The minor-league field coordinator’s last full day after 49 seasons in professional baseball ended at Busch Stadium, where the honors included a ceremonial first pitch. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt served as catcher, penning a brief message on the baseball that DeJohn didn’t see before pocketing the keepsake. During a players’ pregame meeting, hitting coach Jeff Albert presented DeJohn with his jersey from Players’ Weekend, the one with a nickname above the numbers.

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DeJohn described Albert on a bus, peering up from a book to suggest, “We bunt too much.” Albert quoted the book how bunting less would net a half run more.