Crim: The Olympics can still tug at the heart

Random observations now that the Cardinals have clinched the season series against the Cubs: I didn’t realize it was a problem in need of a solution, but a change in the Illinois High School Association’s all-star game participation by-law went Into effect July 1. The new rule prohibits high school students at IHSA schools from…

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Crim: What will Cardinals do as baseball’s trade deadline nears?

Baseball fans will be watching as the St. Louis Cardinals decide how to transform the roster withe Major League Baseball's trade deadline looming at 5 p.m. Tuesday. | Photo courtesy Major League Baseball

QUINCY — Baseball’s trade deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday. Will St. Louis be buyers, sellers or bystanders? After an excruciating slow start, the Cardinals used a 33-18 run during a 51-game stretch to catapult into contention in the National League Central Division and the wild-card chase. Hope replaced frustration. But they have the second-worst record…

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Crim: TV coverage dispute leaves Comcast subscribers unable to watch Cardinals

Bally Sports Midwest carries both the St. Louis Cardinals and the St. Louis Blues.

QUINCY — If watching the Cardinals flounder during the first six weeks of the Major League Baseball season has been painful, some fans in West-Central Illinois will get a reprieve of sorts. It was announced last week that subscribers to Comcast and its Xfinity television service can no longer watch any of Diamond Sports Group’s…

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Schuckman: Quincy connection gives local Cardinals fans additional reason to revere Herzog

Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog, who played minor league baseball for the Quincy Gems in 1952, died Monday at the age of 92.

QUINCY — Seated at a table just a few feet from the dais, Whitey Herzog looked across the room at legendary St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Rick Hummel and pointed out the Quincy native was more than likely the smartest person in the room. The Hall of Fame manager then leaned forward and said, “But…

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Schuckman: Epic sports stretch begins this weekend and other rainy day musings

All eyes will be on University of Iowa guard Caitlin Clark this weekend as she attempts to guide the Hawkeyes to the NCAA women's basketball national championship. | Photo courtesy University of Iowa athletics

QUINCY — Random thoughts on another rainy day … • The greatest stretch on the sports calendar is nearly here. Over an eight-day span, three champions will be crowned, baseball gives us a glimpse of which teams are trending upward and the final playoff push in the NHL takes place. It begins this Sunday with…

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Crim: Known for trustworthy approach to reporting, Hall of Famer and Quincy native Rick Hummel heading toward retirement

St. Louis Post-Dispatch baseball writer Rick Hummel, a Quincy native, works on a story in the Busch Stadium III press box that bears his name before a St. Louis Cardinals game this weekend in St. Louis. | Submitted photo

When it became apparent I wasn’t going to make a living pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, even though I had spent most of my childhood emulating the windup and mannerisms of Bob Gibson, it seemed the next best thing would be writing about the team every day. A baseball beat writer. In St. louis.…

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Crim: View of Cardinals as MLB season opens contains myriad of questions

Activity returns to Busch Stadium this week as the St. Louis Cardinals open the Major League Baseball season at home Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Photo courtesy St. Louis Cardinals

Welcome to arguably the best week on the sports calendar. It begins with college basketball crowning a men’s champion Monday night. The matchup features two of the sport’s blue bloods in Kansas and North Carolina, although many were hoping Mike Krzyzewski would get a fairy tale ending to his career. (Proud Mizzou graduates will be…

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How seven mistakes by Cardinals, Cubs and umpires eventually led to proper ruling on infield fly rule

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado flips the ball to shortstop Paul DeJong during a play in the bottom of the ninth inning of Sunday's game at Wrigley Field. Screen grab courtesy of YouTube

Home plate umpire and crew chief Bill Miller provided an explanation on Monday for a strange sequence during Sunday’s 4-2 victory by the St. Louis Cardinals over the Chicago Cubs — the 16th consecutive victory for the Cardinals. Once you learn how seven mistakes were made on one single play, you will understand why the…

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