Each and every year, in the early spring period of the seasonal calendar of the United States, millions of people across the world and primarily within the United States look forward to the annual athletic event and celebration that is known as “opening day”. Indeed, opening day is the beginning of the 162 game, 6 month long (including only the regular season) marathon season for the professional sports league in the United States known as Major League Baseball. Known proudly as “America’s Past-Time”, the MLB and American Baseball has a rich, proud history and is truly part of the distinct, unique, and unparalleled cultural identity and history of the United States. For over one hundred years, the sport has been played, celebrated, and craved by countless Americans. For many young American boys, playing in little league baseball is a natural rite of passage. Baseball cards, sunflower seeds, and bubble gum, peanuts and cracker jacks, all staples of differing, leisurely aspects of American culture and part of the overarching cultural identity of the country.
Truly, without baseball, America would be a much different nation. The incredible sport has been played by millions of people, but only a select few have made the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Names like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Yogi Berra, and many others are among the all-time greats inducted in the hallowed hall. Truly, millions of Americans have the fondest of memories associated with the summer sport; attending games and watching thrilling, talented players (whom many children aspired to emulate in their youth) are a major part of the American cultural ethos.
Unfortunately, though, while baseball is often associated with happy and jovial emotions, not all things within the sport are positive. In a recent development, the former pitching prospect Ronny Garcia passed away at the age of 24. Garcia was killed in a tragic motorcycle crash in April.
