I have lived in Iowa for more years than any other state (therefore I am an Iowan) but I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I once was working at a radio station in Southeast Missouri and took a work colleague to St. Louis. It was her first trip to the city. She pointed out that one in every four people we passed was wearing something that said, "St. Louis Cardinals" on it. It was the first time I thought about why the team, baseball, and Opening Day is so important to people.
Here's why: if you grew up in St. Louis (and I am sure that fans in other cities will verify this), chances are that your first memory as a child is going to a baseball game in St. Louis.
It is my first memory of an outing with my dad. He took me to a St. Louis Cardinals game and we sat inside the left-field foul pole. During the game, Jose Cruz (Senior, not Junior) was batting for the Cards. I remember the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the fact that everyone around us stood as that little white ball began a perfect arc right toward us. It grew bigger and bigger...and landed just a few rows in front of us as Jose jogged the bases.
Over the years, many a family weekend was spent in our backyard in St. Louis - friends over, playing Jarts (REAL jarts with the metal ends), barbeque lit, and Jack Buck and Mike Shannon on the radio.
Every memory that I have of baseball is good. Every family memory of baseball is good. Even today, when I call my parents (who are 79 and 75 years old), we take a moment in every call to talk about our beloved Cardinals.
Happy Opening Day.