Editorial

Good luck to the Cardinals, a welcome dose of normalcy

Saturday, July 25, 2020

We’re a long way from normal. That may be true.

But we’ve gotten a little taste of it this week.

The St. Louis Cardinals returned to the field Friday for their home opener against Pittsburgh. It will do the hearts of Redbird fans good to see their favorite players on the baseball diamond again.

But that’s not just true for Southeast Missouri or Cardinal fans.

Families and friends across the country are gathering in whatever way they can — six feet apart, by Zoom, by phone — for moments just like this.

Baseball has a long history in our country, with millions of fans across the nation, and after a long hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, fans will have an extra appreciation of the game so many love.

Baseball is America’s original sport, developed in the early 19th century in New York, and its first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was founded in 1869.

Every summer at ballparks around the country, tens of thousands can be seen enjoying a game with their families and friends. They introduce their young children to the game they love.

It’s the atmosphere, the camaraderie, the crack of the bat and the excitement of the game which keeps them coming back.

This year’s season will be different. The fans won’t be there, at least not initially, but the game will still be the same.

And right now, we’re all looking of a little bit more of “the same,” the comfort of what we’re used to and the moments that hold us together.

As baseball brings us back a little closer to normalcy, let’s not forget how far we’ve come and how far we have to go. All of us have worked too hard to curtail the coronavirus, and giving in to the urges of going to a crowded gathering place without a mask and social distancing are discouraged.

There are a lot of “experts” who share their opinion daily about how long the pandemic will last and how many people will die from this horrible virus. Most agree, though, that it will go into next year. That’s just a little over five months away.

Americans pride themselves in patriotism and the ability to tackle and conquer the toughest of challenges.

Continuing to wear masks and social distancing for a little longer should be a piece of cake.

We wish the Cardinals well in their unusual season and look forward to another long postseason run, and hope that more of “the same” is the follow.

— Daily American Republic

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: