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Grounds Keeper Receives 'Cardinal Red' Chrysler Minivan

29 October 1998

Grounds Keeper Who Returned McGwire's Record-Breaking 62nd Home Run Ball Receives 'Cardinal Red' Chrysler Minivan

    ST. LOUIS, Oct. 29 -- Chrysler Corporation
celebrated the 15th anniversary of the minivan today by awarding a 1999
"Cardinal Red" Town and County Limited minivan to Tim Forneris, the 22-year-
old St. Louis Cardinals' grounds keeper who retrieved and returned Mark
McGwire's record-breaking 62nd home run ball.
    Shamel T. Rushwin, Chrysler's Vice President of International
Manufacturing and Minivan Operations, presented the all-new minivan, complete
with a "NO 62" Missouri vanity license plate, to Forneris and his family at a
celebration at Chrysler's St. Louis South Assembly Plant.  Rushwin said
Forneris represents the "Spirit of St. Louis."
    In addition to this special giveaway, Chrysler had yet another reason to
celebrate -- the minivan given to Forneris is Chrysler's seven millionth
minivan.  Since its invention 15 years ago, Chrysler has produced and sold
more than seven million minivans, a milestone reached by no other automotive
manufacturer.
    "This is an honor," said Forneris.  "This is Chrysler's ultimate minivan
and they built it just for me.  It'll be perfect for road trips and taking
friends and family to and from the ball park."
    Industry-wide, minivans account for approximately eight percent of all new
vehicles sold in North America.  Chrysler Corporation minivans, which include
Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are manufactured
in St. Louis, Missouri; Windsor, Canada and Graz, Austria.