Greetings,
Once again we come to Opening Day. For Baltimore, and for many cities across the country, that phrase has a very clear, specific meaning and conjures up a whole host of images, memories, and expectations. Even with 15 losing seasons, Opening Day is sold out. Oriole fans know the joys of victory and the disappointments of defeat. Oriole fans also form strong bonds, with the team and with each other. Our family has been attending Opening Day since the new beginning in 1954, and there are connections with people and memories which go back to that first season. And there seem to always be new connections coming up. When we first met Roberta’s father’s friend Louise it took about 20 minutes to establish her connection to the Orioles and where she and her family sat at the games in the 1950s. Friday morning at 1:00 am at BWI Marshall Airport, waiting for a military flight, we talked with three people about the Orioles and Opening Day.
Opening Day is each year a time of traditions and transitions. Traditions that go back to the old Orioles of the 1800’s, to the minor league Orioles, and then to the now 58 year old “modern era” when the St. Louis Browns became the revived Baltimore Orioles in 1954. Traditions that go back to the players (Gus Triandos, Brooks Robinson) and managers (Paul Richards, Earl Weaver), and owners (Jerry Hoffberger), of the past who were either outstanding or colorful or in a few cases both. Traditions that go back to the staff (Ernie Tyler, usher Bert Williams), who for years operated the park and provided its’ services, making the Oriole experience enjoyable, and at times colorful. Traditions that go back to a wide collection of Oriole fans, some of whom were thoughtful, some of whom were fanatical, some of whom were colorful (Wild Bill Hagey).
Transitions include not only the manager and players, but the passing of many who were important to the Orioles over the years and are recognized in the opening tribute to those who died since the last opening day. Transitions include the retirement of some staff personnel, and the shift in assignments for others. While waiting for the gates to open, several staff came over to say hello and inquire at to how we fared during the off season. Most of the ushers and attendants we talked to had a good winter, with just the usual share of aches and pains. There was a sense of being at a family reunion.
This year it was Brenda and Timothy, Roberta and me, and cousin Nolan and his son Michael who attended. Roberta and I had lunch at the new Rick Dempsey restaurant in the Warehouse, and Rick, long a great favorite with us and all O’s fans, signed an autograph and posed with us for a picture. The traditional dinner at Chiapparelli’s afterward was, as always, very good, and the restaurant was also occupied by many Oriole fans.
Colorful, friendly, even family-like, the Orioles have always been a whole lot more than a set of baseball statistics. Good friends and family heighten the experience of Opening Day. Winning the game was an unexpected and added plus to the day. And it didn’t even snow.
I bore you with all of this recounting of Opening Day because I think it is important to recognize that we are created to live in an ordered world which is essentially a very large and very diverse family. Social status, race, ethnic background, occupation, and even “religion” should no longer barriers between people. The walls are broken down, and we are, from the greatest to the least, members of the family, even as Jesus envisions in Matthew 25:40. While I do not mistake this gathering for the glorious gathering of the faithful in the Eternal Kingdom, I do understand this as an example of what the Kingdom is to be here and now.
Yours & His,
DED
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