Another unexpected benefit of the “Cakeway to the West” project is seeing some of the puzzles pieces of St. Louis history fit together.

For example, when I photographed the cake at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis on North Grand, I noticed that a good portion (OK, exactly half), of the cake was dedicated to the St. Louis Browns:

This made me happy, because I like seeing references to St. Louis’ once-upon-a-time second baseball team. But I was also curious as to why. So, I did a little research after we got home, and realized that there is a perfectly logical explanation for what I saw…the Boys and Girls Club building sits on the property that was once Sportsman’s Park, the home of the Browns (and previously the Cardinals as well, but I digress).

Now, this may have been obvious to other people, who either know the area better, or are more familiar with Sportsman’s Park. But it was a lightbulb moment for me, and it was only one of many. So many names have begun to make sense to me, as I learn the stories behind the people. Other locations have also suddenly made sense to me. For a history nerd like me, this is the perfect crash course in the people and place of this great city!