Today we tip our cap to Nolan Ryan, Rollie Fingers, Kirby Puckett, Fernando Valenzuela and current Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, all greats who have shared 34. But Baseball is all about continuation and we are picking up where we left off here at the Opening Day Countdown Down Under, especially to get through a winter like this one.

David Ortiz was handed a World Series Most Valuable Player trophy on the last night of live Major League Baseball, and he returns for a 12th season in No. 34 as the reigning World Champions open the 2014 regular season March 31 at Baltimore. Big Papi has homered four times on Opening Day. The first two were back-to-back with the Twins in 2001-02, the third was a two-run shot off Kevin Milwood in a 2006 Red Sox win at Texas, and the fourth was this blast off Darren Oliver that tied the score at 5-5 three years ago at Texas:

Take one look back at a postseason run for the ages, including a .688 average in the Fall Classic against St. Louis. . . .

. . . then think warm thoughts, let us know who should be No. 33 in our countdown to Sydney, and plan your own 2014 season. MLB Schedule | Tickets