Opening Day

At the end of September every year, with the exception of only a few fans associated with only a few teams, the frequently heard phrase is "when is opening day" which hand in hand is paired with "wait 'til next year."  You see, in baseball October is reserved for but a few but even for them when October comes to an end the phrases become much the same for most of those fans too.  The season is over and all anticipation turns to the new beginning, the new life, which comes in April or, this year, on March 31.




The offseason is like a purgatory.  We fans sit and wait all in anticipation of the new season.  Oh, for sure, there is the hot stove league, the excitement in trades or other pick-ups that will, hopefully, make the next year better;  there is the Grapefruit League and the Cactus League to help you pass the time; but more than anything else there is the wait.  The great Hall of Fame second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, Rogers Hornsby, commented "People ask me what I do in Winter where there's no baseball.  I'll tell you what I do.  I stare out my window and wait for Spring."  And as that day approaches like the maple trees readying themselves for their gift of Spring syrup so also the baseball fan readies himself for the gift of of the umpire's call for "Play Ball."




It is new life.  There's a reason every stadium is full to capacity on Opening Day.  There is not a baseball fan anywhere who does not believe "this will be the year."  There's a rise in every heart that October for this year should be set aside.  The players and fans together are flush with enthusiasm and the excitement for all on Opening Day gives warmth to even the cold that may be a last gasp from Winter's hand.  The sounds from the crack of the bat and the ball hitting a leather glove are all that are necessary for the new beginning to be set in place and for a fresh breath to prime and then run the heart and soul of every baseball fan in whatever stadium or venue he may find himself.  Let it begin!




May tomorrow be an "Opening Day" for each of you in whatever stadium or venue you find yourself.  It has been a long winter and now the empty stadium will fill and as sure as anything the call of "Play Ball" will resound for all.  The long wait is over...

...til later...