September Means the Baseball Season is Coming to An End

Matt Holliday batting at Spring Training - MMSikes

The days grow shorter, the shadows loom longer. It's September, and, for me, that means the end of the baseball season draws ever closer.

I'm a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan. Last year was a struggle. We lost and lost and lost and got ever further behind in the standings. Who would believe, even in fiction, their sensational comeback last year to win the World Series? It only goes to show that truth is stranger than fiction.

We go to Spring Training every year. It's in beautiful Jupiter, Florida--a lovely place to visit in March if you are a baseball fan. One wonderful thing about spring baseball is that there is hope for every team. The players are excited about returning, and the fans are thrilled to finally have baseball back after the long winter months.

 David Frieze (left), World's Series MVP 2011, and Joe Mather, now Chicago Cubs

Then comes September when players are hurt and often performing the best they can through the pain. Teams are eliminated. The optimism and joy may be lost. My team has suffered a lot of injuries. They may not make it to the playoffs. I hope they do. If not, my season ends soon.

Anyone else a baseball fan? Maybe a fan of another sport?

Mary Montague Sikes