Six Major League Baseball ballparks will come alive today, and more will on Friday, as the umpires belt out the traditional “Play Ball.”

Opening Day—with all its rituals—once again will bring out the fans. And it’s clear from the fanfare that while the players were warming up during spring training in Florida and Arizona, their clubs’ event planners were working hard on opening day ceremonies.

Opera singers and Broadway stars will sing the National Anthem and former players and at least one movie actor will be among those throwing out the ceremonial first pitches.  Robert Redford, star of “The Natural,” will put on the glove for the Chicago Cubs. At Yankee Stadium, five-time All-Star Mike Mussina will throw out the ceremonial pitch.

Missing from the roster this year is President Obama, who will not be returning to the field at the Nationals.  For decades, season openers often have featured presidential tosses.

Sports writers, fans, columnists and bloggers, as also is tradition, are opining on the season openers.

At least one politician is saying why he thinks it best to stay in the stands. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell in his Philadelphia Daily News sports column writes that the two things a politician fears are that the FBI is calling and there’s an invitation to throw out the first ball.  For baseball fans who seriously want to test their own knowledge, columnist George F. Will, has an exhausting quiz in The Washington Post, which also comes with the answers.

Whether you’ll be watching this baseball season unfold from behind third base or in front of your television, we at Sip & Savor encourage you to root, root, root for the home team and savor baseball’s traditions including enjoying one of the many refreshing beverage choices our member companies provide.