The crack of a wooden baseball bat echoes off the outfield walls. The sound of baseballs popping against leather punctuates the air. The sticky smell of pine tar and freshly cut grass compete for attention. The stadium is barely populated, save for the few fans who want to grab a souvenir or an autograph. Anticipation grows as the stadium fills with more eager fans. But this game is different from any of the other 161 games in a major league season. It's opening day.
Opening day is an event, and for some people, it is a holiday. The atmosphere at a baseball game is just as important, if not more, than the game itself. Red, white and blue banners that are used for special occasions, known as bunting, are hung on bleachers to mark the significance of the day. Before the game, teams take batting practice, giving the fans who arrive early a chance to collect a souvenir or two. At The Ballpark in Arlington, children are set free to scramble for home run balls in center field. Fathers take their sons to the game, making sure they have a glove in case that one foul ball comes their way. The Ballpark, in its retro-style design, is considered to be one of the premier baseball stadiums in the country by fans. The right-field "Home Run Porch" is reminiscent of Tiger Stadium, one of baseball's oldest and now out-of-use stadiums. All of the wrought iron rafters and plastic seats are painted forest green. Rangers fans support the home team in their red garb. The Texas Rangers opened their season last week against the Chicago White Sox under ideal conditions. Contrary to usual Texas weather, it was sunny but cool. The light, pale blue sky meets the sparkling green grass that has just been watered. The grass in the outfield is cut into alternating lines of light and dark. The dirt is swept into perfect lanes between the bases. Crisp, white chalk lines are laid out by the grounds crew to draw the batters box and the foul lines. For the rookie player, opening day is an especially exciting time because it is their first game with the team. "You have come out of spring, you have prepared and you have done a lot of things to get ready to go," Rangers pitching coach Dick Bosman said. "There's a lot of butterflies and anticipation. It's the first of 162 games, and hopefully more with the playoffs and the World Series." As the first pitch approaches, the stadium starts to fill. The vendors are hard at work, trying to push everything from beer to peanuts. "Cold beer! Get yer ice cold beer!" is followed by the inevitable, "Hey, beer man, over here!" Bunches of pink cotton candy float up and down the aisles. A quiet breeze carries the smell of hot dogs and sun tan lotion. After the ceremonial first pitch is thrown out, the players, clad in their clean, white uniforms, take the field. Teams put out their best for opening day, including the starting pitcher. Veteran left-hander Kenny Rogers got the nod for the Rangers in their first game. Bosman said opening day is important for him and his pitchers. "As a pitcher, it is special because it is something you shoot for, which is to start the game," said Bosman, who started several opening days with the former Washington Senators. "You're the choice of the ballclub to start off the season. It's the culmination of a lot of hard work from years before." The umpire gives the famous charge, "Play ball!," and a new season is under way. Every team is equal, no wins and no losses. Teams come out of spring training full of optimism. During the game, the crowd comes alive. A low chattering of more than 45,000 people erupts into a loud roar whenever the home team scores. The vendors' voices are heard more often and with more force as the game goes on. In the past few years, baseball has suffered a lag in attendance. Bosman said though the "national pastime" is still important in the hearts of the millions of fans who still come out each year. "If you're a real baseball fan, then you are excited to come out to the Ballpark," he said. "In my heart (baseball) is still the national pastime and for the millions and millions of people who come out and watch the games it is." Baseball is often known for its rich history and traditions dating back to the mid-1800s. With its 162-game schedule, opening day brings about a new beginning and a sense of not knowing what is to come. Two years ago, St. Louis slugger Mark McGwire broke the single-season record for home runs of 61 formerly held by Roger Maris. Last season, Wade Boggs and Tony Gwynn reached the 3,000-hit milestone in their careers. It all began on opening day. After the game, the incessant voices of the vendors are heard no longer, and fans file out of the stadium. The chalk lines are smeared and bleachers are littered with peanut shells and popcorn bags. The anticipation is gone and the stadium is empty once again. Opening day is over, but the spirit of baseball still remains.
Matt Welnack
By Chris Gibson staff reporter The TCU men's track and field team turned one of the nation's oldest meets into one of its most successful meets of the season. The 73rd annual Texas Relays at the University of Texas at Austin turned into what one TCU runner said should have been called the TCU Relays. Combining victories in the 5,000-meters, 100-meter dash, 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relays, the Horned Frog men posted the most victories ever by a TCU team at the Texas Relays. "We are all really elated about how the meet turned out," head coach Monte Stratton said. "It was just one of those times when everything fell into place. I think this meet really solidifies us as one of the premier sprint programs in the country." The Frogs were voted Outstanding Team of the meet, and junior Kim Collins was the meet's Outstanding Male Athlete. Collins won the invitational 100-meter and was a member of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team. The invitational race allowed for any athlete, pro or collegiate, to compete. Collins' time of 10.07 seconds was good enough for first, while former TCU runner Jarmiene Holloway took third. "It was a really fun race for me," Collins said. "I pretty much knew everybody in the race, and I have even run with most of them. The combination of the large crowd and the caliber of runners I was going against inspired me to run such a good time." Juniors Lindel Frater and Darvis Patton took first and second in that event. Stratton said while Patton has not been as big a factor in the100-meter in past meets, he knew that he could run with anyone. Patton said he has been confident in some of his other events but he just hadn't put it together in the 100-meter until last weekend. "It was a big surprise for me," Patton said. "I knew I could do it in the long jump, and we have been doing it in the 4x100-meter relay. I was really excited to finish second. I almost feel like I got first place because finishing second to (Frater) is just like being there yourself." The 4x200-meter team of juniors Roy Williams, Anthony Amantine, Kendrick Campbell and senior Johnny L. Collins II grabbed a first-place finish, just ahead of Baylor in 1:23:34 seconds. Only 90 minutes later, the 4x100-meter relay, which is considered the glamour event at the Texas Relays, was no different as the team of Frater, senior Ricardo "Flash" Williams, Patton and Kim Collins took the victory over second-place Auburn by almost a second. Their time of 38.73 seconds is the second-fastest time established in the world this year and the second-fastest time ever run at the Texas Relays. The 4x400-meter relay was the Frogs' next relay event as they tried to post an unparalleled sweep of the relay events. The same quartet that took the victory in the 4x200-meter relay finished second to Baylor. Coaches and players said they were not disappointed though because they ran a good race against a strong team. Another record-setting performance came from senior David Lagat. With his victory in the 5,000-meter he became the first TCU male distance runner to win multiple Texas Relays. Stratton said that his team will not compete this weekend at the John Jacobs Invitational in Norman, Okla., as scheduled, but they will continue to prepare for the inaugural TCU Invitational to be held April 22 at the Lowden Track and Field Complex.
Chris Gibson |
Major League Baseball begins its season
every year in the first week of April after five months of off-season.
Whether it is the big leagues or Little League, opening day has always
been a favorite among fans and players alike.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |