Everett French, Jerry Epperly, and Bob Plumley are the ‘Three Amigos’ who have been working as event staff supervisors for the Springfield Cardinals since 2005. They oversee a staff of 35-37 ushers on peak nights, ensuring the fan experience is the best it can be.
Backgrounds and Experience
French, 80, and Plumley, 72, are retired teachers and football coaches. Epperly, 74, spent his career in banking. Despite their varied backgrounds, they share a love for baseball, specifically the St. Louis Cardinals.
French described his job as ‘a lot of public relations. I call it putting out small fires before they become big ones.’ He stays fit, physically and mentally, at the ballpark, where he gets to see many people he knows and has made new friends over the years.
Changes and Improvements
One major change in recent years has been the extension of netting from foul pole to foul pole, which has maximized safety for fans. French has to fill out reports on any injuries that occur due to balls leaving the field, but the netting has reduced the number of such incidents.
The ‘Three Amigos’ have also seen many talented players come through the Springfield Cardinals, including Oscar Taveras, Matt Adams, and Colby Rasmus. French’s favorite player to watch was Rick Ankiel, who relaunched his career as a Double-A outfielder after being a pitching prospect.
Upcoming Games
The Springfield Cardinals return from the MLB All-Star break for three home games against Amarillo, from July 17-19. The Cardinals lead the second-half Texas League North Division at 12-6.
Original reporting: Springfield Daily Citizen — read the source article.
