Play ball! (2026)

 

This is the earliest I've ever written one of these. With the World Series ending in November, and my Dodgers involved, and the season starting with six days left in March, it seems a little dramatic to be exclaiming "finally, Opening Day!"

 

Maybe that's just the way things are speeding up at my advanced age, but also, there was once a time when the World Series wrapped up before October and the season didn't start until late April. So, yes, we're being a bit over the top.

 

Still, I'm super-happy to be able to watch fresh baseball games daily from now through October. No, I won't be watching tonight's Netflix game. I'll be at work and have you seen the participants?? Thursday's real Opening Day will be tough, too, with limited early afternoon games. But that's the beauty of baseball -- there are 162 of these babies!!

 

Time to introduce the season like I always do. For the first time since I started this 17 years ago, nothing has changed as there was a repeat champion (wooooo!). But I've changed the cards, of course.

 

Let's go:

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The last time the NATIONALS won the World Series cards looked like this:

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

The last time the GUARDIANS won the World Series cards looked like this:

 

 

The last time the BREWERS, MARINERS, PADRES, RAYS, ROCKIES won the World Series cards looked like this:

 

 

I've officially run out of Cleveland 1948 cards to show -- and was reduced to a picture-pack photo. I'm going to have to start recycling card images!

But there is one way to avoid doing that. Or one of the teams who haven't received a card picture on this post can win (with the exception of one particular team). If all that fails, I suppose the Dodgers could three-peat. I won't mind, even if everyone else will lose their shit.

 

Be careful what you wish for! It's Opening Day people! Enjoy the view.