Opening Day is special. It is special in baseball, it is more special in St. Louis, where else do 100,000 people (or more) take the day off work to hang out and celebrate? Oh, and only about half of them actually have tickets to the game.
Opening Day is special to me, because it was special to my dad, and special for us. I have written numerous times here about the role of baseball, Cardinal baseball, to my dad and I. We went to countless openers together. I think of him every time the Clydesdales come galloping onto the field and the players take a spin around the warning track in the Ford trucks. I miss him everyday and especially on days like today. So here they are (my thoughts):
-I love hanging out at the Gateway Grizzlies booth as we have done for the past nine years now. People know that is the first place you can get a Grizzlies schedule every year and they search us out to get one. Pretty cool. This is a baseball town, not just a Cardinal town.-I usually stop by the Hacienda tent for an obligatory (and complimentary) margarita. My aunt's family owns the place, and my cousin Katie always hooks me up. They were swamped today and I couldn't get there. Sorry Katie!
-I have been to plenty, but today was the 8th consecutive home opener that I have attended. My good friend Gina at the Cardinals has made sure that I have been able to see the last two. I haven't missed an opener at the "new" Busch.
-I sat by myself. Well my ticket was a single ticket, but you are never by yourself at a Cardinals game. I sat next to a group of older women who all have 10-game packages. I don't even know the lady's name (although I know her husband is Bob!). Anyway we chatted most of the game. Our seats were in foul territory down the left field line just before the pole. Second deck. In the third Albert Pujols comes to bat with two on. She said, "This one's going right there, right in the (visitor's)bullpen." I replied, "I'll take that." and laughed. First pitch...Pujols hit it in the bullpen!
-Two friends of mine got engaged today about an hour before the game, on the bridge that overlooks the ballpark, and used to connect the parking garage with the old stadium. I bought them each their first beers (in the park).
The weather was perfect, the beer was cold (I had one too), Albert went deep, Wainwright was outstanding, and the Cards won on Opening Day.
Ahhh, welcome back baseball in St. Louis.
