"It's like Christmas, except it's warmer." - Pete Rose

It's Monday, April 3, 2017. In many parts of the world, that is not a date any more significant than any other, but here in Baltimore, Maryland, the banks of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries come to life with cheer and hope, for today is Opening Day for the Major League Baseball season, represented here by our Orioles.

A home opener is always exciting, no matter if it's home or on the road. - Yogi Berra

The Orioles open their season at home today (unless it rains) against the Toronto Blue Jays, and of course, today is the one day in the season that all the teams have the same record. Everyone's in first place and there are only 161 games left after today's.

How you played in yesterday’s game is all that counts. -Jackie Robinson

But yesterday's game doesn't count, since it was an exhibition. Life begins today for baseball, and last year's records don't mean doodly squat.  

You know what else doesn't mean anything - the background of the man throwing the ball, and that of the man with the bat. Unlike a lot of life's endeavors, what college you attended and how many homecoming queens you dated, and your racial background don't mean a thing.  

I ain't afraid to tell the world that it don't take school stuff to help a fella play ball.- Shoeless Joe Jackson

Over the years, baseball has been played by men like Shoeless Joe, who was virtually illiterate, and by men like Bobby Brown and Doc Medich, who went on to become physicians when their time on the diamonds ended. It does not matter what your background is, and it does not matter how great you did last year down in the minor leagues, and promises mean nothing.  

Opening Day at Oriole Park

Performance does, and let's get ready for 162 great ones from the Orioles!

"The baseball fan this morning awoke from a long Winter's sleep, stretched his arms, yawned and frightened the neighborhood trying out the rusty pipes of his vocal chords." - The New York Times