It's That Time of Year

[AZ JazzyJ]

As the calendar dawned on an April morning, it meant but one thing. Baseball was back and with it the hopes and dreams of fans everywhere. For as long as I can remember my life has been intertwined with America's Pastime. My mother said I was born a baseball player and for over 4 decades I have played this grand game. It started innocently and at one time became a profession. Now my playing days are over but my passion for the game remains.

From April through October I live and breath baseball in one form or another. Last week the Major League Baseball season officially began. I left the warm confines of Arizona and trekked northward to cover the Arizona Diamondbacks as they began their tenth season. Opening Day this year was in Denver Colorado against the Colorado Rockies. I should have known better than to leave the sunny confines of the Arizona desert for the Rocky Mountains. As the gates to Coors Field opened the temperatures were hovering in the low 40's. For an Arizona boy that was pretty cold. But this was baseball and I could never miss an Opening Day. There is nothing quite as beautiful as the sights, sounds and smells of a ballpark just awakening from its winter hibernation.

Opening Day is full of pageantry and celebration. Teams go out of their way to make the best impression. Fans are filled with hope thinking this is finally the year that their team will make it to the top. I wanted to share a few of the sights from Coors Field and Opening Day 2007.

Coors Field Facade

The National Anthem

Releasing 2007 balloons

The pick-off

In all I took 100 pictures at the game capturing brief moments to rekindle lasting memories.

From now until the end of the World Series I'll be preoccupied with this game. Whenever possible I'll be around and posting but if I seem a little distant or not quite as focused as normal just realize my mind is probably at the game.

Jeff

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures! You must be a professional photographer - lucky enough to cover the Diamondbacks? Cool job!

We are a baseball loving family, too. There's nothing like Opening Day (except it's usually really cold here, too!)

Well we didn't make it to Opening Day this year, but we made it to the second game yesterday, which arguably this year was even more fun. It was Daisuke Matsuzaka's - aka Dice K - debut at Fenway Park! Thought I'd share (pardon the imperfections.)