- The Washington Times - Monday, July 8, 2013

The general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals ordered the grounds crew at Busch stadium to stop etching Christian symbols onto the pitching mound.

The grounds crew at the ballpark had been carving a small Christian cross and an image of a fish — the fish is a biblical reference to Jesus is as a fisher of men — into the dirt on the pitcher’s mound.

Grounds crew officials said the so-called fish was really a “6,” in honor and remembrance of former Cardinal star, Stan Musial, who died in January, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

But a fan said the “6” looked like a Christian fish and objected.

Ball club general manager John Mozeliak said he hadn’t been aware of the etchings until the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported about them.

“Once we learned of it, I did contact the grounds crew and just asked that they don’t,” he said, The Blaze reported. “It’s just not club policy to be putting religious symbols on the playing field or throughout the ballpark. I didn’t ask for the reason behind it. I just asked for it to stop.”

• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.

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