April 22: Sunny Day

Construction cranes loom over the outfield wall; in the process of building a Hilton that will block the view of downtown -- including the landmark Bromo-Seltzer Tower -- from view of the stadium.

• Toronto ---- 3
• Baltimore -- 7

A sunny day has come to Baltimore; blue skies and another home win for the Orioles. A good mood prevailed in the crowd, and my hotdog bucket felt as light as a feather. The elements had come together: perfect weather, a weekend day, and a home team on a recent roll, and a win today. Up and down the rows I went, and everyone seemed to want a dog. 120 of them later, I turned in an empty case and I was skipping across the street to the bar.

There, the vendors were collected around a folding table outside and basking in the sun.

"They were drinking today!" said vendor Clancy with satisfaction. "Everyone had a good day! And on a Sunday, too!"

Every beer seller expects to have a good Saturday night. That's a drinking night. Friday night is a drinking night. Sunday afternoon is for the families, kids' day. It's for maybe one beer and a lemonade for junior, and remembering to mow the lawn afterward. But rolling with beer nonstop on the Sabbath is a gift from God to the beermen. And so, after the seventh inning, they rested. And drank beer with heads tilted to the sky.