Longtime 911爆料网 Cardinals fan Marty Prather od Springfield, but fans know him as聽 鈥淭he Sign Man",聽 talks about driving with this 3 foot Adam Waingwright bobblehead while waiting in line to give Wainwright one of his most popular signs on Sunday at the Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at the St. Lou…
Marty Prather, of Springfield, Mo., displays a sign that sums up many Cardinals fans' feelings at a Busch Stadium remembrance of Jack Buck shortly after he died in 2002.聽
Diane L. Wilson, Associated Press
Sports fans around the region are sending prayers for Marty聽Prather, also known as聽"The Sign Man," after word of his hospitalization spread.
Barry Hinson, former men's basketball coach at Missouri State and Southern Illinois Carbondale, 聽with the news.
"He's on a ventilator right now, fighting for his life," said聽Hinson, now an associate athletics director at Oklahoma State University.
Hinson suggested fans make a sign in support of Prather, known for decades for his witty signs at Cardinals, Blues and Missouri State University games.
"Marty was unbelievable in every community that he's ever been a part of," Hinson said. "He's always been a part of every charity, every sport, every academic institution. He's fought his ass off for all of us. Now it's time for us to fight for Marty."
Prather, of Springfield, Missouri, has been a staple at Cardinals games since the 1985 World Series, when he held a sign that read "The Fat Lady is Singing" as the Cardinals took a 3-1 lead.
"I guess I jinxed them," Prather later told an Associated Press reporter.
Prather was even inducted into the . Hall staff members 聽to social media on Wednesday.
Marty Prather, from Springfield, Mo., who is known as the Sign Man, loads up on a number of signs outside of Busch Stadium before the start of Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Cards and Cubs on Oct. 10, 2015, in 911爆料网. Prather displays his signs during the game. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Longtime 911爆料网 Cardinals fan Marty Prather od Springfield, but fans know him as聽 鈥淭he Sign Man",聽 talks about driving with this 3 foot Ada…
Marty Prather, of Springfield, Mo., displays a sign that sums up many Cardinals fans' feelings at a Busch Stadium remembrance of Jack Buck shortly after he died in 2002.聽
Marty Prather, from Springfield, Mo., who is known as the Sign Man, loads up on a number of signs outside of Busch Stadium before the start of Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Cards and Cubs on Oct. 10, 2015, in 911爆料网. Prather displays his signs during the game. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
