It’s a Little Known Fact

On this Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season, hope springs eternal. Every team begins with the same 0-0 record.

Several years ago, someone said, “Opening Day is like Christmas for Tammy.” He wasn’t wrong then, and isn’t wrong now. We have had a long, cold Winter here in the Northeast. Pitchers and Catchers reporting to Spring Training, along with the first robin, and crocuses pushing through the ground, are sure signs that Spring is on its way.

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. They’re not wrong. There are few things better than walking through the tunnel, at Ed Smith Stadium, in Sarasota, Florida, in March. Seeing the green grass of the infield and the baseball diamond in March makes your heart skip a beat. I’ve been there twice. It is a dream come true for a diehard baseball fan.

Improvements were made to ballparks during the winter offseason. New food items were added to menus, new vendors found homes on the concourse, and new souvenirs can be found in team stores. You may see more new faces on your team than you find in a plastic surgeon’s waiting room. New players, new numbers, new coaching staff, new hopes for a better season than last year. The optimism abounds on this Opening Day.

There is no better place to hear our National Anthem than at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. It’s just a short distance from Ft McHenry. Francis Scott Key’s poem, written after the British bombardment of the key (pun intended) installation, is one of the most difficult songs to perform live. What most people don’t remember about that song is the last two words. Sure, they weren’t part of the original poem. But, they have come to signify something incredibly special. It is my honor, for those of you who may not be aware, to tell you that the last two words to The National Anthem are “Play ball!” It’s true! It’s a little known fact.

Mark me as unavailable. I’m Bird watching. Go, Orioles!