Craig Larson Jr.
March 24, 2025
Updated 09:06 a.m. ET
On the surface, it may seem like just one of 162 games. Yet, for me and countless others, that first game holds a unique significance. Perhaps the only two words more enchanting than “Game Seven” in the world of sports are “Opening Day.” Across the globe at the Tokyo Dome, the 2025 baseball season has officially kicked off. When it was built in 1988, Japan’s first domed stadium came with a hefty price tag of $269 million. In contrast, today, Juan Soto commands a staggering $765 million to play for the Mets as an individual player. Baseball’s appeal has truly become worldwide, with player salaries skyrocketing and new stadiums emerging everywhere. Over the last 25 years, 17 new stadiums have been constructed. With fresh venues, new merchandise, and rising ticket prices, fans eagerly pass through the gates each spring. Back in the 1990s, the south side of Chicago, home to the White Sox, felt like a second home to me. 35th and Shields became as familiar to me as ordering deep-dish pizza.
In 1984, fueled by high hopes after their “Winning Ugly” campaign the previous year, I watched in despair on NBC’s Game of the Week as Ron Kittle and the Southsiders were no-hit by Jack Morris of the Tigers. Remarkably, Morris would go on to start 14 consecutive opening days as a pitcher, setting a record that still stands today. Fast forward to 2005, when I was at the game with my late Grandma. We saw Mark Buehrle deliver a stunning 1-0 performance against Cleveland in a match that lasted less than two hours—officially clocking in at just 1 hour and 51 minutes. Little did we realize as we left the ballpark that this would be the first victory of a magical season, leading to the Sox’s first World Series Championship in 88 years, ending one of the longest championship droughts in sports history. Steve “Psycho” Lyons, who played nine seasons in the majors with teams like the White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, shared his thoughts on opening day. When I asked him what it meant to him, he said, “To me, it’s the most exciting day of the regular season. Your expectations are high, and everyone is in first place.” For the 30 teams aiming for a shot at the championship in October, it all kicks off with opening day.
