Cardinals fans give Nolan Arenado emotional standing ovation in first return to Busch Stadium

Nolan Arenado spent five seasons wearing a Cardinals uniform. On Monday night, he walked back into Busch Stadium wearing different colors for the first time. The response from St. Louis fans said everything.

Before the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cardinals opened their series, Arenado was introduced as a visiting player at Busch Stadium for the first time since being traded to Arizona during the offseason. Rather than hearing boos or a mixed reaction, the veteran third baseman was welcomed back with a lengthy standing ovation from Cardinals fans who spent years cheering for one of the franchise's most accomplished stars.

After Arizona stranded a runner in the first, and the Cardinals stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half of the first, Nolan led off the top of the second in St. Louis.

It was a moment that felt inevitable. No matter how his tenure ended, Arenado's place in Cardinals history was already secure.

Arenado never stopped appreciating his time in St. Louis

Earlier Monday, Arenado reflected on his years with the Cardinals and made it clear that St. Louis still means a great deal to him.

"I would say that the first three years were amazing," Arenado told reporters before the game. "I really enjoyed it. The last two were tough. Obviously, from a performance side and then from a team side, it was tough. But I enjoyed every moment that I had here."

Arenado specifically pointed to the 2022 season as one of the highlights of his career in St. Louis. That club won the National League Central behind MVP Paul Goldschmidt and featured future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols' memorable farewell season. For Cardinals fans, those comments only reinforced why the ovation felt so genuine.

A five-year run that included plenty of memorable moments

The Cardinals acquired Arenado from the Colorado Rockies before the 2021 season hoping he would become the franchise's next cornerstone player. For much of his time in St. Louis, that's exactly what happened.

Arenado earned three All-Star selections, won multiple Gold Gloves and finished third in National League MVP voting during the memorable 2022 campaign. His elite defense remained a nightly attraction, while his leadership and consistency helped stabilize the middle of the Cardinals' lineup. Although the partnership ultimately ended without a World Series appearance, Arenado delivered many of the moments fans expected when the blockbuster trade was first announced.

That's why Monday's reception felt more like a celebration than a reunion.

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Cardinals fans showed they haven't forgotten

The last two seasons of Arenado's Cardinals career were admittedly difficult. St. Louis struggled to meet expectations, trade rumors constantly surrounded the veteran third baseman and both sides eventually reached a point where a fresh start made sense. That reality could have complicated his return.

Instead, Cardinals fans chose to remember the good times. The standing ovation that greeted Arenado sent a reminder that winning isn't the only thing fans remember. Players who embrace the city, play hard and represent the organization well often earn lasting respect long after they're gone.

Arenado clearly did that.

An emotional return to Busch Stadium

There will be plenty of baseball left to play during Arizona's visit to St. Louis. The Diamondbacks are trying to climb back into the National League playoff race, while the Cardinals are attempting to chase down the Brewers in the NL Central.  St. Louis started 41-34, and five games behind Milwaukee. The Cardinals and Phillies are battling for the top National League wildcard spot, two games ahead of the Chicago Cubs.

Arizona came into Monday at 39-38. The Diamondbacks sat 9.5 games back of the Dodgers in the divisional standings. Arizona lost their final two games at home over the weekend to the Minnesota Twins.

For a few moments Monday night, though, none of that mattered. It was simply Nolan Arenado returning to the ballpark he called home for five seasons and hearing Busch Stadium fans remind him exactly how much they appreciated everything he gave to the organization.

Judging by the ovation, the feeling was mutual.

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