OPENING DAY  

By BASEBALL BAILEY

WRIGLEY fIELD CHICAGO 1975 PHOTO WPCNR SPORTS

OPENING DAY is better than Christmas Day,
When you look out the window and you know they'll play,
Whether dreary gray or billiant spring sun's ray
Opening Day means the Big Show is back today.

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Fans lucky to get away with a pair of ducats
Marveled at those grown men in boys flannels and sharp whites pristeen
Back to play in April's warm zhyphers in NY blazened caps,
Dashing specks of white warming up on the sprawl of the greenest green.

Motor cars panting in good-natured traffic jams on Major Deegan,
Or down Yawkey Way, on 35th and Shields or  Waveland's Jam.
Through your windows you see the first glimpse of the imposing Park,
The place where ball is played, where spirits of Ted, Babe, Duke
Mel, Spahnie, Whitey, Mickey, Willie, Yaz, Minnie and Sandy lark.

Paying a White Plains fine to park to stogie smoking old men
Who 'VE BEEN at the same GATES for a hundred years

out into the street
You go eager, the smell of roasting chestnuts, pungent cigars sweet,
Cries of "scorecard heah" "programs,  heah" neath light towers to heaven.

Fans in cap and uniform, little boys and girls gawk in awe
Never seeing SUCH sheer walls so topped with the legend "GameToday 1:30 PM"
Clutching slim cardboard tix to Section 14 Upper Deck up to the turnstiles
Festooned with souvenirs more dear as diamonds, beyond, THE lure OF ENDLESS aisles.

Into the press of crowd, the grizzled usher, RIPS YOUR TICKET.
Turnstile turns and into the castle of ball you go
Into the rotunda greeted with magic signs dazzlING
UPPER LEVELS SECTIONS 1 to 39, 2 to 40

Hawkers shout --Voices of The Bronx -- colorful books in hand

"Yearbook heah," "Dodger Yearbook here," "Hot dog, heah," 
Assail your ears up the ramps you walk to the sign "NEXT HOMESTAND"
Out the suspended catwalk where sliver of blue is first glimpse of the magic sphere
Into the sunlight splaying the vast rake down  of the mighty grand stand.

Spread out below are knights of the diamond in white hues
Cavorting, snapping throws across immaculate red clay
As majestic fungoes CRACK! soar towards filling bleachers a mile away,
Bunting flutters from the deck's rails red, white and true blues.

Old glory unfurls on the highest pole in center field
Colorful signs deliver the manly flavor of the only real game,
GILLETTE To Look Sharp, The Red Sox use Lifeboy, Schaefer It's A Hit
Hey, Neighbor Have a Gansett, White Owl Cigars, Hit Sign Win Suit

From old familiar walls, to Gladys Gooding on the organ
friendly old green scoreboard displaying
Today's games around the big leagues BETTER THAN CNN
CHI CLE BOS DET, CHI STL, NY WAS make you king for a day.
Two Bits for a scorecard, usher wipes your seat, ballpark fills your heart.

Penciling in the lineup 42 2B, 1 SS, 14 1B, 4 CF, 39 C, 6 RF, 23 LF 19 3B 36 P
Smell of beer, peanuts and warm salty pretzels entice
The air is nippy, warm rays sink into your face feels nice,
starting pitchers wheel and deal on sidelines  fueling expectancy

Men in blue, arms folded solemnly conduct the home plate regimen
CaseY, Ralph , Walter AND SPARKY exchange lineup cards and knowing
ground rules by heart they go over them for ritual's sake.
announcer entones "Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen."

"Please rise for the playing of our national anthem,"
the stadium organ note by note  peels  baseball's theme
Rising on the breeze, uniting do-rag and ball cap,
fedora and Tie PONYTAIL AND BOUFFANT  in the spirit of the great game.

Grass is never greener than on opening days
 strikes are louder, the long drives electrify in the alleys
The beer withtHICK hing cream head,  tastecrisp cold and mellow the best all year
 Smashes laser through short and in the gap in raucous rallies

Magicians without wands start 6-4-3s, backhand sure hit losing their caps

"Oh what a play's" crackle on WGN with  "CUBS WIN'S"

Jack and Mel, Vince, Curt and Murph are back at the mike to turn mundane days into joy with a ninth inning elixir and "happy recaps"

THUNDROUS ROAR accolades the 2-out winner again CREATING Big KIDS' GRINS