The 2020 MLB season is officially underway, and after waiting an extra 119 days since this year’s original start date, Opening Day came back with a bang. All of baseball’s beloved teams and players, as well as their dedicated fans and team photographers, made this season’s opening weekend extra special.
Powerful montages from the time we’ve spent away and moments of solidarity filled our feeds as baseball made its official comeback. And although we couldn’t fill the stands, we were psyched to be cheering from home!
Here’s a look at some of our favorite scroll-stopping moments we saw on social during baseball’s opening weekend.
“Dear Baseball… things have changed since the last time we were together.”
As teams finally returned for their matchups on the diamond, many of them took the opportunity to share moving recap videos, with inspiring messages and excitement for what’s to come.
Dear Baseball … #NYYforNY pic.twitter.com/uYU1kDQxY2
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 23, 2020
Baseball, we’ve been waiting for you. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/DcM1YcOk0y
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 23, 2020
Do you hear that?
That's baseball. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/jT2t76VcTZ— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 24, 2020
For folks like the San Francisco Giants, the anticipation for Opening Day kept them up at night and we were finally given something to look forward to!
zzz
＜⌒／ヽ-､_＿_
／＜_/＿＿＿＿／
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣∧_∧
( ･ω･) It's #OpeningDay
＿| ⊃／(＿＿_
／ └-(＿＿＿_／
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣zzz
＜⌒／ヽ-､_＿_
／＜_/＿＿＿＿／#SFGiants— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 23, 2020
For others, like Andrew McCutchen of the Phillies – who was injured back in June of 2019 – this wait was a long and difficult process, which made his return that much sweeter.
417 days. It’s been 417 days since I played a Major League Baseball game. The longest I have ever gone since I picked up a bat at the age of 5. I’ve cried,laughed,worked,and grown throughout this process that at times,seemed endless. I’ve missed this game so much. Now, I’m ready pic.twitter.com/j4Kbr7fJzu
— andrew mccutchen (@TheCUTCH22) July 24, 2020
Some creatives, like Mark Nelson and the ESPN marketing team, showed off their animation skills to pump up fans and take that anticipation to the next level. We love seeing creative teams highlighting the mobile experience in their hype videos for this season. Since fans won’t be in the stands, teams will be focused on providing powerful fan experiences on mobile.
Our team on another level with this one #BaseballisBack ⚾️
— Mark Nelson (@MarkNelsonMedia) July 23, 2020
In Minnesota, the Twins’ neighbors across the state really showed up with love and support for the home team on social media.
it’s been way too long, @Twins #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/7LQnSgmPBV
— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) July 24, 2020
Good luck this season to our hometown team!
The #Gophers are rooting for you, @Twins! pic.twitter.com/tmWGGaAVj0
— Minnesota Gophers (@GopherSports) July 24, 2020
pound the h*ck outta those baseballs, @Twins pic.twitter.com/AwCbPmNgnX
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 24, 2020
We were moved by the solidarity seen at this season’s first game, as the players from the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees stood together for equality and took a knee to protest injustice.
Today, and every day, we come together as brothers. As equals, all with the same goal – to level the playing field. To change the injustices. Equality is not just a word. It’s our right!
Today we stand as men from 25 nations on 6 continents.
Today, we are one. pic.twitter.com/vKUGdRfwgQ
— MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2020
And we enjoyed this remote rendition of the National Anthem, performed by essential workers and shared by the Mets before their Opening Day matchup against the Atlanta Braves.
Our National Anthem is performed virtually by essential workers who have put themselves at risk to help others in these trying times. #OpeningDay #LGM pic.twitter.com/2TF2kbHZwm
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 24, 2020
The fun continued into the weekend with some killer graphics from the Twins to introduce their players…
We missed Saturday-afternoon baseball games.
Time to play ball! #MNTwins | #GarvSauce pic.twitter.com/X6muXSHT4B
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 25, 2020
And a 🔥 multiple choice question from the Reds to flaunt pitcher Luis Castillo’s work on the mound!
Luis Castillo's changeup is _____
A) Filthy
B) Disgusting
C) Unfair
) #KidsOpeningDay ❌ #TakeTheCentral pic.twitter.com/V4ZkDaTf50— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) July 25, 2020
How did you celebrate this year’s long-awaited Opening Day? What creative teams knocked it out of the park when it came to sharing exciting photos, videos and social media coverage? Let us know @psforbrands!
Up next!
Want an inside look at how MLB creative teams get their photos from the field to social in seconds? Watch Jessica Carroll, Director of MLB Photos, discuss her team’s workflow in this on-demand video from The PhotoShelter Summit for Brands.
Who are the baseball creatives you love to follow on social? Tweet at us @psforbrands and we’ll add them to our list of the best baseball photographers you should be following!
