Welcome to BOB

March 29, 1998 marked a day I had been waiting to come for nearly three years. Bank One Ballpark was now complete, its structure prominent in the Phoenix skyline. With only two days before opening day, it was time for the stadium's dress rehearsal. The Arizona Diamondbacks were to complete their Spring Training schedule with a game against the Chicago White Sox in Bank One Ballpark. As a season ticket holder, this game was included for us to attend. Trina and I were very excited. This would mark the first time we would see an Arizona Diamondbacks game in the new ballpark. It was cold and raining in Phoenix that day, but with the roof closed, the game was very comfortable. Everything was so new and so exciting. The team seemed nervous and unfamiliar with their surroundings. It was a fun experience being at the opening of a new stadium. Even though the White Sox won the game 3-0, the 49,198 fans in attendance had gotten their money's worth. The ballpark was magnificent and provided a first-class experience to the fans young and old alike. I could not possibly imagine anything that would compare to this night. Little did I know I would only have to wait two days before being proven wrong.

Opening Night

The stage was set. After three years of waiting, March 31, 1998 had finally arrived. The opening day of the 1998 Major League regular season was upon us. More importantly, the beginning of a magical season was about to unfold. The anticipation for this day had been tremendous. There are a few moments in each person's life that are defined as monumental. For me, this was one of those moments. As the gates to Bank One Ballpark opened, there was excitement in the air. For tonight's game I had brought Trina and our son Dakota. Dakota was nearly a year old, some say to young to comprehend this night, but his eyes showed an understanding that what he was witnessing was historic. Dakota and I gazed about the ballpark identifying all we could, showing each other what we had found. From the fireworks above the stadium to the opening of the roof, we saw it all. The bases were lowered from the roof, and flags were brought in via parachute. By game time, the crowd had risen to a frenzy riding this emotional tidal wave that baseball had brought to Phoenix. I can play each moment of opening night in my mind and still feel the magic it brought to me and to my family. As Andy Benes threw the first pitch from the mound, camera flashes lit the stadium as stars in the nighttime sky. It was an incredible evening as Travis Lee collected the first hit in Diamondbacks history, the first stolen base, the first run batted in, and the first home run. Although the Diamondbacks lost to the Colorado Rockies 9-2, it mattered little. The memories gained this night would overshadow the outcome, making baseball fans from even the most ardent opponents.