Groundhog Day and Baseball

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) -- Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of winter.

Bummer, Eh?

This is my first winter north of the Mason-Dixon Line since I was in high school. So far I'm handling it pretty well. That being said, Phil's prognostication was not good news. I am so ready for Spring.

But thinking back to my childhood of enduring Northern winters, it's not Groundhog Day that signified the coming of Spring. That milestone is another twelve days, one hour, fifty-eight minutes and forty-five seconds away. That's when pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training and that is the beginning of Spring.

Most of my fondest childhood memories are baseball related. Once or twice a summer, my dad would take me to work with him. At that time, he was an editor for Random House in Manhattan. I would hang around in his office, watch the traffic many stories below, and raid the remainder room. Free books! After work, we'd head to Shea Stadium to take in a Mets game. Those were some of my favorite days.

A couple of years my dad purchased the complete set of Topps baseball cards. He'd keep the set at his office and bring of 5-10 cards a day. I remember anticipating my dad coming home from work so I could see what players I'd get that day.

Every Easter my sisters and I would get an Easter basket filled with candy and a small gift. Mine would always be Street and Smith's Baseball magazine. Back then, in the days before the Internet, Street and Smiths was the definitive way to get all the scoop on the coming baseball season. I'd dive into that magazine like most kids dove into their candy.

This year I find myself looking forward to Spring and baseball much like I did as a kid. OK, some of it is this week's trade of Johann Santana to the Mets. He could be the missing piece that puts them over the top. Mostly I think it's a combinations of two things: the weather and the fact that I'm happier than I've been in a long time.

Bring on Spring and "Play Ball!"