opening day 4/7

Awash in a sea of red clothing, some with hair dyed red, baseball fans streamed into Busch Stadium Monday for the first game of the 2002 season. It didn't matter what other events were transpiring around the world -- baseball had their attention on this day.

The opening day game is a baseball game like none other -- and I was there for the experience. My father and I attended the game Monday to see the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Colorado Rockies.

The tickets were part of a package offered through the Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill. The casino hotel offered free transportation to the stadium and the game tickets as part of a special promotion.

After arriving at the stadium, we took in the steady stream of people wandering toward the turnstiles. It seemed that there were almost as many people with tickets as those who wanted tickets.

With hands held in the air and their fingers showing the number of tickets they wanted,men and women walked through the throng hoping to find someone willing to sell a seat. And if you were interested in anything else with the Cardinal logo you could probably find it for sale at one of the booths nearby. Newspaper subscriptions, credit card offers, surveys -- all you had to do was apply or sign your name and you'd walk away with a new hat or shirt.

As my dad and I waited to enter the stadium, I overheard one woman say she'd been there since 11 that morning even though the game didn't start until after 3 p.m. But she was so excited, there wasn't any other place to wait but the home of the Cardinals.

And the game proved to be a good start to the season.

Not being a diehard baseball fan, much of the pre-season analysis and trading of players are lost on me. I don't understand what it all means; I just want to see my team win when I'm seated in the park.

And since the Cardinals lost the games I attended in previous seasons, I assumed that it was my fault, as if my presence in the ballpark was a jinx. But after Monday, that theory no longer holds true.

Maybe it's because hot dogs, peanuts and popcorn always taste better at the ballpark or maybe it was the excitement of spring's arrival, but opening day seemed to renew everyone's spirits. How can you feel bad when your home team is winning and summer is just around corner?

The fans seated around us seemed excited about the possibilities for the team -- and maybe that's why baseball has become America's pastime. It's a story of struggle, hope and perseverance, and one that everyone can own.

Laura Johnston is the features editor for the Southeast Missourian.