Story Behind The Song

As a youngster Dave played catcher for the Cardinals.... the St. James the Less Cardinals- that is! He knew when he got old enough he'd be catching for the Cincinnati Reds. Well, Johnny Bench took that spot, and Dave went on to being behind the microphone

Song Description

Each year folks around the nation look forward to the coming of spring. We look forward to the melting of snow, the putting away of winter clothes and the return of the "Boys of Summer." That annual tradition called... OPENING DAY!

Lyrics

I remember when Mickey Mantle became the rookie of the year
That's the baseball season daddy let me taste my very first beer
When Babe Ruth pointed to the center field wall and whacked it to the moon
We were up so late just to celebrate we didn't get out of bed til noon

Smack the ball over the right field fence
Remember when a hotdog was twenty five cents
Ev'ryone stand up and shout "HOORAY!"
For OPENING DAY!

Now my grandpa called him "Popup Johnny" to me he was my hero Johnny Bench
I'd sit and listen to the Big Red Machine and know he'd come through in a pinch
There was the time that Sandy Koufax faced Willy Stargell at the plate
"Pops" smacked that curve ball so damned hard it's still orbiting out in space

It was head to head out of the homerun gate Sosa and McGuire they just couldn't wait
To hear the roar of the crowd both home and away when they crossed that plate
Stick Bazooka Joe between your teeth and gum
Tap the bat to your heel and plan your next home-run
Back yard sandlot organized ball
You're gonna touch 'em all

Now when Doubleday hit a ball with a stick
He wrote baseball rules on a loose leaf page
I wonder if he ever imagined how it'd look in our modern age
From the time I could walk I learned how to throw
How to catch and get on base
Check out Spring Training statistics
And count down to OPENING DAY!