Play ball! (2013)

For better or for worse, baseball is tradition. That's why I don't recognize the made-for-TV, lowest-common-denominator, Sunday Night ESPN contrivance that was on the tube last night.

Baseball is tradition. The season deserves a tradition-steeped opening. Preferably the Reds kick off festivities, but if you must, give us the Cubs and Cardinals or Dodgers and Giants or even Red Sox and Yankees. For all that is good and non-annoying, don't foist the "American League" Astros on your audience right out of the gate. We need time to adjust to that atrocity.

No, that was not Opening Day.

TODAY is Opening Day.

Baseball is tradition. And for better or for worse, this is a tradition on this blog.

So here we go:

The last time the GIANTS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the CARDINALS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the YANKEES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the PHILLIES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the RED SOX won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the WHITE SOX won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the MARLINS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the ANGELS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the DIAMONDBACKS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the BRAVES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the BLUE JAYS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the TWINS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the REDS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the A'S won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the DODGERS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the METS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the ROYALS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the TIGERS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the ORIOLES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the PIRATES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the INDIANS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the CUBS won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

The last time the ASTROS, BREWERS, MARINERS, NATIONALS, PADRES, RANGERS, RAYS or ROCKIES won the World Series, baseball cards looked like this:

Happy (Real) Opening Day everybody. Even if the Reds are starting against the Angels.

It's been a long winter.

Us baseball fans apparently will take anything.



(P.S.: Yes, I know I've used the Cubs card before. How many cards from 1908 do you think there are?)