Spring is always assured to bring warm weather, spring flowers, the Easter Bunny and America’s number one pastime – baseball.  Monday, April 6^th was opening day for many professional baseball teams across the country officially announcing the beginning of the baseball season.

Opening day is always exciting for Major League Baseball. Every team starts off with the same record and every fan jumps on the bandwagon in hopes that their team will go all the way this year (although everyone knows that a “true” fan never jumped off the bandwagon to begin with - even if their team was doing badly!) Spring is a time of renewal and if your team had a lousy record last year, opening day gives them a chance at a new beginning and fans love that! So bring out the peanuts, popcorn, hot dogs and beer and let the games begin!

Usually the start of the baseball season sees warm spring like weather, but not in the Midwest this year. When the Cincinnati Reds took to the field it was to a whopping 39 degrees, freezing cold winds, drizzling rainfall and of course what would opening day be without a few snow flurries mixed in for good measure. Not exactly the perfect weather conditions for a baseball game! However the eagerness of the fans and the excitement of a new year of baseball in Cincinnati quickly overshadowed anything but cheering on the Reds. It was nothing that a raincoat and umbrella couldn’t fix. The fans had everything on from waterproof outerwear to waterproof underwear. So, bring it on Mother Nature!

However, half the fun of living in the Midwest is the “unknown” weather.  There’s a saying in Cincinnati, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes!”  I’ve been to opening day games where it’s been absolutely beautiful with temperatures in the 70’s and plenty of sunshine and I’ve been where they had to stop for a few innings because they couldn’t see through the snowfall!  No matter what the weather, opening day in Cincinnati, Ohio is one big celebration.   It will take a lot more than cold weather to deter Reds fans.  Cincinnati, Ohio is home to the sport’s first profession team and for decades the first pitch of every major league season officially took place in Cincinnati.  They are the only team that always opens the season with a home game.  It’s an unofficial “city holiday” where young and old alike play hooky taking the day off school and work with one thing in mind…to carry on the  tradition that has been past on from generation to generation of going to the opening day parade through downtown Cincinnati and then on to the ballpark to cheer on their hometown favorite!   

When all is said and done and the umpire yells “Play Ball” the stands come alive and nothing is as important as baseball come rain or shine in Cincinnati, Ohio!