Opening Day
Posted by Michael Hanns on Thursday, April 5, 2012
Its Opening Day and Willie Smith quickly flashes in my mind. As far as Im concerned Willie Smith and Opening Day will always be linked. It was April 1969, I was 10 years old and playing in a field a couple of blocks from my house, my transistor radio in my ear. I loved listening to the radio in those days, especially WGN. I had just realized recently that WGN broadcast baseball games featuring the Cubs. I was not quite a full fledged fan yet. But as I stood around on the field watching my friends playing I was listening to the game, I had just gotten out of school and was glad the game was still going on. But the Cubs were losing. However I was aware that Ernie Banks had hit 2 home runs earlier. I think I just missed the home run that Don Money hit. But I remember distinctly Willie Smith batting and then Willie Smith hitting a home run...CUBS WIN! I remember vaguely the excitement in Vince Lloyds and Lou Boudreaus voices. That day marked the beginning of my love affair with the Cubs, as well as one of the most memorable spring and summer of my life and one of the most exciting baseball seasons in my life. What a way to be introduced to the Cubs! So, pardon me if I get a little nostalgic about Opening Day. To be honest, there havent been that many I can remember as much as my first. I remember at least one year Opening Day was postponed by snow and at least one where it did snow! Ive never actually attended an Opening Day because rarely if ever is the temperature above 60 degrees. Even this year of the non winter and the 80 degree temps in March is only going to be in the 40s. Yet there is something uplifting about Opening Day. Everybody has the same record, the depression and the frustration have yet to set in, there is a sense of renewal and optimism. And this year, more than most recent years, there is a sense that the Cubs are actually building towards a long term goal. I cant wait. Maybe the Cubs will lose on Opening Day, maybe it will be the first of 85-90 losses, who knows, but there is a sense that in a couple of years, Opening Day will really mean something and a new hero will emerge and etch his name forever alongside that of Willie Smiths. PLAY BALL!