it's finally here

Kansas City
Opening day, 2010

Baseball’s opening day started for me at Royals Stadium in late April of 1995. It was at the end of the baseball labor strike. We’d lost the 1994 World Series. And by ‘we,’ I mean all baseball fans. In fact, 1994 was so bad that, in some ways, the sport has never recovered. Some fans never returned to baseball. I did. Big time.

For me it meant that tickets (free tickets from a vendor, in fact) were easy to come by in 1995. It was an easy entry for me into the tradition of opening day in Kansas City.

I love opening day. I’ve been with big groups. I’ve been by myself. I’ve been with good friends. I’ve been there with my wife. I’ve been there with one group when my wife was there with another group. I’ve been there when my wife was down on the field pre-game (for a special event—the introduction of Sluggerrr—1996 I think). I’ve been there when it was cold (15 degrees in 1997 I think) and hot (80 degrees today). I’ve sat in the snow, sun, rain, clouds… I’ve never been disappointed on opening day.

Except 2006. I watched the 2006 game on TV. I just couldn’t get a ticket. I’m still kicking myself for not getting some cash and going out there to buy a scalper ticket. I did go to game #2 that year—it’s just not the same. But now I have to say that I’ve been to 15 out of 16 consecutive opening day games—not 16 in a row.

Opening day tickets are harder to come by every year. They are worth it.

On opening day your team is in 1st place. Opening day beer tastes better. Opening day weather is fabulous. Opening day concessions don’t seem as expensive. Opening day has the best pitching matchups. Opening day at the ballpark beats the very best day at the office by about four quadrillion to one. Opening day requires keeping score.

Three and a half more hours. I can’t wait. 15 out of 16 consecutive opening days is pretty good, right? Man!

Go ROYALS!