The first of April. It has so many connotations but perhaps the most frustrating of all is that today is April Fool’s Day. The history of this “holiday” dates back to the mid-1500’s. Historians suggest that the celebration came about in 1582 when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. Anyone who didn’t get the memo that New Year’s was now January instead of April celebrated the new year 4 months too late. Those people were ridiculed and became the butt of jokes and hoaxes taking advantage of their naivety.
Pranks have long been a part of baseball lore.