Opening Day, the first day of a new Major League Baseball season, has become an American tradition.
In fact, there are many fans that think Opening Day has earned enough recognition to be formally recognized as a holiday by the United States government.
Budweiser launched a campaign on Feb. 24 to declare Opening Day a national holiday by creating a petition needing 100,000 signatures by March 31 in order to be brought forth for President Barack Obama’s approval. The movement is led by St. Louis Cardinals great Ozzie Smith and has compiled more than 85,000 signatures as of Tuesday evening.
But is Opening Day significant enough to be declared a national holiday? Sure.
Baseball fans across the country set aside priorities on the day in order to watch their favorite team’s first game of the season, but some fans will even take sick days and or be truant because most teams hold their game during the afternoon.
In fact, according to what Smith told MLB.com, 22 million people across the country skip work or school because of Opening Day.
If that many people are playing hooky from their day-to-day obligations just to watch a baseball game, it should be a high enough number to convince the president to declare a holiday.
One could argue that declaring baseball’s Opening Day a holiday would open doors for other sports to argue their cases. However, baseball is different because it the first professional sports season to start the year, and it coincides with the kickoff of spring and warmer weather.
Perhaps more than anything, the start of baseball season is widely symbolized as a rebirth.
It is a chance for fans everywhere to kick back and enjoy the little things in life that make them happy. It is a joy that can be shared with family and a day that has the power to create cherished memories that will last a lifetime -- something that for a lot of people, no amount of work or school could possibly do.
Besides, if a sport is worthy enough to be labeled “America’s Pastime,” there is no reason one of the most valued days of the year should lack legitimacy.
ks363012@ohiou.edu
@kelsey_surmacz4
