Pujols Sends Dentist Around the World

Baseball was the big topic at the Sunset Hills and Crestwood sports bars this week with both Albert Pujols and Stan Musial being in the news. With all the hoopla of Pujols’ contract, it’s nice to know a local dentist has seen another side of the Cardinals’ slugger than baseball or a high salary.

 Dr. Mark Fernandez of Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills has gone on mission trips with Pujols and the Pujols Family Foundation. On one trip they visited an orphanage in the Domincan Republic, helping children get dental care. Fernandez has been using his dental skills and Pediatric Dentistry of Sunset Hills practice by volunteering for many charitable causes including “Give Kids A Smile,” St. Baldrick’s, and many mission trips. . .

It must have been an exciting week for Stan Musial, in Washington, D.C. to accept the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama. The Cardinals had made a push for Musial to receive the award with the Stand Up For Stan campaign this past year, using the logo designed by Crestwood’s Dan Martin who was featured in an earlier column.

At the same time Stan was receiving the award, his best friend, Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst was being interviewed on SportsRadio 1380 by long-time Crestwood resident and sportswriter, Rob Rains, this contributor’s husband.

Schoendienst’ daughter Colleen Schoendienst owns the McDonald's restaurant at Route 141 and Clayton Road and she reports: “My dad went to spring training in Florida and was really excited about being there. He is 88 years old and I think he wishes he could still play ball. He's amazing. Dad has been going to spring training since he was 18.” 

"Red" was a Cardinal and later Cardinal manager for 12 years.

Stan and Red enjoy getting together with Amadee Wohlschlager, the former Post-Dispatch Weatherbird artist who lived in Sunset Hills for years before going to a retirement home. They recently helped Wohlschlager celebrate his 99th birthday. . .

Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill and Pub will once again be involved in St. Baldrick’s cancer awareness fundraiser. This year’s event is March 5 at noon. In 2004, pediatric cancer nurses from Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital contacted Brett Syberg, owner of Helen Fitzgerald’s, and they have been involved ever since. People take pledges and have their heads shaved to raise funds and awareness for childhood cancer. 

Former LHS sports stand-out Brock Bond is heading to spring training this week. Fans will remember he played baseball for Lindbergh and was the quarterback for the football team. “He’s with the San Francisco Giants organization and played in Triple A last summer,” said Evan Pratte, director of baseball operations at the University of Missouri where Bond played college ball. Last year, Bond was a mid-season All-Star.

“I’m excited to get started this year,” Bond said in a phone interview from Spring Training in Scottsdale, AZ. “Last year  I got to play in a major league game and I’m hoping I’ll get to do that this year.” Bond finished his degree at Mizzou this year, during baseball's off-season.