Local resident makes dream-trip to Florida

Local resident Mikki Johnson, with niece Monica (left) and brother Sherril (right) at a Cuban restaurant during the trio's trip to Florida in early March. (Submitted photo)

Mikki Johnson's passion for St. Louis Cardinals baseball led her on a journey to Florida where she attended three St. Louis Cardinals spring training baseball games in early March.

Johnson, a lifelong Nevada resident who works at Wilkinson Pharmacy, said she made the trip with her brother Sherril and her niece Monica.

"It was 74 degrees and hot," Johnson said of the conditions in Florida.

The first game Johnson attended was March 4 in Kissimmee, as the Cardinals fell to the Houston Astros. Prior to the game, Johnson said she was starstruck as she watched Cardinals manager Mike Matheny throwing batting practice.

"I don't even think I realized where I was at yet, let alone Matheny and the Cardinals were here playing ball," she said. "It was an overpowering and surreal experience."

Johnson said the second game of her trip was in Jupiter, where the Cardinals defeated the Miami Marlins. The third and final game was also in Jupiter, as the Cardinals were defeated by the Washington Nationals.

"I was just trying to take it all in," Johnson said of the atmosphere.

Johnson said she's been a Cards fan for nearly 50 years, as she began listening to Cardinals games on the radio in 1967, the same year they won the World Series after defeating the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

"Some of my favorite players back then were Bob Gibson, Julian Javier, Mike Shannon, Curt Flood, Lou Brock and Tim McCarver," she said.

Other venues Johnson has been to, include Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, and Coors Field in Denver, Colo., home of the Rockies.

A picture Johnson took while attending a St. Louis Cardinals spring training game in Florida. (Submitted photo)

Johnson said she attended a Cubs game in July of 1987, before they installed lights at the legendary stadium. Johnson said the most memorable moment from the game was when Harry Caray sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch.

"When he led us in the seventh-inning stretch I had goosebumps," she said.

Surprisingly, Johnson's all-time favorite Major League Baseball player is not a Cardinal ---- it's former Brooklyn Dodgers superstar Roy Campanella. Campanella played from 1948-57 before his career was cut short by an automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the shoulders down.

"As a junior in high school I read his book 'It's Good to Be Alive,' she said. "And I have always admired him very much."

Johnson added that her all-time favorite Cardinal is Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, a 13-time Gold Glove winner, while her favorite current Cardinal is catcher Yadier Molina, who has been selected to the National League All-Star team seven times.

Johnson said her son, Roscoe, who lives in Kansas City, is a die-hard Royals fan.

"He grew up a Cardinals fan," she said, "now he's a Royals fan. It's one of those things where you don't know where you went wrong."