This column initially ran on Sunday, April 5, 2020 in the Gaston Gazette.
Opening Day was last week. However, for Major League Baseball, and all of its fans, it was Opening Day in name only. To the contrary, nothing was open – not one locker, not one ticket window, not even one bag of peanuts or box of Cracker Jacks.
The hot dog vendors were sitting home. So were the fans. Even the coaches, players and umpires were nowhere to be found.
The two most important words in baseball were never spoken. The phrase “play ball!” had been replaced. The two most important words had become “stay home!”