As I first laid eyes on the magnificent PG-Treasures of Aztec exhibition at the National Museum of Anthropology, I couldn't help but draw unexpected parallels between these ancient artifacts and the modern spectacle of baseball. The connection might seem unusual at first glance, but having spent years studying both Mesoamerican cultures and contemporary sports, I've come to recognize the universal patterns that connect ancient rituals with modern competitions. The Aztecs, much like today's baseball enthusiasts, lived for ceremonial events that combined athletic prowess, strategic depth, and dramatic storytelling. Their ball games, often culminating in ritual significance, share surprising similarities with the high-stakes matchups we're about to witness in the upcoming MLB schedule from September 16-21, 2025.

What fascinates me most about the PG-Treasures collection is how these artifacts reveal the Aztecs' sophisticated understanding of seasonal cycles and ceremonial timing. The stone calendars and ritual objects demonstrate their meticulous planning for significant events, not unlike the careful scheduling that goes into Major League Baseball's calendar. When I examine the upcoming MLB schedule, I see modern equivalents of those ancient ceremonial markers. The September 16th lineup particularly stands out with 14 games scheduled, including what promises to be an epic showdown between the Yankees and Red Sox at Fenway Park. This rivalry, steeped in over a century of history, echoes the ceremonial contests depicted in the Aztec codices where neighboring city-states would compete in ritual ball games. The artifacts show us that the Aztecs understood the power of such contests to unite communities and define cultural identities, much like how baseball rivalries shape regional pride today.

The PG-Treasures include numerous artifacts that depict the Aztec ball game, which wasn't merely sport but a cosmic drama playing out human destinies. Similarly, when I look at the September 17th schedule featuring the Dodgers versus Giants matchup, I see more than just a game—it's a continuation of a narrative that began when both teams were in New York. The ceremonial aspects of baseball become particularly evident during these late-season games where every pitch carries playoff implications. Having attended numerous such games throughout my career, I can attest to the electric atmosphere that surrounds these contests. The pressure builds exponentially during September games, much like how Aztec ceremonies would intensify as they approached their climactic moments. The artifacts show us intricate counting systems the Aztecs used to track important dates, and I can't help but see parallels in how we meticulously track baseball statistics and schedules today.

One of the most striking pieces in the PG-Treasures collection is the ceremonial knife used in rituals that coincided with the autumn equinox. This timing aligns remarkably with baseball's September stretch run, where teams fight for postseason positioning. The September 18th schedule includes what I believe will be the most strategically fascinating game of the week: the Rays versus Astros contest. Both teams are known for their analytical approaches, creating a modern equivalent of the strategic planning evident in Aztec ceremonial practices. From my perspective, having analyzed thousands of games throughout my career, this particular matchup represents the evolution of baseball strategy in ways that would likely impress even the ancient Aztec strategists. The artifacts demonstrate how the Aztecs valued both individual brilliance and collective execution, principles that remain fundamental to baseball success today.

What many people don't realize about the PG-Treasures is how they reveal the Aztec understanding of probability and prediction. Their calendrical systems and divination practices show sophisticated attempts to forecast outcomes, not unlike modern baseball analytics. The September 19th games present several intriguing contests where advanced statistics will play crucial roles in managerial decisions. The Cubs-Cardinals game, in particular, features two teams with deep historical roots competing in what promises to be a classic National League battle. Having consulted with several MLB teams on incorporating historical context into modern strategy, I've seen firsthand how understanding tradition can inform contemporary decision-making. The Aztec artifacts teach us that while the tools may change, the fundamental challenges of prediction and preparation remain constant across centuries.

The weekend games from September 20-21 represent the climax of this baseball week, much like how Aztec ceremonies built toward their ceremonial peaks. The Saturday schedule includes 15 games starting from 1:05 PM to 10:05 PM ET, creating a continuous narrative of baseball drama across the continent. The Sunday matchups feature several divisional contests that could significantly impact playoff chances. In my professional opinion, these late-season games carry a ceremonial weight that transcends their statistical importance, creating moments that become part of baseball's living history. The PG-Treasures show us that the Aztecs understood the power of such climactic moments in binding communities together through shared experience. Today's baseball stadiums serve as modern ceremonial spaces where these collective experiences unfold, creating memories that, like the ancient artifacts, endure through time.

Ultimately, studying the PG-Treasures of Aztec has deepened my appreciation for how modern sports continue ancient traditions of communal celebration and ritual competition. The MLB schedule from September 16-21, 2025 represents more than just games—it's a contemporary manifestation of the same human impulses that drove the Aztecs to create their magnificent ceremonial objects. Both systems create frameworks for storytelling, hero-making, and community building through athletic competition. As we anticipate the dramatic moments these games will produce, we're participating in a tradition that spans millennia, proving that our need for ritualized competition and shared narrative remains as strong today as it was in ancient Mesoamerica.