All Together Now

A reflection on Opening Day

Opening Day. A day where baseball fans return in droves to their favorite ballparks and anything is possible for the next 162 games. Even if you are coming off of a record-breaking season of losing, MLB gifts you a clean record of 0-0 to start the very next year. It’s hard not to feel hopeful in the moments before the season unfolds. Sure, half of the names on the roster are completely new ... but who knows, they could be the next sensation.

The ballpark experience begins long before fans enter the gates. For some, it starts weeks or months in advance, planning elaborate tailgates. The Chicago Sports Bums are a testament to this as they have spent the off season planning their Whiskey at Comiskey tailgate series. Festivities kicked off yesterday, with food provided by Fire Water BBQ and drinks thanks to Bubba’s Whiskey and Ramova Brewery.

Nobody knows what is going to happen this season, but being back among friends is something a bad team can never take away. “We can control everything that happens outside the stadium,” Peter Fonseca, one of the Bums, reflected when asked what the vibe was going into Opening Day. “Once we’re inside the stadium, it’s a coin flip. The vibes in Lot B are great.”

And control what happened outside of Sox Park they did. Over 100 fans showed up to celebrate the return to the park and, for many, the return of community. Whether it’s saying hello to old friends or making new ones in the parking lot, the White Sox community runs deep.

“We’ve been doing Whiskey at Comiskey for three years, and every year the community keeps growing and supporting what we’re doing. It’s a testament to who White Sox fans are,” shared Head Bum in Charge, Jason James.

It’s true, who wants to suffer a 121 loss season alone? They say misery loves company, so you might as well get a big group of company together. Eventually, the party does have to stop and you have to start a new party inside the ballpark to watch Will Venable’s boys play baseball.

For those that have been attending Opening Day for years, it’s hard to escape the feeling of nostalgia. This was my third Opening Day, and each year I am hit with the memories of attending games with my late grandfather. I walk around the ballpark and watch kids with their parents and grandparents, and feel grateful that another generation gets to enjoy baseball with their loved ones. They are making memories they will reflect on forever, without necessarily remembering who won the game that day but always knowing who they attended the baseball game with (and what fun treats they were able to bribe grandma and grandpa into getting for them). Lucky for these kiddos, they got to have a fun day AND see a White Sox win.

The overall sentiment around the ballpark was excitement that baseball is back, the excitement over being able to watch the sport you love in the best way there is to watch it — live and in person. Even a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan who was compelled to attend by his girlfriend said even he could feel the buzz throughout The Rate: “Everyone was just excited to be back in the ballpark, and were pleasantly surprised to see a win as well.”

The return of Tim Anderson and Yoán Moncada, three White Sox home runs, six innings of walk-free and scoreless pitching from the young starter Sean Burke, and an 8-1 win. For many, it was the perfect Opening Day.

Jeremy Marder, who just finished programming a baseball movie series at the Music Box Theatre, summed up his feelings about the day in one simple word: “Grateful.”

So, White Sox fans, we’re better than .500 for the first time since March 2023, we’re on pace to go 162-0, and apparently, we hit home runs now. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring, but for now, we will relish in the return of America’s pastime and be grateful to get to experience yet another season surrounded by the greatest fans in sports. Play ball!