Whitman Steen (center), 8, and Carter Andrew McMinn (right), 6, charge gleefully toward Rockey the Redbird as the mascot greets fans at the Cardinals Caravan event Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. The annual event was held at AutoZone Park, where St. Louis Cardinals players and first base manager Stubby Clapp spoke with fans and signed autographs. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Adolis García (left), a former Redbirds right fielder, signs an autograph for Thomas Starrett (right), 10, during the Cardinals Caravan event at AutoZone Park Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Visitors filled the second floor of the stadium to hear their favorite players speak about what it takes to make it to the major leagues. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Russell Chailland (left), 7, and his sister Madison Chailland (right), 3, gasp as Rockey the Redbird runs into a crowd during the Cardinals Caravan event on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Jason Motte (right), former pitcher for the Memphis Redbirds, smirks at some teammates while answering a question from the audience at the Cardinals Caravan event in AutoZone Park Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Earlier in the day, the Redbirds announced Memphis will host the 2019 Triple-A Championship and that Germantown native Ben Johnson will become the team's manager. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Lennox McMillon (right), 3, reaches for a door prize he won at the Cardinals Caravan event at AutoZone Park Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Visitors filled the second floor of the stadium to hear their favorite players speak about what it takes to make it to the major leagues. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Richard Keith "Stubby" Clapp sits on a panel of St. Louis Cardinals players and coaches answering questions posed by fans during the Cardinals Caravan event in AutoZone Park on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Clapp, who led the Redbirds to their first Triple-A Championship last year, was promoted to first base coach for the Cardinals. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)
Memphis to host 2019 Triple-A Championship Game; Johnson named Redbirds manager
Cardinals Caravan caps day of announcements from St. Louis’ Triple-A affiliate
The Memphis Redbirds will host the 2019 Triple-A National Championship Game, and Ben Johnson was named the team's manager Friday in a day of announcements for the local Cardinals affiliate.