Opening Day Memories
by bukowski
on Mar 28, 2008 6:35 PM EDT
Kids and Goats,
I write this “fanpost” to solicit your opening day memories, and to share my favorite…
We, as Cardinal fans, had a somewhat rough winter. Jocketty leaving. Eckstein leaving. Mo on board. Rolen vs. LaRussa. The resigning of Miles. The signing of Izturis. Paletta’s pitchers. Juan Gonzalez (arf). The pitching sta(ph infection.).
Spring Training was somewhat better. Some nice surprises, and we learned that Colby hype may be worth believing. The important thing about Spring Training is that it provides us, as fans, with glimmers hope and allows us to get know our local 9 again. Storylines that become reality – and baseball is back.
So now it’s almost here…the unofficial national holiday known as Opening Day. (I exclude for the purpose of this fanpost the recent games in Tokyo – that was MLB Marketing Day, and while a nice gesture, a bit on the goofy side). The one day when we shouldn’t gripe about LaRussa, debate Reyes, or question the resigning of Miles. Although we do have to stare at the biggest mud puddle in eastern Missouri (don’t get me started).
Damn, I love Opening Day. It’s my favorite day of the year. It’s that day when all is right with the world and your team is in 1st place. The sun shines and the crack of the bat is louder than you remember it. The fans are excited, the players have smiles on their faces, and the patience of winter is rewarded with the smell of hotdogs, peanuts, and beer. Summer yawns out before you. The flags and pennants snap in the breeze a bit tighter, and for one day of the year – just one mind you – everything seems likes it’s going to be ok.
So anyway - my favorite Opening Day Memory: I returned from “a desert vacation at government expense” in early April 2006. We bought standing room only tickets for Opening Day – the first game at the new stadium - and wheeled the stroller right behind the bleachers in right center. We shared a pretzel, he fell asleep in the 3rd and we left in the 5th (slight case of “overstimulation” in the 1yr old). Pujols hit a homer that we saw – but I don’t remember much of the game. Too busy staring at my little boy at his first ballgame. That’s it. No autographs, no miraculous plays. Just my family at a ballgame. Last year, he made it through the 6th, sitting on our laps. And we shared a pretzel. This year, I have the distinct pleasure of taking my 3yr old son to his 3rd Opening Day and listening to him laugh every time someone says “Poo-holes.” Next year, his brother will join us, and we’ll have to split the pretzel three ways.
Damn, I’m looking forward to Monday.
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Rough Winter...
Not to mention Spiezio's continued downward spiral out of the major leagues.
That's a great opening day story. My favorite opening day memory will be March 31, 2008 when I'll experience the opener in person for the first time at 25 years old.
by AndyB83 on Mar 28, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs
best memories...just a few
Seeing Gussie Busch come out with the clydesdales
Getting to see all the hall of famers
Ozzie Smith's backflip
Stan on the harmonica
Jack Buck - master of ceremonies
Unveiling the 2006 world series banner
Seeing Albert Pujols for the first time
We may or may not be the best fans, but we gotta have one of the best opening days.
"Ding-dong the wicked witch is dead!" - Wayne Hagin after the cardinals snapped a losing streak
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Mar 28, 2008 10:03 PM EDT 0 recs
1997
cards started on a road trip going 0-8(or something) and returned against the spos. It was very cold and rainy had tikctes but managed to get in the old right field corner smoking area...stood there and razzed FP Santaaaaaangellllo(how we said it) and mabry...good effort nice warmup john...
then by 9th inning most people left, and we had moved to field level. tie game and wille stepped up the walk off b4 they started calling it..we wnet nuts along with those who remained.
I can't believe i gave up a homerun to that punch and judy hitter-major league 2
by punchinjudy on Mar 28, 2008 10:16 PM EDT 0 recs
A new kind of opening day....
I know this takes a fork in the diary road, but after three opening season games in Busch over the years,seeing the Cardinals in the hometown Friday nite was almost as good as any actual opening day in St. Louis I've ever had the pleasure to attend. Seeing the faces at the park and the kids on both benches was incredible. Then there was that Albert guy.
1990 against the Expos (seems like we always opened against Montreal) is the one I remember the most because we got into the stadium early for BP and got autographs from several starters. McGee and Pendleton both had big games at the plate, Coleman made a big play in deep left-center to save the game for Daley in the 11th robbing Deshields. Willy drove in the winning run.
The rest of the year was forgettable (sucked) as I recall, but hope did "spring" eternal on that opening day in April.
"Son, we'd like to keep you around for the season but we're gonna try to win the pennant." Old Casey
by cardschinmusic on Mar 29, 2008 7:07 AM EDT 0 recs
I was
going to say the Willie Mcgee walk off in '97 too. That was my first opening Day. Monday will be my 11th. That night was memorable for me because when I came crashing back down into my seat after leaping up for willie's homer because all of the blood rushing to my head and almost passing out, my seat broke off. I tried a couple of times to give it to back to Cards employees, but they just looked at me like ' what the hell do you want me to do with that?' So I walked it back to my car and have a unique souvenir. It's just the seat portion, not the bolted into the concrete part, but it's still pretty darn cool. Mac's grand slam against the dodgers in 98 was pretty darn cool too. And the opener in '06 is right up there.
by The Butcher on Mar 29, 2008 11:00 AM EDT 0 recs
Camden Yards opening day
I haven't had the pleasure of being in STL for opening day so my best opening day memory was the first game played at Camden Yards. We won two tickets in raffle for center field bleacher seats. The day was gorgeous, sunny and low 60's. The O's, behind Rick Sutcliffe, won the game. I also was in a picture in Sports Illustrated, but only distinguishable by the bright pink St. Maarten baseball cap.
by ubeddie on Mar 29, 2008 1:23 PM EDT 0 recs
1998
Mine would probably have to be 98 where Big Mac hit a grand slam and the first of 70 homers to come that season. I'm pretty sure that also was the first opening day I even got to attend.
by bosman on Mar 30, 2008 5:51 AM EDT 0 recs
Never been to an opening day
unfortunately (I live too far away and it's during school, etc.), but we did have an opening day tradition that I loved.
A bit of background first, the fall after I was married (in June) my father-in-law pulled up to our apartment one day with a 25" console TV (back when that was a BIG screen). When the wife asked her dad "Why?" he said "so John can watch the World Series". That was really her first indication she had married a "baseball nut".
Anyway, lovely woman that she was, the next year, or maybe one more after that, I came home from school on Opening Day and she had chili dogs and a beer ready for me for dinner. That was our tradition every year, chili dogs and a brewski for opening day. Wonderful lady, just wonderful...
by ArkansasTravs on Apr 1, 2008 11:28 AM EDT 0 recs
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