The high priests have looked to the sky and determined that the Baseball Solstice will coincide with Christmas this winter, to be celebrated from sundown on Christmas Eve to sundown Christmas Day.
The Baseball Solstice, noted in this blog a year ago, marks the midpoint of the long layoff in play between the final out of the World Series and the first exhibition game of Spring Training.
Sergio Romo struck out A.L. MVP Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 4 of the series on Oct. 28 to complete a San Francisco sweep of the Detroit Tigers.
The next games between major league opponents begin Feb. 22 in Arizona and Florida.
As fate would have it, that makes the midpoint Dec. 25, the second most holy day in Christendom. (The first is Easter, which coincidentally marks the point at which fans of the Chicago Cubs traditionally abandon hope for the new season.)
It is a bit awkward for baseball’s midwinter ritual to come at Christmas, and we baseball fans mean no disrespect on such a sacred day that many of us will be observing. (We’re also a bit leery that fans in Philadelphia will boo Santa Claus.)
But there’s apt symbolism for the pairing: We baseball fans cherish the sport as one of the greatest gifts we have.
You can mark the days to the start of Cactus and Grapefruit league play on the terrific Countdown to Spring Training site on Facebook.
As for marking the solstice, we encourage all baseball fans to do so in a meaningful, fun way: break out the baseball cards and find your favorite players, get in touch with fellow baseball fans by phone or email or social networking or (and this may sound crazy in this era) around the dining room table. We encourage you to visit the nearest ballpark and look eagerly forward to warm, sunny days on the field or in the stands come spring (or July, if you’re a Brewers fan).
As a Giants fan, I’ll be savoring the memories of the 2012 season. As an Indians fan, I’ll be lighting a few candles. And as a baseball fan overall, I’ll be glad to know that the first cry of “Play Ball” is drawing nigh.
The Ball Caps Blog 
Reblogged this on Garlicfriesandbaseball's Blog and commented:
I’ve reblogged this guy before. Something about that New Jersey sense of humor I guess. And it’s a gentle reminder that Spring Training is coming. Some days that’s the best thing we have to look forward to, besides Christmas and the spirit of, of course
Wow, we’re already almost halfway to spring training? Thanks for brightening my day, Dan!
Cheers, Bill
It’s a Christmas miracle! I absolutely love this (except for the cheap shot at Philly fans, who were not booing Santa Claus that day more than 40 years ago, but the cheap Eagles team ownership who pulled a skinny drunk guy out of the stands and slapped a Santa suit on him and called that the “Christmas parade” that was promised to fans during a particularly dismal season).
Spring Training is by far the best preseason of any sport. And I guess we have the World Baseball Classic to thank for making this year’s countdown nine days shorter than last year’s.
Thanks for keeping our spirits up!