The first Q battery in major league history occurs, when Dan Quisenberry (pitcher) and Jamie Quirk (catcher) of the Kansas City Royals face the Detroit Tigers. Detroit wins, 3 – 2.
In his first major league start, Charlie Leibrandt of the Cincinnati Reds shuts out the Atlanta Braves, 5 – 0, at Riverfront Stadium.
After eight years with the California Angels, Nolan Ryan makes his debut with the Houston Astros. Ryan, who did not come to bat the previous seven seasons, hits a 3-run homer in the 4th inning. The Astros lose to the Dodgers in 17 innings, 6 – 5.
At County Stadium, Cecil Cooper and Don Money of the Milwaukee Brewers each hit 2nd-inning grand slams against the Boston Red Sox. The base-clearing home runs lead the Brewers to an 18 – 1 win, which includes a two-run homer by Gorman Thomas and a solo shot by Robin Yount.
1980 – Craig Reynolds, homerless the year before, blasts a leadoff homer against Don Stanhouse to spark a five-run eighth-inning rally that topples Los Angeles, 10-6. Dave Smith wins in his first big league appearance.
April 10, 1980 – The largest Coliseum crowd in two years came out to witness Billy Martin’s first game as A’s manager. Martin’s mother Joan Downey threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
At Arlington Stadium’s season opener, Jon Matlack and Yankee southpaw Ron Guidry match zeroes for nine innings. In the 12th, with his 1978 Opening Day nemesis, Richie Zisk, at the plate, Goose Gossage allows Mickey Rivers to score the game’s only run from third base when his first and only pitch is wild, giving the Rangers a 1-0 victory.
1980 – On Opening Day at County Stadium, Sixto Lezcano hits a grand slam off Dick Drago with two outs in the 9th inning, to give the Milwaukee Brewers a 9 – 5 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Lezcano also opened the 1978 season with a grand slam, becoming the first player in major league history to do it twice on Opening Day.
Two days prior to the start of the season, the Durham Bulls uniforms are stolen. Atlanta Braves minor league director Hank Aaronsends the affiliate team a set of used Braves uniforms to wear on the road as the Bulls decide to wear its road uniforms at home.
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