Due to renovations in the Coliseum, the Oakland Athletics play their season opener in Las Vegas, NV, losing to the Toronto Blue Jays, 9 – 6, in front of only 7,296 fans at Cashman Field.
1996 – Longtime umpire John McSherry collapses and dies from a heart attack on Opening Day at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium, in the 1st inning of a game between the Reds and Expos, which is cancelled. The 51-year-old McSherry had umpired in the National League for 26 seasons. Reds owner Marge Schott hits a low point with her insensitive remarks, blaming the late umpire for spoiling the team’s opening day celebrations.
Only 7,296 fans show up at Cashman Field to watch the A’s lose their season opener to the Blue Jays, 9-6. The team plays their first six home games in the Las Vegas minor league ballpark due to renovations in the Oakland Coliseum, marking the first time since 1969 when the White Sox played a few of their home games in Milwaukee’s County Stadium that major league game takes place in a “neutral” site.
The Mets rally overcome a 6-0 deficit, beating the Cardinals at Shea Stadium, 7-6. The decisive run in the biggest Opening Day comeback of the century scores as a result of an unusual double play when Bernard Gilkey, the base runner on first, is doubled up on Rico Brogna’s short sac fly to right field (RF-1B-SS-1B-SS), allowing Lance Johnson to cross home plate on the play.
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