Eventually, Robert Hyland, of KMOX radio, decided we needed a group of hometown cheerleaders for the Cardinals. Auditions were held summer of 1973. These ladies became the first official Big Red Line Cheerleaders!
However, by mid-1976, Hyland decided the cheerleaders were not what he had envisioned. He teamed up with the head of the Mizzou Golden Girls, and for the next few years, these ladies were the Big Red Line.
The 1970’s gave the Big Red Line their first NFL history making moment as they accompanied the St Louis Cardinals to play the first NFL game outside of the United States on August 16th, 1976 in Tokyo, Japan.
By 1980, Robert Hyland wanted to bring the Big Red Line back to St Louis in addition to adding men to the lineup.
In April 1982, an ad was placed in the Post announcing auditions for men to join the Big Red Line. A KMOX spokesman is quoted "We want to get away from the costume and dance lines that most teams have now. We want to get back to the old fashion traditional rah-rah cheerleading that can stir up the crowd."
This was the second time the Big Red Line made NFL history: becoming the first NFL squad to include men. Unfortunately, the men didn’t work out after the 1982 season but the ladies did become the cheerleaders Hyland envisioned. They were given tests regarding the game, lead sideline cheers, and engaged the fans to join in with chants to increase audience participation.
The last St Louis home game was December 1987. By January 1988, the Cardinals announced they were moving to Phoenix, a move approved by the NFL in March 1988. The Big Red Line Cheerleaders last appeared in public representing the St Louis Football Cardinals July 1st 1988. The Big Red Line did not move to Arizona with the football Cardinals.
Today, the Big Red Line Cheerleaders are still part of St Louis. Guest appearances and performances for local charities along with St Louis historical events bring these cheerleaders back to our wonderful city every year.
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Our Cardinals Fight Song:
"The Cardinals are Charging" The Cardinals are charging Let's cheer them on their way Let's shout out with all our might We'll show 'em how a team can fight For victory and glory Will make our joy supreme The pride of St Louis Our St Louis Cardinal team. - - - by Irving Bibo & Larry Kent, 1960 |
Last updated March 2013
