It was September 1987 and the St. Louis Cardinals were in first place in the National League's Eastern Division. They were looking over their shoulders at the New York Mets who were gaining on them in the standings. In the third inning in a game at Montreal, Red Bird First Baseman and Home Run Slugger Jack Clark came up lame while running down the first base line on a ground out. The diagnosis was that Clark tore some tissue from his anklebone. That injury prevented him from playing.

The Cardinals obtained a replacement: veteran Dan Driessen, former outfielder of Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine, the first ever Designated Hitter in the World Series, and a participant in many post season games during the 1970's and 1980's. Dreissen eventually held down first base as the Cardinals won the division and competed in the NLCS and World Series.

Let's now fast forward to August 2000.

The St. Louis Cardinals are again in first place. This time, they lead the National League's Central Division and this time the Red Birds see the Cincinnati Reds gaining ground on them. The Cardinals have been without their First Baseman and Home Run Slugger Mark Mc Gwire for roughly twenty games.

Once again, the team is in Montreal, and once again a first baseman named Clark is prominent in the mix. This time, it is Will Clark who will try to fill Mc Gwire's shoes. Obtained from Baltimore in a trade, Will Clark is a respected veteran ball player with much post season experience during the 1980's and the 1990's.

I see a pattern here. Walt Jocketty, Tony La Russa and the rest of the Cardinal Nation are all hoping that lightning will strike twice.

Ah, yes its August. This is the time of the year when Major League Baseball separates the contenders from the pretenders for the pennant hunt. It's time either to ante up or fold in this game of poker. The 2000 Cardinals are very much still in the game.

Jocketty has recently burned up the phone lines to improve the team with his four newest acquisitions. These may not be overwhelming improvements, but the Red Birds are a better team than they were a week ago. It is called "fine tuning".

Mike Timlin is a veteran reliever who is considered an improvement over Heathcliff Slocumb. Carlos Hernandez should be a better back-up catcher than either Rick Wilkins or Keith Mc Donald. Left-hander Jason Christensen is an improvement by addition.

But Jocketty's most dramatic acquisition was his last. The 36 year old Clark doesn't have the power or impact than his Giants' days from a decade ago. But, this guy still has the desire. He plays like he has a chip on his shoulder. He plays the game like he is in a bad mood. Twelve years ago on a hot July afternoon, Clark became the Gateway City's Public Enemy #1 when he started a fight with Ozzie Smith during a double-play attempt.

Plus, "the Thrill" knows this may be the last opportunity in his career to advance to post-season play. There probably will not be many openings next April for a 36-37 year old Type A personality first baseman who makes a lot of money.

These are all good things. And the Cardinals need that feisty attitude right now.

Whether they either seize the moment or back-in, the Red Birds most likely will win the Central Division and make their first post season appearance since 1996. This team is fortunate to play in a division that is disintegrating around them. Regardless, the Cardinals will probably be one of the chosen few to play in October. Although you would never know it by the ramblings on local squawk radio, the other teams around the National League covet the Red Birds position in the standings.

Still, they have played uninspired during their New York/Montreal visits. It is true that the team has experienced recent injuries. Yet with nine weeks remaining in the season (including seven with the Atlanta Braves) the Red Birds need to re-establish the focus.

That's where veterans like Clark, Eric Davis, Shawon Dunston, Mc Gwire, Darryl Kile and Mike Matheny come in. These folks need to fulfill the role that Driessen did with the 1987 Cardinals, Cesar Cedeno with the 1985 Cardinals, David Cone and Joe Carter with Toronto in the early 90's: to provide the veteran leadership in the pennant stretch drive.

The month of August will be challenging for the Red Birds. Aside from their seven games with the Braves, the team has to travel to Chicago and Pittsburgh as well as one more series with the Mets in St. Louis. After Labor Day, the Red Birds will play only one series against a team that currently has a winning record: the Reds on the final weekend of the season.

So the task is clear. Attack those immediately on the schedule. Then hopefully use the month of September to recoup from injuries (especially Mc Gwire) and prepare for post-season play. The acquisitions of the newest Red Birds have not only come at the right time of the season for reinforcements, but more importantly to jump-start their focus.

Once again, the other teams around the National League covet the Red Birds position in the standings. Do the Cardinals have a better roster than a week ago? Yes they do!!

So welcome to the Gateway City Misters Clark, Hernandez, Christensen, and Timlin. We hope you enjoy your stay in our fair city. Local baseball fans really hope that you have to add one more month to your St. Louis apartment leases this October.

It's been quite a long road from Jack Clark to Will Clark.

Only time will tell if the Cardinals can enjoy a repeat performance in this latest sequel to Back to the Future.