A beloved annual tradition will return for St. Louis Cardinals fans in Champaign-Urbana on Friday, when the Cardinals Caravan comes to town, offering fans the chance to meet players, broadcasters, and legends.
Thee 2023 St. Louis Cardinals Caravan will stop at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign on Friday, January 13. The event, which starts at noon, is FREE and open to the public. Doors will open at 11 am.
This annual tradition went on hiatus, first due to the pandemic in 2021 and then later due to the lockout in 2022.
Visiting six states in just four days, the Caravan is a great way for fans outside of St. Louis to get up close and personal with their favorite team. Get the latest scoop on the upcoming season from current Cardinals players, alumni and broadcasters! And kids 15 and under will receive one autograph from each current and former player.
The Caravan is also scheduled to make stops in Decatur, Bloomington, Peoria, Springfield, Centralia and Mattoon. (See full Central Illinois schedule below). There’s two different groups of Cardinals for each tour.
The Champaign event will feature current players Jake Woodford, Ivan Herrera and Masyn Winn.
- Woodford, a relief pitcher, spent the 2022 season bouncing back and forth between Triple-A Memphis and the major leagues. While with the Cardinals, he played in 27 games, finishing the season with 48.1 innings pitched and a 2.23 earned run average.
- Herrera made his major league debut in 2022, getting 18 at-bats in 11 games with the Cardinals. He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Memphis.
- Winn, a shortstop considered a top prospect, is no stranger to Central Illinois; he did a stint in 2021 at the Peoria Chiefs.
Emcee: Polo Ascencio
Current Players: Jake Woodford, Ivan Herrera & Masyn Winn
Alumni: Bernard Gilkey & Bo Har
| DATE | CITY | LOCATION | TIME | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri., January 13 | Champaign, IL | iHotel and Conference Center | Noon | |
| Fri., January 13 | Peoria, IL | Embassy Suites Hotel | 6:00 PM | |
| Sat., January 14 | Bloomington, IL | Doubletree Hotel | 4:30 PM |
Emcee: Brad Thompson
Current Players: Andrew Knizner, Alec Burleson & Jake Walsh
Alumni: Al Hrabosky & John Costello
| Sun., January 15 | Mattoon, IL | Lake Land College – Field House | Noon | |
| Sun., January 15 | Springfield, IL | Bank of Springfield Center | 6:00 PM | |
| Mon., January 16 | Decatur, IL | Decatur Hotel & Conference Center | Noon | |
| Mon., January 16 | Centralia, IL | Castle Ridge Event Center | 5:30 PM |
For more details about the Cardinals Caravan you can check out their website.
Want to take your family to a Cardinals game next season? We went with the family, here’s some tips. Here’s more on what to do in St. Louis when you visit.