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When Is Opening Day?

(Photo by WonderK)

When Major League Baseball announced that they were moving Opening Day from its traditional Monday spot to Friday, I was actually in full support. Not only would the regular season end before October, but now we could take Opening Day off and instead of reporting to work the next day, we could have two more days to drink beer, eat hot dogs, and watch baseball. It seemed like a genius plan.

And then I heard that the Giants and Dodgers would square off Thursday night. Again, totally fine and reasonable. Nothing like a rivalry matchup featuring the World Series champs to start the season. It was perfect. But I missed something. I’m not sure how.

Five other games will be played on March 31st. A Thursday. I didn’t even realize it until this week. Part of what makes Opening Day so magical, so special, so sublime, is that every team kicks off their season at once. It didn’t matter what team you pulled for because at some time you will see your favorite 25 run out onto the field. And if you had enough television screens, you would have multiple options at any time of the day. Now, the games are split and it’s not so perfect, so wonderful. It’s not Christmas in April.

There are six games to be played on Thursday, and 11 to be played on Friday. What day really counts? Is it March 31st when the first games of the season are actually played? Or is it April 1st, when the rest of the league kicks off with baseball easing you into the weekend?

I’ve decided to honor April 1st. Maybe because that’s when the Pirates start their season, maybe because there are more ballgames, and maybe because it just feels better, I’m not sure. But there is a small pit in my stomach as I know that I will not truly be present for Opening Day, that I think of the six Thursday games as “not really counting.” The only thing I can compare it to is telling a child to open a few gifts on his birthday, but that he has to wait until the day after to celebrate.

I’m curious as to what your thoughts are. Has everyone else accepted Opening Day as March 31st or are there others who consider April 1st to be the sacred date?

  1. nupharlutea answered: March 31. Brewers open, so it is Opening Day
  2. badlifedecisions-anautobiography answered: opening day is april 1st. when i get to walk into that ballpark, beer in hand, ready to cheer on my Marlins!
  3. telesilla answered: As a Giants fan, Opening Day is the 31st for me. I’d probably be disappointed if other teams had their openers before ours.
  4. failinggloriously answered: I’m planning a roadtrip from Chicago to Cleveland to see the Sox play. April 1st is their first game of the season so that my sacred day.
  5. she-ah-nuh answered: Do you remember me?
  6. camwiest answered: Gotta be April 1st. 1st day of the month, the M’s play, etc.
  7. alazyfilipinoboy reblogged this from sbnation
  8. mightyflynn answered: I’m celebrating both, though my White Sox open on the 1st.
  9. sbnation reblogged this from oldtimefamilybaseball
  10. raisetheapple answered: Its not even opening DAY anymore. Most games start at 4:15 or 7:10
  11. awkwardmomentswithachocoholic reblogged this from oldtimefamilybaseball and added:
    am recognizing March 31st....die-hard Cardinals fan and
  12. dresspants answered: They should all start at once. April 1st. Preferably an afternoon game. And they should bring back albino mascots.
  13. c4lvarez reblogged this from oldtimefamilybaseball
  14. nelsonharris answered: I couldn’t care less aout the date. My Reds are always at home, and it is always an event, so I can just turn my mind off to everyone else.
  15. noncromulant answered: Considering the World Series seems to go until whenever it feels like now, I’m complacent with the start of the season starting whenever.
  16. tradetrees answered: I’d like the WS Champs to open at home (SF is @ LA, which seems wrong) Thursday night, then everyone else Friday throughout the day..
  17. grubi answered: April 1st. They should make 2 permanent rules: everyone starts the year together and the first series of a team’s season should be vs rivals.
  18. nlinde answered: Opening day for KC is Thursday. I’m going, that’s what I’m honoring as Opening Day.
  19. federeraddict answered: April 1st.
  20. oldtimefamilybaseball posted this
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