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'Like a graveyard with lights:' 30 years ago, the Cardinals played before their smallest crowd at Busch

On Sept. 14, 1989, the Cardinals drew the smallest crowd in their history of Busch Stadium II. Here's a reprint of our coverage of that game.

In a game announced only late Wednesday in the aftermath of the five-inning, 0-0 tie with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cardinals drew the smallest crowd in the 24 seasons they have inhabited Busch Stadium. Paid attendance was 1,519.

At the start of the game, lost by the Cardinals 4-3, the taste of smoke from a burning Cupples Station warehouse lingered over the fans, who were confined to the lower deck and barred from the right-field bleachers.