In the spring a young man’s fancy doesn’t necessarily turn to love – it turns to spring training and Opening Day of the Major League Baseball Season.  This year, the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals will meet the Miami Marlins On April 4, 2o12.  Not only is it the first day of the season, but the Marlins will also christen their new baseball stadium, Marlins Park.  The stadium is state-of-the-art building with a retractable roof and natural grass turf.  What a great way to start a new season!  Recent history indicates that The Marlins have luck on their side since that last five out of six stadium christening games were won by the home team. Playing the World Series Champion Cards, the Marlins (72-90 last season) may need it. If you want to make history, travel to Miami and attend the opening day at the new stadium.

If you are more the parade/festival type, the Findlay Market Parade marches the Cincinnati Reds into their Opening Day on April 5th against The Miami Marlins.   There’s no other place to be in baseball than at a Reds’ Opening Day.  I doubt that there are few true Reds fans that have not been to at least one Opening Day, as its a staunch tradition celebrating 93 years.

This extravaganza all began in the late 1880s, when baseball teams promoted aggressively for attention and for fans. Parades were one way to garner that attention.  Over time, the Reds excelled and rose to the top as the King of Opening Day.  The team also has the rare honor of always opening its season at home, hence why that tradition has lasted so long.  Throughout the ups and downs of the team, there’s always been a parade and a lot of festivities prior to the first game of the season.  As Sparky Anderson, (Manager of the Reds at the time), said “It’s a holiday – a baseball holiday! Ain’t no other place in America got that!!”  

Also on April 5, Vin Scully will begin his 63rd year announcing the LA Dodgers baseball games when the Dodgers face the San Diego Padres.  Following the Dodgers from Brooklyn to LA in 1958, Scully boasts the longest, continual history of any broadcaster with one professional sports team.  Only Tommy Lasorda has been with the Dodgers longer! Talk about team loyalty! The Dodgers will face the Padres. And, who doesn’t enjoy listening to Scully announce each game? So, take a trip to San Diego and both watch and hear history through Vin Scully’s play by play.

On April 10, the Dodgers will face the Pittsburgh Pirates.  This will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers’ first game in Dodger Stadium.  So, in the course of 5 days you can take in a lot of Dodger history if you are a fan.  Make a trip of it.  Visit LA, take in the sites, and see some great baseball.

A truly big anniversary this year is when the Boston Red Sox celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial on April 20.  The team will face its arch rival, the Yankees.   It will be exactly 100 years to the day when Boston’s American League played the New York Highlanders for the very first game in the stadium.  The stadium was not yet complete when it hosted it’s first game.  However, the right field grandstand and the main grandstand around the infield structures were completed and still are use today.

The “Big Green Monster” (left field wall) was painted its traditional green in 1947.   The highest among current Major League Baseball Teams at 37’2″, the wall serves to not allow cheap home runs with line drives.  Batters can normally only get a double out of what would be a home run on other fields.  So, for a great step back in time head out to Boston for this once in a life time event.

The New York Mets and the Houston Astros will both celebrate 50 years of hard ball.  So, visiting either of these teams’ stadiums this year will be a real celebration.  Whether you live in your team’s town, or you have to travel to see the boys of summer, this year is full of celebration for America’s favorite pastime.

So, if you are going to travel, take your 7th inning stretch before you fly and check out our airport hotel partners on ParkSleepFly.com.    You can choose to stay before your flight, or after you return, get airport parking for the duration of your trip, and receive transportation to and from your airport terminal.  You’ll arrive relaxed and refreshed at the stadium since you had a good night’s rest the night before.  Whether you are a die hard Red Sox fan, or you love the Cardinals, you can always find a great rate with ParkSleepFly.  And, do your best impression singing “Take Me out to the Ballgame” for me at your favorite ball park.  Oh, and I’ll take a hot dog and a box of popcorn, too!

Related articles

• Fenway Park still endures after 100 years (mlb.mlb.com)
• Fenway Wins Registry Of Historic Places Listing (boston.cbslocal.com)
• Dodgers Ranked 2nd, Behind Yankees, On Forbes’ MLB Franchise Values (losangeles.cbslocal.com)