SALT LAKE CITY – Call your boss, let the school’s know that the kids won’t be in class because today is a national holiday, today is Opening Day.

Two words when strung together that sing a sweeter song, paint a more beautiful picture and sculpt a more pristine statue than ever known, Opening Day.

The grass is green, the sun is out and the bleachers are full. Spirits are high and, best of all, everybody is in first place.

Harry Caray knows best. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/yKq20bqz15

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 7, 2022

A holiday celebrated not at home, but at your nearest Major League Baseball ballpark, with 40,000 of your closest friends. No need to cook, just grab a burger at the concessions stand or a hot dog from the vendor walking down the aisle. Eat Cracker Jacks, experiment with the local ballpark specialty food, drink anything you want, and belt out Take Me Out To The Ballgame during the seventh inning stretch. A Baseball Day if you will.

The Chicago Cubs hosted the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field for the first game of the 2022 season on Thursday, April 7 as Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks induced Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong into a pop-out with the first pitch of the season.

It’s an Opening Day many questioned would even happen after an owner imposed lockout lasted 99 days and forced a re-shuffled schedule while shortening spring training once it was resolved.

Good morning it's #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/yCXK9CCUFY

— Jeremiah Paprocki (@jtheannouncer) April 7, 2022

All of that is behind them now as MLB prepares for a slate of nine games across the country, save for a few weather-related postponements. Today is the day the optimists believe it’s finally going to be their year and even the pessimists find a glimmer of hope because you can’t help but find hope in Opening Day.

I’ve heard it argued that the day after the Super Bowl should be a national holiday, I stand for Opening Day.

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