In the first regular-season Chicago Cubs game to be broadcast on the radio, Quin Ryan announces the contest from the grandstand roof for WGN. Grover Alexander wins for the Cubs, 8 – 2, over the Pirates and helps himself with a single, double, and home run.
The Cleveland Indians open the season with a 21 – 14 victory over the St. Louis Browns. The Indians score 12 runs in the 8th inning when the Browns make five errors. Browns first baseman George Sisler has four errors in the game, and the Indians’ 21 runs set a major league record for the most runs scored by one club on Opening Day.
Two future Hall of Famers make their major league debuts with the Philadelphia Athletics in the same game. Lefty Grove starts against the Boston Red Sox and leaves in the 4th inning after walking four and striking out nobody. He gives up five runs on six hits. In the 8th inning, Mickey Cochrane pinch-hits a single, while the Athletics go on to score nine runs in the last four innings to win, 9 – 8, in ten innings. Grove, known as Groves in Baltimore, is also listed that way in the New York Times box score. Grove will become the first pitcher to lead the American League in strikeouts and walks in the same year.
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