Opening Day by Don Angel

Baseball's biggest single day is probably Opening Day described by George Vecsey in A Year in the Sun (1989) with, "There is no sports event like Opening Day in baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness and the National Football League" and by Don Angel below:

"It isn't only baseball that has its Opening Days; lives and memories have them too." - George V. Higgins in The Progress of Seasons (1989)
Opening Day

Written by Don Angel © in 03-2003

Published: Baseball Almanac (08-2003)

Listening on the radio for play-by-play,
I hear, "Welcome to Opening Day".
Despite cold temperatures for today's game,
A sellout crowd has came.
I turn my attention to the bullpen.
The starting pitcher is number 10.
Managers present line-ups
Pitcher throws warm up.
Umpire yells, "Play Ball!"
Fielders heed the call.
Innings one, two and three,
No score too be.
Inning five,
Visitors come alive
Back-to-back singles down the line.
Sacrifice fly - position nine.
No one at fault,
But one run results.
Inning eight,
Still not too late.
The home team takes their swings.
A base hit and stolen base, leadoff would bring.
Will this one get a hit?
No, second base smothers it.
Fly ball and a play at the plate.
A perfect throw ends the eighth.
I review the pitcher's stats,
As the visitors come to bat.
Four straight balls and a walk,
Pitching coach comes out too talk.
A new pitcher trots to the mound.
Three feared sluggers shut down.
Bottom of the ninth,
Climax at its height.
An error on a bad hop.
Line drive over shortstop.
Fans express belief,
Even with the closer now in relief.
Double off the fence.
The crowd is in suspense.
Rounding third, anxiously awaiting the final word.
This is what I heard.
"Here comes the winning run",
Safe! and "That's a winner" 2-1.
Spectators approve with a deafening roar,
Seconds later, fireworks would soar.
Baseball and America's pastime is my reason,
I think I'll go to another game this season.

Opening Day by Don Angel ©



You may contact the author of this verse, Don Angel, and share your thoughts, memories, and opinions on his poem; or you can share your memories of the record setting moments you can recall on Baseball Fever.

Did you know that if you Search Baseball Almanac for the term "Opening Day" you will find more than sixty pages - including records, trivia, anecdotes, and poems about that one event?

This poem — Opening Day — is a Baseball Almanac exclusive and appears here with expression written permission from the author.

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