Cardinals Player Matt Holliday Promotes Wine for Charity

A while ago, St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday and his wife, Leslee, met a boy named Seth Mitchell. The boy spoke highly of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Leslee Holliday said. Ever since then, the couple have been contemplating how to help the organization.

They discovered the St. Louis chapter of the organization was low on funds and decided to do what they could in partnership with Uncork for a Cause: On Saturday at in , both Hollidays sat at a table as Matt signed bottle after bottle of a specially blended 2007 Napa Valley wine. Bottles were handed out in exchange for $75 donations. A line of almost 100 people, including fans of wine and the Cardinals, snaked through the store.

The event had been planned for earlier in the summer but conflicted with a game and had to be rescheduled.

Laura Grandy and Carol Bartle stood in line with their Holliday bobblehead dolls for the athlete to sign, as well as their bottles. Others brought bats and jerseys to be autographed. Many asked Holliday if they could have their picture taken with him, and he smiled for every shot.

“My daughter thinks you’re her TV boyfriend,” Grandy told Holliday.

She told Holliday she didn't think his bobblehead was a very good one.

"Average white guy,” Holliday responded.

Joel Zimmerman brought his daughter, Lisa, for her 29th birthday. It was a surprise. She said she was excited and nervous and didn’t know what she was going to say to Holliday.

“I’m going to have to finish this beer and maybe it will come to me,” she said.

A mother-and-daughter pair, Julie and Kristen Wrigley, also attended. Some might consider their last name unfortunate, given that the rival Chicago Cubs play at Wrigley Field.

But Julie Wrigley wanted to make one thing clear: “I’m not a Cubs fan,” she said.

Steve Donaldson of St. Charles is a fan of both the Cardinals and Holliday, and he’s also an autograph collector. He said he doesn't plan to open his bottle.