This season, Freese, Smith and Simmons are fielding fans' questions at Busch

It started as a simple quest: how could the Cardinals offer fans new opportunities this year to connect with their favorite Redbird alumni?

That was a mission the Cardinals director of alumni relations Larry State and his team continued to ponder this offseason as they worked to enhance an already robust calendar of alumni events. From the perennially sold-out baseball fantasy camps to local baseball clinics for kids featuring former Cardinals as instructors, the group typically crafted a hefty in-season lineup.

For this new endeavor, however, they envisioned a more conversational setting, where a small group of fans could listen to a Q&A with some of their favorite former Cardinals at Busch, and perhaps even submit a question themselves.

And so, the aptly-named Cardinals Conversations series came to be, with a lineup of alumni that could resonate with every generation of Cardinals fans since the 1970s.

"We're fortunate how many alumni we have that love to engage with fans," State shares. "And we’re always trying to find more opportunities for fans to engage with them."

In the past, this kind of setup – where a well-known emcee would lead a fan-favorite former player in a conversation – was reserved for smaller, one-off events for corporate partners or other comparable situations. This year is the first time the opportunity is open to the fanbase overall.

"Among all of the things we’ve done in any setting, this is always one of the most popular," State explains of the decision to launch the program.

They've already held a few installments this year – Ozzie Smith, Ted Simmons and David Eckstein were featured – and are gearing up for their last of the season with David Freese, who, based on advance ticket sales, is already shaping up to be a crowd pleaser. The event will take place on Sept. 17th, with details available at cardinals.com/conversations. Fans can purchase a package that includes admission to the event and a ticket to the game that nigh or, if they’ve already bought a game ticket, can purchase an add-on to hear Freese … and maybe even get in a question of their own.

Another perk: attendees will have a chance to get a photo with Freese (and the 2011 World Series trophy to boot). They also get a pre-signed photo of that event's featured former Cardinal (the signature is authenticated), as with previous Cardinals Conversations this year.

The heart of the event, though, is the candid conversation the guests are treated to as part of the evening's program. The former players are relaxed and forthright, and the stories they share cover a range of experiences.

"Brad (Thompson) and Chip (Caray) do their homework," State says of the direction the emcees steer the conversations. "You hear the alumni talk about some of the moments we all know about, but they bring a perspective that maybe you haven't heard them talk about before. And then, they'll also talk about moments in their careers that maybe you didn't know about but which they say were some of the most important things that happened to them."

Get those questions ready.