardinals take on the Boston Red Sox in a World Series rematch March 5 at 12:05 p.m.

(For the full schedule, click here.)

In other news, the St. Louis Cardinals has just released the list of Cardinal hall of fame nominees. The new hall of fame, which is being constructed in Ballpark Village, is ready for the walls to be filled with the legends who have worn the Cardinals jersey.

22 previous players are automatically being inducted into the new hall of fame including players who are currently in the National Baseball Hall of Fame or their jersey has been retired at Busch Stadium.

On Friday, March 7, the polls are open to fans to vote for one of the eight possible nominees; the two who have the most votes will be forever remembered in the Cardinals hall of fame come August.

Here are the nominees (with their Cardinal career stats):

Jim Edmonds (.285 BA, 241 HR, 713 RBI): Winner of six straight Gold Gloves from 2000-05; advanced to postseason in six of eight seasons, winning World Series in 2006

Bob Forsch (163-127, 3.67 ERA, 1,079 K): Played 15 seasons with St. Louis; ranks third in franchise history with 163 wins; only player in team history with two no-hitters

Keith Hernandez (.299 BA, 265 2B, 662 R): NL MVP winner in 1979 and member of 1982 World Series champions; five-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star

Willie McGee (.294 BA, 301 SB, 255 2B): Spent 13 seasons with the Cardinals; 1985 MVP recipient after hitting .353 and stealing 56 bases; three-time Gold Glove winner

Mark McGwire (1.111 OPS, 220 HR, 473 RBI): Broke Roger Maris’ home run record with 70 in 1998; led NL in homers in ’98 and ’99, driving in 147 each season; three time All-Star

Matt Morris (101-62, 3.61 ERA, 986 K): Pitched for Cardinals from 1997-2005 and participated in postseason five times; led NL with 22 wins in 2001; two-time All-Star

Ted Simmons (.298 BA, 172 HR, 929 RBI): Six-time All-Star over 13 seasons in St. Louis; set NL record with 188 hits as a catcher in 1975; Silver Slugger winner in 1980

Joe Torre (.308 BA, 558 RBI, 161 2B): Played catcher, first and third from 1969-74; earned NL MVP honors in 1971 after batting .363 with 230 hits and 137 RBIs

The poll closes on April 22.

For more information, click here.