Mad’s First Opening Day

 

Thursday was what this whole trip was about—Opening Day at Yankee Stadium. But really, this dream started long before we even planned it. I told Alison before Madeline was born that I wanted to take our baby to Opening Day one day. I pictured us in Yankee gear, bundled up in the Bronx, cheering for our team and starting a tradition together. And today, somehow, that dream came true.

Madeline slept pretty well the night before, which felt like a good omen. When she woke up, Alison fed her, and I headed out for a morning run in Central Park. One of the best things about our hotel is how close it is to the park—just a couple blocks away. It was one of those perfect New York mornings, crisp and full of promise. I didn’t even wear headphones; I just listened to the rhythm of the city. I passed the Met and Cleopatra’s Obelisk and turned around just past the Fred Lebow statue. Running in New York always makes me feel more connected to the city.

Back at the hotel, we got ready and grabbed breakfast at the lounge. Everyone we’ve met at the hotel is totally taken with Madeline. They stop to tell us how beautiful she is, and more than once someone has asked me, “Are you so proud?” Yes. Absolutely. I am.

Madeline wore the cutest baseball outfit, and Alison and I were both decked out in our Yankee gear. It was the coldest day of our trip, so we bundled up. We had a bit of time before we needed to head to the stadium, so we decided to take a walk through Central Park. We were hoping Madeline would nap in the stroller, but she had other ideas. She was wide-eyed and fascinated by everything—team no sleep. So we made a spontaneous stop at the Central Park carousel, which turned out to be magical. She soaked it all in, eyes full of wonder.

We thought maybe the city noise would help lull her to sleep, so we walked up Fifth Avenue. Sure enough, after a while, she dozed off. Bringing her to New York has been special in so many ways, but one of my favorite things has been seeing how this city energizes her. She’s been so curious—completely captivated by the lights, sounds, and nonstop motion—and somehow she can still fall asleep in her stroller right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan.

Louis Vuitton had the coolest construction scaffolding

Alison said it perfectly:

“Bringing you to NYC has made me fall even more in love with this city—and our family—than ever before. You are such a delight. This city energizes you and you’re fascinated by the sights and sounds. Yesterday, you woke up from a nap while we were in Central Park and were all smiles and giggles. It was so fun.”

We made our way up to the stadium early, since gates opened two hours before first pitch and we didn’t want to miss a thing. Blake and Debbie met us there—they planned a layover in New York on their way to Europe just to be part of Madeline’s first game. Pretty incredible grandparents.

Once we got through the gates, Madeline was ready to eat. We stopped by a family bathroom for a quick diaper change, then found our seats so Alison could feed her. While they were doing that, I went to grab some food—my go-to 99 Burger. The line was long, so I grabbed one for Alison too. They were wondering what took me so long, but the food was worth it.

After eating, Madeline started to get a little overwhelmed—so many people, sounds, and smells. We got her headphones on, but she was worked up. Alison put her in the carrier and we went for a walk, and that helped her settle down. She finally got in a good nap, which she really needed.

We returned to our seats just in time for the pregame festivities. There’s nothing quite like the buzz of Yankee Stadium on Opening Day. They introduced both teams along the baselines, and Broadway star Betsy Wolfe sang a powerful national anthem while season ticket holders unfurled a giant American flag in center field. It gave us goosebumps. Then Yankees legend Andy Pettitte threw a strike for the ceremonial first pitch, and just like that, the season began.

Carlos Rodón looked sharp out of the gate with a 1-2-3 first inning, and then Austin Wells—batting leadoff—did something no Yankees catcher has ever done before: he started the season with a home run. The stadium exploded. It was the perfect start.

The Yankees stayed in control for most of the game. Rodón pitched 5 1/3 strong innings. Volpe hit a homer, Judge and Bellinger delivered with timely hits, and the whole place was electric. I kept score for most of the game—not quite as accurately as Alison can, but she helped coach me through it when she wasn’t holding Madeline.

Madeline did better than we could’ve hoped for at her first game. We got her to take a few naps, and by the late innings she was alert and happy. In the fifth inning, the Yankees ran their fan marquee messages. We had submitted one for Madeline:

“Madeline Joy’s First Trip to Yankee Stadium! A Lifetime of Baseball Ahead!”

Seeing her name up there—hearing the announcer say it—was one of those unforgettable moments.

Things got tense in the ninth when the Yankees’ new closer, Devin Williams, loaded the bases with no outs. But after a flurry of pitches and a few nervous moments, he escaped the jam and sealed the 4–2 win. The stadium roared as New York, New York played over the loudspeakers. Holding Madeline in our arms, singing along with Blake, Debbie, and Alison… that was a core memory.

As Alison put it:

“Holding you in my arms and singing New York, New York with your dad and grandparents is something I’ll never forget. After the game, we went to the Hard Rock Cafe, and the restaurant manager told us he had taken his son to his first Opening Day when he was 6 months old. Now, 22 years later, this was the first one he had missed. He got teary seeing you there. It meant something to him. And it meant everything to us.”

We don’t plan to come to Opening Day every year—but we know we’ll be back. Baseball is part of our story, and we can’t wait to share more games with Mads as she grows.

After dinner, we said goodbye to Blake and Debbie, who grabbed a cab to JFK to catch their flight to Europe. We took the train back to Midtown, grateful and tired, hearts full.

This was the start of something. Alison and I have always said we want to show Madeline the world. And this trip—this day—felt like the beginning of that promise. We’ll travel with her as long as she’ll let us.

We love you endlessly, baby Mads. Here’s to Opening Days, to family, and to all the adventures ahead.