I seem to be the only baseball fan that hates MLB’s decision to eliminate minor league ball and adopt the six-game series (as a means of saving money). Even if most fans aren’t conscience of the decision, it’s another point against the commissioner loving and understanding what makes the game so wonderful.

For those unfamiliar with national holidays in the US, Memorial Day and Labor Day always fall on a Monday and no matter the goofy school district you live in, those are non-school days. Because those holidays were the unofficial start and end of summer, baseball (often in the form of a doubleheader) on Mondays had significance. It makes me think the Magician never attended a baseball game on Memorial Day or Labor Day as a kid. Furthermore, on those rare occasions that July 4th falls on a Monday, there is no minor league baseball.

While MLB doesn’t stick to exact dates when they create their promotional schedules for the upcoming season, Star Wars Night and halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, Christmas and Halloween are more or less accurate.

Yet, minor league baseball has fewer resources and days to work with, so they do a better job of sticking to the calendar. Tomorrow is May 4th and the usual date for Star Wars Night (May forth be with you). Hardly my favorite movie and not being a fan of dressing up for a game, I still laugh at some of the silly puns, graphics and between-innings entertainment.

Personally, May 4th has far more relevance than silly puns and a movie franchise I’m not excited about. 80 years ago, my parents got married on the 4th. Thankfully, Dad never promised Mom that they’d celebrate the big day at a ballpark even though they caught a game or two in Louisville on their honeymoon. I do remember three instances when we did celebrate their anniversary at a ballpark. We saw the Horace Clarke Yankees play the Sox at Comiskey, the Cougars in Geneva a couple decades later and the Brewers host the Astros at County Stadium, the summer before Dad passed away. Since both parents passed away 22 years ago, I’ve attended several games on the 4th-especially when it fell on a weekend.

Instead of Star Wars Night, I’d focus on my two favorite movie franchises for days or nights at a minor league ballpark. The Dirty Harry or Pink Panther movies would be far more fun. I’ve already white boarded “Do you feel lucky Punk?” or “Does your dog bite?” nights with several clever giveaways. I’d also eliminate the six-game series and make sure there are plenty of games scheduled on Mondays through out the season.