Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Opening day should be a national holiday. Enough said.

It’s that time of year again when the snowfall finally stops, Rita’s opens its doors, the Penguins are heading to the playoffs, and best of all its baseball season. This is my favorite time of year because it is opening day around Major League Baseball (MLB).For the last three years, I have walked through beautiful downtown Pittsburgh on my way to PNC Park for the Pirates home opener.   Every year, I think to myself as I look at the thousands of people crossing the streets wearing Pirates gear with pride, seeing parents who called off work and kids who are missing school, “why is this not a national holiday?”Opening day for MLB is a day that millions around the country mark on their calendars. Every year, dates of the first home game are circled on calenders, a day when their ‘Boys are back in town.’  They want to see their team that they may have not seen since October.  If you are a Pirates fan, it would be September.To me, opening day is not just the welcome mat for the baseball season, but the start of spring. Everyone is happier once spring comes around.Who would not want to enjoy a beautiful spring day at the old ballpark? I know I would.Walking over the Roberto Clemente Bridge staring at PNC Park, I get goosebumps with the idea of over 39,000 people attending the home opener, screaming “Let’s go Bucs!” People showing up just to feel that sense of optimism about a team that has been struggling for so many years shows the type of sports town Pittsburgh really is and how they will support their teams no matter what.The thought of PNC Park being sold out, there are 30 teams in the MLB with stadiums that also sellout for opening day.That means over 1 million people all over the country are either missing work or school on various days to watch their favorite baseball team take the field for the first time of the new season.This is the Pirates 125th season in their history, and, as I walk to PNC Park this year for yet another home opener, I will be thinking about the generations of Pirates fans before me who have done the same thing. Seeing them walk to Forbes Field to see Roberto Clemente or walk to Three Rivers Stadium to see Willie Stargell reminds me how special this day is to people. Opening day should be a day when millions of people would want to take in some baseball and think back to the days of playing little league or watching your favorite teams on TV with hopes of playing professional baseball someday.Your time is up in the penalty box, you can head back onto the ice. 

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