Some welcome springtime for its flowering trees, chirping birds and melting snow. For others, the season has one purpose, and that purpose is baseball. Every year around the beginning of April, the grass is groomed, the hot dog buns are replenished and the crowds return for another season of Major League Baseball.
Not only were heads of state and stars of Hollywood staples at the festivities—but so, too, were LIFE Magazine’s photographers. As anticipation builds for this year’s opening day on April 3, here are those photographers’ greatest images of the perennial excitement the season opener brings.
Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter @lizabethronk.
Players huddle on Chicago-Pittsburgh opening day, 1947.George Skadding—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesRapt attention from the crowd at Chicago-Pittsburgh opening day, 1947.George Skadding—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesThrongs of fans at opening day in Cincinnati, 1957.Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPlayers sing the national anthem on opening day in Cincinnati, 1957.Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA young Cincinnati fan watches an exciting play, 1957.Grey Villet—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesFans at opening day of baseball, Milwaukee, 1957.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesMilwaukee fans react to a play on the field on opening day, 1957.Francis Miller—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesFans at Dodgers opening day, Los Angeles, 1958.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesSan Francisco Giant Willie Mays on opening day, 1958.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA quiet moment during the Dodgers' opening day in 1958.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesTV actress Juli Reding talks with Dodger outfielder Elmer Valo on opening day, 1958.Leonard McCombe—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPresident John F. Kennedy attends opening day at the new D.C. stadium. 1962.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesFans take cover under umbrellas on opening day in Washington, D.C., 1962.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesReactions in the crowd, opening day in Washington D.C., 1962.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesNew York Yankees Roger Maris (second from left), Mickey Mantle (fifth from left) and Yogi Berra (ninth from left) stand in line with other Yankees during the playing of the National Anthem on opening day, 1962.Bob Gomel—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesOwner of the Mets Joan Payson and player Duke Snider on opening day at the Polo Grounds, 1963.Herb Scharfman—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty ImagesPre-game at the Atlanta Braves' opening day, 1966.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesA message to the crowd at the Atlanta Braves' opening day, 1966.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesExcited Braves fans, 1966.Art Rickerby—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty ImagesPresident Richard Nixon throws out the first pitch as manager Ted Williams of the Washington Senators, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and manager Ralph Houk of the New York Yankees look on before opening day on April 7, 1969 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. John Olson—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
