INSIDE STORY: Embracing family, friends and faith on Opening Day
ARLINGTON, Texas — My three favorite holidays: Thanksgiving. Christmas. Opening Day.
I was blessed to join my 16-year-old son, Keaton, and 49,029 fellow baseball fans at my beloved Texas Rangers’ season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday afternoon.
Bobby and Keaton Ross at the Texas Rangers’ Opening Day

So, how exactly did our Louis DeLuca get this amazing opening day photo. Here, he’ll tell ya: http://t.co/1gLZk7ihGd pic.twitter.com/pm1mSZxbq1
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) April 1, 2014
As I was munching on a $5 hot dog before the game, I received an email from Chad MacDonald, the San Diego Padres’ vice president and assistant general manager of player personnel.


Happy Opening Day! Today, fans of each team (except Cubs fans) feel like this may be their teams year
— davideprince (@davideprince) March 31, 2014
You can’t hit the ball if you don’t swing the bat.
Take it one game at a time.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
One of my favorite verses is 2 Timothy 4:7, where Paul says: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” I’m certain that if Paul had lived after Abner Doubleday invented the precious game of baseball, he would have said something about pitching into the ninth inning and keeping his team close.

• From bat boy to major-league executive: Chad MacDonald devoted to his faith
• Oh, Brothers!: For Rockies pitcher with 0.28 ERA, there’s a higher calling
• Boys of summer: Josh Willingham’s faith, character praised
• Reliever Ziegler signs autographs with a favorite Scripture
• For love of God, family and baseball
• Cecil Cooper adjusts to life out of baseball
• Play ball: Travels bring ballpark fun, fellowship