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ST. LOUIS (AP) #8212;A red sea of fans jammed downtown St. Louis on Sunday tohonor the World Series champion Cardinals and send a clear message to AlbertPujols(notes): Please stay.An official crowd estimate was not immediately available for the parade downthe streets of St. Louis and the celebration at Busch Stadium, but cityofficials expected several hundred thousand, and it was clearly that, if espn nfl notmore. The crowd was so large that people were parking more than two miles away,and interstate highways were jammed near downtown.Pujols drew loud cheers along the parade route and a long standing ovationat the stadium. When asked on the podium if he #8217;d like to be back for anothercelebration next season, he smiled sheepishly and said, #8220;Hey, why not? #8221; World Series MVP David espn nfl Freese - AP - Oct 30, 7:42 pm EDTFans line a street outside Bus- AP - Oct 30, 7:20 pm EDTMembers of the St. Louis Cardi- AP - Oct 30, 7:18 pm EDTSt. Louis Cardinals owner Bill- AP - Oct 30, 7:16 pm EDTWorld Series MVP David Freese - AP - Oct 30, 7:13 pm EDTSt. Louis Cardinals first base- AP - Oct 30, 6:12 pm EDT1 of 6MLB Gallery Albert Pujols is expected to be courted by a slew of tea espn nfl ms this offseason.(AP photo) Whether that happens remains to be seen. After 11 Hall of Fame seasons as aCardinal, Pujols is a free agent for the first time and it isn #8217;t clear if themid-market Cardinals will be able or willing to give a long-term contract to aplayer who turns 32 before next season, despite his career .328 average, 455homers and status as a team icon.Pujols #8217; pending fre espn nfl e agency and a chilly, breezy and overcast afternoon didnothing to dampen the celebratory spirit. People began staking out the goodspots many hours before the parade, climbed trees and leaned out office windowsfor better views. Nearly everyone was dressed in red except for a few in Ramsblue who made the short walk from the Edward Jones Dome after the football game.Even the Rams added to the joy of espn nfl the day, beating New Orleans 31-21 for theirfirst win after an 0-6 start.High school marching bands played along the parade route. Vendors sold hotdogs and peanuts. Fathers and mothers hoisted small children on their shouldersto wave at the passing red and white pickup trucks carrying Cardinals past #8212;LouBrock, Red Schoendienst #8212;and present. The biggest cheers appeared to be forPujols, L espn nfl ance Berkman(notes), Yadier Molina(notes), Chris Carpenter and postseason hero DavidFreese(notes), who was Most Valuable Player in both the NL championship series and theWorld Series.Freese, a native of St. Louis County, recalled sitting in a CaliforniaBurger King in December 2007 when #8220;I got the greatest phone call of my life,that I had been traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. #8221;Manager espn nfl Tony La Russa led the parade atop a beer wagon pulled by theBudweiser Clydesdales, followed by a truck carrying owner Bill DeWitt Jr.clinging to the World Series trophy.The parade ended inside Busch Stadium, where a sold-out crowd watched thecelebration. In fact, the ballpark rally sold out in 90 minutes after theCardinals won the clincher. #8220;This 11th Cardinals world championship will always espn nfl be remembered as one ofbaseball #8217;s greatest achievements, #8221; DeWitt said, noting the Cardinals had to winfour elimination games this postseason.[Related: Could Rangers and Cardinals meet again next year?]La Russa, too, paid respect to his team for never surrendering, even when10 1/2 games out wild-card contention on Aug. 25, or when they faced threepostseason opponents with superior recor espn nfl ds #8212;Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Texas. #8220;What these guys did so many times facing elimination, it #8217;s a lesson forall of us, #8221; La Russa said. #8220;They never quit. #8221;The celebration was the culmination of a four-day party in St. Louis thatbegan with the stunning win in Game 6, when the Cardinals rallied five times andin two straight innings were within a strike from elimina espn nfl tion before Freese wonthe game 10-9 with a leadoff homer in the 11th.Friday #8217;s 6-2 win in Game 7 set off a frenzied celebration that lasted wellinto Saturday. Cardinals fans celebrate the team #39;s championship in a victory parade outside Busch Stadium.(AP photo) Players appreciated the response from the fans. #8220;I #8217;ll never forget any of this, #8221; outfielder Allen Craig(note espn nfl s), who hit threehomers in the World Series, said. #8220;It #8217;s been great. #8221;Fans said they were still jubilant about the team #8217;s amazing turnaround. #8220;It just seemed improbable, #8221; said Chris Ambrose, 24, of Chesterfield, ashe watched the parade. #8220;It #8217;s one of the greatest World Series runs of alltime. #8221;Jenny Ulrich and her husband, Jeff, of Lonedell, Mo., b espn nfl rought their twoyoung daughters to the parade.The Cardinals #8220;are just part of what our family does, #8221; Ulrich said.Pointing to the girls, #8220;they #8217;re the next generation of Cardinals Nation. #8221;Mayor Francis Slay called Sunday #8217;s celebration #8220;unbelievable. #8221; #8220;The Cardinals fans are the best in baseball and when the Cardinals win theWorld Series, there #82 espn nfl 17;s nothing like it, #8221; Slay said.Other popular stories on Yahoo! Sports:- Long-winded referee delivers 63-word explanation on call- Arkansas player delivers nasty cheap shot- Rangers fans ready to forgive World Series goat Cruz Follow Yahoo! Sports' MLB coverage on Twitter. Updated Oct 30, 8:56 pm EDT espn nfl
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