Follow me on Twitter @kentphotos

Instagram:  kpfotog

Gregor Blanco, Denard Span and Hunter Pence celebrate the Giants victory during their opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

It used to be almost all Major League Baseball games opened during daylight hours.  Even if teams had lights, games were played under the sun. You know, because baseball fans are ravenous and treat the game as religion.  Actress Susan Sarandon as Annie Savoy in ‘Bull Durham’ said it best:

 “I believe in the Church of Baseball. I’ve tried all the major religions and most of the minor ones.”   Of course I couldn’t quote the entire thing, because, well, we’re a family newspaper.

I’m not old enough to remember when most stadiums didn’t have lights (Thankyouverymuch)  I want to say that the end of opening day day, was when the powers that be initiated the horrid and unthinkable act of stealing daylight and installing gargantuan light poles at Wrigley Field in Chicago, August 8, 1988.

In reality, The first night game involved the Cincinnati Reds beating the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in 1935 in what was Major League Baseball’s first-ever, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. President Roosevelt symbolically powered up the lights from Washington, D.C. to capitalize on an evening fan base.  By the end of the season, their attendance was up over 117 percent.  That’s it, isn’t it? More people, more money.  It’s a bottom line thing.

Daytime fireworks punctuate opening day festivities between the Oakland A’s and the Chicago White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

A few personal observations from the A’s and Giants ceremonial opening day/night.

-The Giants pull out one of the largest American flags you will ever see on opening day.  It takes about 10,000 people to unfurl it.

-The Athletics have one of the smallest.  Maybe six people to hold it.

-The Giants always sell out. Then again they always have sell outs according to their PR people.

-The A’s have a huge mountain (Mt. Davis) that blots out most available light, even at noon. It blocks the only view in which the Coliseum ever possessed (the Oakland Hills and the BART platform) and added thousands of seats which are closed off on the fourth deck and the third deck on the west side.  The covers resemble Jolly Green Giant trampolines.  I’m not sure what a sellout is during baseball season, there are so many empty seats.

-Just because you have fireworks, doesn’t mean you have to use them.  Daytime fireworks are like trying to find white paper in a blizzard.

-Is it still opening day if it’s your fourth game but first at home? It’s now called Opening Week.  Sorta like the ‘First Four’  during the NCAA tournament.

-Climbing the stairs to the upper deck of AT&T Park is like scaling a man-made mini Mount Everest.  The air is rare 100 feet above sea level, but what a view.

From the upper deck at At&T Park overlooking McCovey Cove during the Giants home opener, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

-I’m thoroughly convinced that hot dog companies stay in business thanks to baseball and the Fourth of July.

-AT&T park has it’s own version of ‘The Birds’. Just wait around ’till after the game.  Stay away from the bleachers.

-The turf and infield at the Oakland Coliseum are a thing of beauty, especially when it doubles as a football field.

Danny Valencia makes a sliding catch off the bunt of Melky Cabrera of the White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

-How many humorous photos can one make of the Chevron cars at AT&T Park’s left field?

Giants right fielder Hunter Pence limbers up before the Giants home opener against the Dodgers, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

-Getting to AT&T Park takes time, bring snacks in case you get caught in downtown traffic.  Getting to the game four to six hours ahead of time alleviates the problem. However, Oakland has the Nimitz which can be easy on easy off.  Unless there’s an accident. Again, four to six hours cancels it out.  In our biz, we factor in traffic woes.

-Fans are universally pumped up at each stadium.  When the Dodgers are in SF, it’s like the World Series, even though that will never happen.  Unless Hell freezes over.

An Oakland Athletics fan looks out on the Oakland Coliseum during their home opener against the Chicago White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

A San Francisco Giants fan prior to the Giants home opener, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016

Emma Hatcher, 12, gets an autograph from Rickey Henderson as her dad Jeff Hatcher celebrates prior to the A’s opener against the White Sox, Monday April 4, 2016. The two are from Livermore. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Ashley Brown of Concord is photographed by friend Paul Bryson of San Francisco prior to the Giants home opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Whatever your take on baseball, it’s kind of a fun to sit and watch a game in sunshine or under the lights. Just bring a jacket.

Meanwhile, here’s a few from last week’s openers.

Marcus Semien of the Athletics breaks his bat on a pop-up against the White Sox during the A’s home opener, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Khris Davis of the Athletics loses his helmet during the second inning against the White Sox during the A’s home opener, Monday April 4, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Giants third baseman Matt Duffy dives for a hot liner off the bat of Dodger Yasiel Puig in the third inning-he later scored- during opening day at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Hunter Pence clobbers a grand slam to left field in the eighth inning to propel the Giants to a 12-6 victory during the Giants opening day against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Hunter Pence greets, from left, Joe Panik, Denard Span, Angel Pagan at home after smacking a grand slam in the eighth inning, during the Giants opening day against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

Giants opening day against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

After Batting practice prior to the Giants home opener against the Dodgers at AT&T Park in San Francisco, players head to the clubhouse, Thursday April 7, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016

-Kent Porter