I think you forget how beloved they are by their fans. Have you considered how you would have felt if he had died right on the field DURING the game? Just kick him to the side and continue I suppose.
As I mentioned earlier, that's essentially what Marge Schott wanted to do when an umpire died at a game. Candid Camera creator Alan Funt demanded that his staff get back to work the afternoon JFK was assassinated. Most of the staffers, including future gossip columnist Liz Smith, quit on the spot rather than comply with this demand.
My condolences to the Cardinals and their fans -- it has been an awful week for them.