The 2013 baseball season starts next week, and it’s a time when hope springs eternal — unless you root for the Cubs, the injury-laden Yankees, or the Pirates, Indians, or various other small market teams. But let’s not get sidetracked by all of that. Today, we’re heading into the past, 20 years deep, and we’re thinking about Baseball, Apple Pie and the Grateful Dead. You heard me right, the Grateful Dead. On April 12, 1993, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Vince Welnick (then a keyboardist with the band) did the honors on opening day at Candlestick Park, singing the national anthem before the San Francisco Giants – Florida Marlins game. If you thought the Dead could never carry a tune, you’re in for a little surprise.
A few key things to remember about this 1993 moment. 1) It was the first season of baseball for the new Marlins expansion team. 2) Barry Bonds was still skinny and lean and homered in his first at bat. And 3) it was the only time that Jerry sang the anthem at a ball game. Bob Weir and Phil Lesh made a return visit last fall.
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It is the beginning of the baseball season and everyone believe their team have a shot of winning the pennant until around the middle of May…another good thing about the baseball season, we know summer is on its way!!!
Thank God!!!
Pause this video at 2:11 and look at the flying saucer!
Never saw so many VW vans in the Candlestick parking lot that day!! It was an awesome day that I won’t forget!