Baseball–Opening Day Magic

In this episode, Opening Day Magic & the Promise of 162 . . .

It’s back, baseball–yes, baseball! If you’re like me, someone who finds themselves inexplicably drawn to this peculiar ritual, let’s be honest- it’s a bit odd, right? I mean, 162 games. One hundred and sixty-two. That’s a lot. There’s a lot of hot dogs, a lot of standing around, and a lot of men in oddly tailored trousers spitting.

And yet, here we are, poised on the precipice of another season, Thursday, March 27, 2025, to be precise–Opening Day. It’s a curious thing, this Opening Day. You walk into a stadium, and suddenly, everyone is filled with . . . Optimism. You know, it’s a form of collective amnesia. All the previous year’s fumbles and foibles, the endless losing streaks, the existential dread of watching your team implode – all of it disappears. Replaced by a sort of wide-eyed, childlike belief that this year, finally, this year will be different.

As a Cubs fan, I know it well, this cycle of hope and despair. Of course, we’ve seen the mountaintop–back in 2016–a moment so improbable it felt like a dream. But mostly, it’s been a long, winding road paved with . . . well, let’s say “character-building” experiences. Still, we start with the same record as the World Series champions every year. Isn’t that something? A kind of grand, democratic reset.

Just this week, we ventured out to Angel Stadium (The BIG A) in Anaheim, a place of sprawling concrete and questionable parking logistics, to attend an exhibition game between the Dodgers and the Angels. And, astonishingly, it was–delightful. The air was thick with the aroma of garlic fries and the distant, almost primal, crack of a bat meeting a ball. People were actually enjoying themselves. Even though, let’s be clear, it was a practice game—a rehearsal.

Opening Day, you see, is more than just a game. It’s a pilgrimage. A return to the sacred grounds where grown men chase a leather sphere with the fervor of medieval knights. And every team, from the Yankees, those titans of pinstripes, to the Padres, bless their hearts, starts with the same dream: October–162 opportunities for . . . well, who knows? Miracles? Meltdowns? Probably a bit of both.

So, with our sprawling freeways and our love of the game, fellow baseball fans of Southern California, where will you be watching? Dodger Stadium, that expansive, welcoming bowl nestled into the hills? Or how about Angel Stadium, right at the crossroads of bustling freeways? If you're like me, you will probably be comfortably settled in front of MLB.TV, happily squinting at a flat screen as we try to catch all the intricate details of a Cubs’ bullpen meltdown.

Everyone has "their" team; what team excites you? What magical moments are you looking forward to? Next time you're at Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, or The Big A, keep an eye out for a fellow Cubs fan cheering from afar; that might be me! 

“Go, Cubs, Go, Cubs, Go! Hey Chicago, what ya say? The Cubs are gonna win today."

I'm Patrick Ball. Stay curious, and enjoy the season! See you in the next episode.