News
Distinguished guests pay visit to Cards
Former senator, retired lieutenant general mingle with team
By Matthew Leach / MLB.com
04/28/09 8:06 PM ET
ATLANTA -- Over the course of a season, the Cardinals see plenty of famous folks come and go. Musician Bruce Hornsby, former basketball coach Bob Knight and Miami Dolphins front-office honcho Bill Parcells all call manager Tony La Russa a friend. But the club doesn't often have the sort of visitors it had Tuesday evening.Former United States Sen. Max Cleland and retired Lt. Gen. Hal Moore were part of a party that paid a visit to the club and its manager. Cleland, who represented Georgia in the Senate from 1997-2003, received the Silver Star and Bronze Star for his service in the Army in Vietnam. Moore, meanwhile, is a Distinguished Service Cross winner and the protagonist and author of "We Were Soldiers Once... And Young" (as well as the movie adaptation called "We Were Soldiers").
Moore is a longtime acquaintance of La Russa, and he visits every spring. Cleland, however, has only recently become part of the club's circle. Asked in the dugout if he was a Cardinals fan, Cleland joked, "I am today."
Both men drew plenty of attention from players, and Moore in particular is a favorite of many in the St. Louis clubhouse.
"I met him [Cleland] last year," La Russa said. "We had a wonderful dinner later. Had a great time. The two of them together are very fascinating."
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
