It was a champion’s homecoming at Busch Stadium in St. Louis for Matthew Tkachuk and Jayson Tatum on Sunday.
The respective Stanley Cup and NBA Champions teamed up to throw out the first pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tkachuk and Tatum were classmates at Chaminade College Preparatory School and, over a decade later, the childhood pals still haven’t forgotten where they came from, reuniting with a third classmate to recreate their iconic school bus photo.
Despite ending up at near opposite ends of the country as they pursue their professional careers, the Tkachuk and Tatum stayed connected and combined in June to bring two championships back to St. Louis.
“Tkachuk, yo, get it done tomorrow,” Tatum said after his Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in five games. “One kid from St. Louis won a championship today, let’s make it two tomorrow.”
The Panthers winger also told reporters ahead of the Stanley Cup Final that he was watching his high school pal through the NBA playoffs, noting how meaningful it would be for his hometown to watch two of their own emerge victorious at the highest levels.
“I think it would be unreal for Chaminade and all of St. Louis if we can both win it… Yeah, I’m definitely cheering for him. Definitely.”
Two months and two championships later, Tkachuk and Tatum returned with their hardware in hand, ready to celebrate in the city where it all started.