On January 17, 2026, the Cardinal Caravan will be making a stop at the University of Illinois in Springfield’s (UIS) Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC), with a chance for attendees to receive free Major League Baseball (MLB) tickets and autographs.
As part of their trip across six states, current and former members of the MLB team, the St. Louis Cardinals, will sign autographs and meet fans at the UIS TRAC on the same afternoon as the Prairie Stars Women’s and Men’s basketball teams face off against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats in a doubleheader.
UIS Director of Athletics, Mike Hermann, shared that four current Cardinals players and two former Cardinals players-turned-broadcasters will attend the UIS event, “Starting pitchers Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante, plus second baseman Thomas Saggese and catcher Yohel Pozo will be joined by former pitcher Brad Thompson and former catcher Bengie Molina.”
The Cardinals Caravan will arrive at the court during halftime of the UIS Women’s Basketball game. Ticket giveaways and autographs will occur between the two UIS Basketball games, at approximately 2:30 p.m.
In order to access this event, attendees will require a ticket to the UIS doubleheader basketball games. According to the UIS website for the event, these tickets can be purchased via the HomeTown Fan App or online through the UIS Athletics Box Office.
“UIS students, faculty and staff can get a free ticket by scanning their ID, just like any other home game.” Hermann stated.
Fans aged 16 years and over will receive two tickets to a 2026 Cardinals game and fans aged 15 years and under can collect one autograph from each current and former Cardinals player.
As Hermann noted, this Saturday provides an exciting experience, not only for baseball fans, but for basketball fans as well, “The event gives the UIS community a front row seat to enjoy both Cardinals baseball and UIS basketball on the same day, right here on our campus.”
The UIS Women’s Basketball team will face off against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats, as they compete for the chance to get into the top eight for the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The UIS Men’s Basketball team will shoot to continue its stellar season of 6-1, as we approach the midway point of conference season.
Hermann expressed the UIS Athletics Department’s enthusiasm for hosting this event, “We enjoy working with our community to bring events to campus that complement our basketball games and provide an exciting experience for our students.”
