An Ode to Opening Day:
When I have traveled across the country, taking in baseball in stadiums all over, I remember one quote that I saw when I toured what was then known as PacBell Park (now Oracle Park), home of the San Francisco Giants. The quote was from Rogers Hornsby:
“People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no
baseball. I’ll tell you what I do. I stare out of the
window and wait for spring.”
While that may be a stretch for most of us, as I sure we don’t physically sit and stare out of the window, much like Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella in Field of Dreams does, but the symbolism does resonate. Speaking for myself, winters here in Chicago, in northern Illinois, can drag on for what seems to be an eternity. My anticipation begins to build when I hear the four best words in sports: pitchers and catchers report. I’ve attended White Sox fan conventions previously, but it's when you actually see the players reporting to camp that the baseball juices really start flowing.
All of which brings me to Opening Day. I won’t lie. Opening Day is practically a holiday to me. I circle it on my calendar every year. It is the start of a new season, new excitement, maybe even new traditions. For many of us baseball fans, the new season will bring travels to new ballparks. Again speaking for myself, a new season officially makes 2024 last season. My White Sox are 0-0, which is far, far better than 41-121. There’s anticipation for fans of every team, for fans all across the country. Dodger fans look forward to the banner raising and presentation of World Series rings, Yankee fans look forward to getting back to the Series, wanting to finish the job. Fans of the other teams look forward to seeing their team return to the field, maybe exceeding expectations in some cases. The point being that Opening Day and the start of a new season brings with it new excitement, new anticipation, new opportunities. Oh how I look forward to it.
There is nothing quite like going back to the ballpark after a long winter, seeing the field, our own little field of dreams, for that first time. I know I am looking forward to that when I enter Gate 5 at Rate Field for the White Sox opener versus the Los Angeles Angels. I look forward to walking that concourse for the first time, taking in what is new not only in the souvenir department, but in culinary delights. There are no better sounds than those of the bat hitting the ball in batting practice, the sizzling of hot dogs and brats both inside and outside the ballpark, and vendors yelling “Ice Cold Beer!”
I’ve been a White Sox season ticket holder for 20 years, but Opening Day never gets old. Yeah, the lines for the restrooms can be long, and for some teams, it's the only game sold out in the season. The excitement, the anticipation, the sounds, all negate that. I start each year on the concourse, taking it all in. That tradition has stayed with me for every game I have attended and will attend and every ballpark I have visited. For all the baseball fans out there, whether you pull for the Dodgers or Giants, Yankees or Red Sox, Marlins or Rays, Rangers or Astros, enjoy this Opening Day and the start of the 2025 baseball season. Enjoy carrying on your own unique traditions or the start of some new traditions. Enjoy seeing the sights of baseball and the sounds of baseball again. Enjoy those culinary delights and ice cold beverages. It's time to Play Ball!
By : Jim McGuire