MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / March 13, 2000

The swamps of Florida and the deserts of Arizona are alive with the sound of music. The crack of the bat. Balls popping into mitts. Chatter from theinfield.

Yes, the Boys of Summer are back. The Grapefruit and Cactus leagues are infull swing and there are less than three weeks left until that grand American tradition – Opening Day. Of course, this year, that grand American traditionwill be held overseas with Chicago and New York getting the season underway in Japan. Go figure.But it’s baseball, the Grand Ole Game, and my favorite time of the year. Thetime of the year when even the Twins can think about winning the pennant.

Yes, I’m a baseball fanatic. The kind whose idea of a great play is not “Cats”but Andruw Jones leaping over a fence to take away a home run. Whosefavorite ballet is Roberto Alomar turning the pivot at second base on a double play.

So, with apologies to Julie Andrews in “Sound of Music,” here are some of my favorite things…Opening Day.

Mark McGwire stepping up to the plate.

The introduction of players at the All-Star Game, League Championship Series and World Series.

Pitchers and catchers report.

The suicide squeeze.

Old Timers’ games.

The Fall Classic.

Minnesota-Atlanta, 1991 World Series.

Greg Maddux on the mound.

Andruw Jones going back on a fly ball.

Zephyrs Field.

LSU’s pinstripe uniforms.

The Tomahawk Chop.

Ted Williams at the 1999 All-Star Game.

Rey Ordonez going into the hole.

Sammy Sosa’s salute after home runs.

Perfect games.

The seventh-inning stretch.

Warren Morris’ two-out, two-run home run to win the 1996 College World Series.

Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola on NBC’s Game of the Week (a grand tradition gone away.)Any Vin Scully broadcast.

Any Bob Costas broadcast.

Any Jon Miller broadcast.

Baseball Tonight.

Listening to games on the radio.

Russ Hodges’ call of Bobby Thomson’s home run.

Wrigley Field.

Camden Yards.

The monuments in Yankee Stadium.

The Green Monster.

Rickey Henderson leading off first in his prime.

A pitcher staring down a batter and vice versa.

Triples.

Home run hitting contests.

Cal Ripken’s playing streak.

Jackie Robinson.

The Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame induction day.

Spring training.

The Hot Stove League.

Fantasy baseball.

Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel turning the double play.

Sliding catches.

“Hey, dad, want to have a catch?” Bull Durham.

Field of Dreams.

Fans standing for the final out.

First pitches.

Blockbuster trades.

The minor leagues.

The Phillie Phanatic.

“Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.

Baseball mitts.

“Casey at the Bat”.

The diamond.

Chatter from the dugout.

Plays at the plate.

Pitches on the black.

Sliding ahead of the tag.

Lou Gehrig’s farewell speech.

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