Wednesday, April 15, 2009 was the most recent edition of one of the best days of the year. No, it’s got nothing to do with my taxes. April 15 was the date of the Tennessee Smokies’ home opener, a symbol that the long, cold winter is over and the great American past-time is back! Now, I know it’s not opening day at Wrigley or Fenway, but it’s the closest thing I’ve got!
The highlight of opening day for me was the visiting Birmingham Barons and top 20 prospect Gordon Beckham. Things broke really well for me here, because ever since last year’s College World Series I have been hoping that I would get to see Beckham play. He ended up being a top draft pick of the Chicago White Sox, and while I wish him well it was my hope that he wouldn’t make their opening day roster, and by some stroke of fate he would be assigned to AA Birmingham to start the season. He was, and just like that the minor league season was off with a bang!
I got to the park early and eventually was able to shake free of all my fellow autograph hunters. It wasn’t that difficult because they weren’t there to get Beckham, they were all there to get the Smokies’ new manager Ryne Sandberg. After watching about 20 minutes of batting practice with one other guy who wouldn’t have known Gordon Beckham from Gordon Ramsey, I was able to get his attention. He politely came over and signed everything I gave to him. I ended up with 4 8×10’s and a baseball (being a huge Dawgs fan I asked him if would mind signing it “Go Dawgs,” to which he replied “Absolutely Not!!”). He was really cool. I wish him well and expect to see him in Chicago very soon. All in all it was a great start to a new season. I hope I continue to have this much luck throughout the year!
