The wait is nearly over! The Boys of Summer are set to return on Thursday, March 30 for the beginning of a brand new Major League Baseball season.
"New" is the key word this year as fans can look forward to a far more balanced schedule that will see all 30 clubs play each other for the first time in MLB history. Teams will also play fewer games against divisional opponents and have fewer intraleague matchups in an attempt to restore competitive balance.
The product on the field will also look a little different. Traditionalists will have to brace themselves for a pitch clock, larger bases, and a crackdown on infield shifts that will require two players on each side of second base.
Are you ready for the return of America's national pastime? Here are 15 can’t-miss dates that every MLB fan should circle on their calendar.
March 30: Opening Day
March 30 is set to be a true blast from the past as every Major League team will play on Opening Day for the first time since 1968. Fans can look forward to nine divisional match-ups and three Interleague games as Major League Baseball gets the party started in grand fashion.
April 15: Jackie Robinson Day
Every player around the league will wear No. 42 on April 15 in honor of Jackie Robinson. The trail-blazing second sacker continues to be an inspiration for the grace, fortitude, and courage he displayed while smashing through baseball's color barrier.
April 29-30: Mexico City Series
The San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres will head south of the border for a two-game series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu in Mexico City. It's Major League Baseball's first regular season trip to "The City of Palaces," although it surely won't be the last as the league attempts to extend its international influence.
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June 2: Lou Gehrig Day
Lou Gehrig may be gone, but he's certainly not forgotten. Major League Baseball will celebrate the exceptional life and career of the game's original iron man on June 2 by having players sport a "4-ALS" patch on their jerseys. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS as it is more commonly known, is a neurodegenerative disease that continues to afflict more than 5,000 people every year in the United States.
Honoring the life and legacy of Lou Gehrig and supporting the continuing fight against ALS. ????#LouGehrigDay // #TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/78LO4m3Fot
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 4, 2022
June 24-25: London Series
Major League Baseball's world tour continues in late June when the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs hop across the pond for a two-game series in Jolly Old England. Local fans can look forward to foot-long hot dogs, fully-loaded nachos, and presumably a massive case of heartburn.
July 4: Independence Day
There are few things more American than eating peanuts and Cracker Jack while watching a baseball game on Independence Day. Fans around the nation will have a chance to indulge in that simple pleasure as all 30 MLB clubs hit the diamond. There's bound to be plenty of fireworks in the nation's capital, in particular, as the Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds.
July 7-11: 2023 MLB Draft
Expect to hear Dylan Crew's name called first when the 2023 MLB Draft commences on July 7 in Seattle. The hard-hitting LSU outfielder is widely considered the most polished prospect in a pool overflowing with five tool players and lights-out pitchers.
DC??@__dc4__ | ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/fytjDIhA5D
— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 5, 2022
July 10-13: All-Star Break
Who said there's no rest for the wicked? The league's second and third-tier players will get to enjoy a much-needed four-day break in the middle of baseball's grueling 162-game season.
July 11: MLB All-Star Game
Major League Baseball's best and brightest will take the field in Seattle's T-Mobile Park for the league's 93rd annual All-Star Game. The last time the Midsummer Classic was played in the Pacific Northwest was 2001, when the American League roster was filled with hometown heroes like John Olerud, Bret Boone, Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Edgar Martinez.
August 1: MLB Trade Deadline
Christmas will come early for many MLB teams as they acquire talented new players for the stretch drive. Expect White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, and Mets pitcher Carlos Carrasco to be among the top trade candidates available at the deadline.
August 11: Fernando Valenzuela number retirement day
Dodgers fans will get to relive Fernandomania for one more day when L.A. retires No. 34 in honor of Fernando Valenzuela. The Mexican hurler took the City of Angels by storm during his rookie season in 1981 when he won the National League Cy Young award and led the Boys in Blue to a World Series title. Valenzuela retired in 1997 after 17 years and six All-Star appearances, but is still a hero in Los Angeles, where his unlikely rise to fame remains the stuff of legends.
"He made a huge impact not only on Los Angeles and the Dodgers, but a huge impact on all of Major League Baseball." Our 'Access SportsNet: Dodgers' crew react to the news of Fernando Valenzuela's jersey retirement. #DodgersFF pic.twitter.com/75Phwbv0ub
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) February 4, 2023
August 20: Little League Classic
The Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals will bring a taste of big league ball to Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 20 when they participate in the sixth annual Little League Classic. Players from the two clubs will begin their day by attending the Little League World Series before going head-to-head that evening at historic Bowman Field. It's one of baseball's best feel-good events as big leaguers get to mingle with big dreamers.
September 15: Roberto Clemente Day
Roberto Clemente will get his due on September 15 when every Major League player sports a No. 21 patch on their jerseys in honor of the late Hall of Famer and humanitarian. Clemente's old club will be in action that day, as the Pittsburgh Pirates host the New York Yankees at PNC Park.
October 1: Final game of the regular season
All 30 teams will be in action as Major League Baseball winds down another season. With any luck fans will be treated to another down-to-the-wire finish with two teams or more competing for favorable playoff seeding or a final postseason spot.
November 4: World Series Game 7 (if needed)
Is there a better phrase in sports than "Game 7"? Spoiler alert: There is not. Baseball's top two teams will have one more shot to cement their legacy on November 4.
