---

ST. LOUIS – Data science to measure a player’s performance, the intricacies of graphics on scoreboards and an ever evolving integrated IT and communications systems – all require a strong foundation in STEM subjects for the St. Louis Cardinals.  On April 24, 2018, the Electrical Connection partnered with the Cardinals to spotlight the applications of STEM subjects in baseball operations for St. Charles school officials and recently honored high school students who excel in science, technology, engineering and math.

 

 

 “It was great to partner with the Cardinals to show how STEM subjects are applied in operating the storied franchise,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  “It was especially interesting to note how those applications are intricately tied to the engineering and installations of Busch Stadium and Ballpark Village electrical and communications systems by our IBEW/NECA team.”  The Electrical Connection is partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

 

 

            The audience for the exploration of STEM and baseball operations included students who were honored in March 2018 STEM Celebration Breakfast presented by EDC Business & Community Partners in St. Charles County and also sponsored by the Electrical Connection. For the Cardinals, the event was hosted by Tony Simokaitis, manager, scoreboard operations, senior account executive. 

 

            The STEM education event began with a tour of Busch Stadium, including a visit to the field and dugout, the broadcast booth and several hospitality suites.  During a luncheon, the students heard from Kevin Seats, the Cardinals’ baseball development analyst with a PhD in geophysics from Stanford University. Seats detailed how numbers are crunched in data science to differentiate luck and skill in a player’s performance.

 

 

            Craig Wilson, director of production and creative services, talked about graphics, wireless video, working with software to provide relevant updates on scoreboards and orchestrating ribbon board advertising.

 

 

            Perry Yee, director of IT, draws on his electrical engineering degree to integrate all communications, including WiFi, throughout the stadium.  He noted that communications infrastructure is comprised of 11 miles of fiber optics, 30 miles of Ethernet and 750 WiFi antennas.  Yee is now working on configuring IT for the second phase of Ballpark Village currently under construction.

 

 

The St. Louis Cardinals STEM event is one of several educational initiatives support by the Electrical Connection.  Others include partnerships with the FIRST Robotics, the Saint Louis Science Center, Missouri Energy Initiative (MEI), the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and more.

 

 

Electrical Connection members provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.