Cardinals' Adam Wainwright details singing national anthem on Opening Day

Wainwright spoke about the experience after the Cardinals fell to the Blue Jays 10-9. 

"That was the most nervous I've ever been on a baseball field times seven. Like not even close," Wainwright admitted, according to Daniel Guerrero of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Way, way, way, way, way more nervous. … It was fun. I'm glad I did it." 

Wainwright has played only for the Cardinals since making his MLB debut in 2005 and declared this past fall that the 2023 campaign will be his last as an active player. The 41-year-old originally was on track to start against Toronto on Thursday but is currently sidelined with a groin strain that he suffered during a Team USA workout amid the World Baseball Classic. 

According to ESPN and the Associated Press, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said last week that Wainwright will likely miss "several weeks" of action due to the injury. 

Wainwright explained that he initially rejected the opportunity to sing the anthem ahead of the season's first game but then called Cardinals manager of player communications Melody Yount "10 minutes later" to say he'd happily perform the traditional task. None of Wainwright's teammates knew of his plans until Busch Stadium public address announcer John Ulett introduced the anthem singer to the crowd. 

"Just leaving the line and seeing my teammates' faces like, 'Are you kidding?'" Wainwright said of reactions he noticed before he walked toward the microphone. "Cause five or six guys were like, 'Dude, you should sing the anthem sometime.' Like, 'Why don't you sing the anthem sometime?' I'm like, 'Well, maybe we'll think about it.' And I was like, 'Oh, I want to tell you so bad.'" 

The right-hander who is a World Series champion and three-time All-Star selection left no doubt he'll forever cherish being able to sing the anthem as a Cardinals player. 

"As far as just cool things to do, that's up there for me," Wainwright remarked about ranking Thursday among his many accomplishments.

The Cardinals next host the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon.