Miraculous Mettle: The MLB 2020 Season Kicks Off

The Devil in the Details: A Season that almost wasn't. After nearly two months of "testy" negotiations between MLB Comish, teams and the Players Association - it was starting to look dead in the water only to be resurrected by a power the commissioner was bestowed early on, the 60 game season was on, proof that "Ya Gotta Believe"


A Crisis of Conscious: Some players opted out of the season in passionate and apologetic video posts on their social media channels. The response from fans was mainly #respect and honoring the personal decision to play during such uncertain times.

Camp of the Believers: The uncertainty didn't end upon the announcement of the season and Summer camp plans. Fans and players alike wondered out loud on Twitter whether it was safe to get their hopes up. Would there be fans in the stands, and would all go well enough to play ball?

Baseball's Date with Destiny (Again): Add to this new normal, a springtime Social Justice Hurricane season wherein Taking a Knee was suddenly given shocking meaning and context. Events across the country refreshed unrequited wounds and the (now incredible and historic) #BLM movement rose from an issue centered cause to a national movement. The response was unprecedented, with Senators hurling (once again their unsolicited) opinions into the realm of sports, resulting in team owners inviting law makers not to attend games. Team owners and players showed their mettle - they were on the side of fans and right. Baseball as usual was dramatically and spectacularly center stage: the magnificent sight of four teams on two coasts on bent knee, holding a black ribbon stretching from third base around home plate to first plate. This site would be considered so unlikely even a year ago, proving Lemon's quote "I don't care how long you've been around you'll never see it all." And what a glorious site that evoked images of the Hand of God in its creation, holding both ends of a ribbon symbolizing the unity of mankind.

Opening Day Memories: As if that weren't enough, probably the most "captured in a single image" moment would have to have been the Director of the CDC in a Nats mask throwing out the first pitch - a moment that famed ball card maker Topps immediately recognized as a historic moment of a historic and miraculous season. They went to press with this limited edition gem. Fauci's toss "juuuust a bit outside" almost broke the baseball internet. Thanks Doc, we all needed some relief and reminder we are all humans against challenges so large they defy us.

Lastly was the "surrealality" that comes with any miracle. The shaking of the head to make sure your eyes aren't deceiving. The superhuman diving catch of a masked outfielder. (Certainly didn't hamper his performance. ha.) The friendly sharing of hand sanitizer and a good #HaveFaithBe Safe laugh at first base. (Our all time highest viewed post.) The ecstatic faces of the cut-out fans behind home plate at Dodger Stadium - the genius fundraising idea of our good friend Nicole Whiteman at Dodgers Foundation. #BiggerThanBaseball.

Miraculous Mettle: If the journey to this first week of big league ball was any indication, the game of baseball again puts itself at the center of our American culture's response to the time, and the miraculous mettle of everyone the game touches from league, to player, to fan even government. You simply can't help but agree that there's some kind of supernatural specialness that can never be predicted nor underestimated. The quote of Justice Blackmun sums it up best. "I take Judicial Notice that baseball is America's business, it is on higher ground." And so this business of the 2020 Season, and the miracles to come, we embark upon to witness together.

In closing, even this article has become the historic account that may be looked back upon as a witness to a miracle that may be studied for centuries. Therefore, it would be hard not to end with a quote from John Sexton's book Baseball As A Road to God, citing naturally a passage from his Chapter/Inning 5 entitled "Miracles":

"By contrast there are some baseball miracles about which there is no argument. Each is a tale be it an individual feat or team performance of such wonder and consequence that it marched those who behold it, uplifting them. These moments are beyond spectacular... but after all is said and done, the details do not capture the moment. Miracles in baseball usually can change the course of the game, a series or the season."

Perhaps this miracle has been a healing medicine for a troubled America. A salve like no other.

#HaveFaithBeSafe #PlayBall #WearAMask #MiraculousMettle