Now, as many fans found out Nov. 17, the Cardinals have picked up Gold Glove right fielder Jason Heyward from the Atlanta Braves. Heyward launched 27 homers in 2012. The Cardinals, of course, hope to rekindle that power in the lineup.

As fans feast their imaginations on Heyward’s potential, some initially did double takes of photographs showing the 6-foot-5-inch African-American competitor.

Still, some at the Zodiac Lounge groused. They said Heyward, 25, is just one player.

But Costello, the retired maintenance man who has followed the Cardinals since they played a few blocks away at Sportsman’s Park, was quick to see Heyward as a blessing for St. Louis.

“I am just glad that they have one coming,” Costello said. “It’s time for a change.”

While much of St. Louis still doesn’t know what they have, much of Atlanta is trying to come to terms with what they lost. Heyward was like David Freese, the St. Louis-area product who kept the Cardinals alive in the 2011 World Series.

Only Heyward was perhaps bigger. He grew up in Georgia and was reared as a professional athlete by the Braves. He was the local kid once being hyped as the future of baseball. There was a sense he was going to stay in Atlanta.