Early during the September rush that would launch a legend and influence a franchise’s worldview even a decade later, more than a month before David Freese toppled October records and they would see you tomorrow night, Cardinals infielder Skip Schumaker found a note resting on his chair in the visitors’ clubhouse.
The 2011 Cardinals were in Pittsburgh, filled with helium after sweeping Atlanta and creeping within five games of a playoff berth. Schumaker knew who the note was from.
His manager, Tony La Russa, had a thing for them.
“One game at a time,” the note read.