1997 – To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of baseball, Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s daughter, and Pumpsie Green each throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park. In 1959, Green became the first black player to appear in a Boston Red Sox uniform, making the Red Sox the last team to integrate in the major leagues.

1997 – The Chicago Cubs fall to 0-8, the worst start in the club’s 122-year history, following a 1 – 0 loss to the Florida Marlins at frigid Wrigley Field. Florida pitcher Alex Fernandez, making his first appearance in Chicago since he left the White Sox over the winter as a free agent, is two outs away from a no-hitter when pinch-hitter Dave Hansen legs out an infield hit off the pitcher’s glove. Fernandez settles for the one-hitter.

A hearty but paltry gathering of 1,677 comes out to see the Toronto Blue Jays blank the Chicago White Sox, 5 – 0, at Comiskey Park. Roger Clemens is the winning pitcher over Wilson Alvarez. The game was originally scheduled at night, but was moved to daylight because of extreme cold. The only thing lower than the attendance (the paid take is just 746) is the temperature, which is 34 degrees at game time. It is the smallest crowd to see the White Sox in 27 years.

With a 3-2 loss to Houston at the Astrodome, the Cardinals remain winless after the first six games of the season. It is the Redbirds’ worst start in the 106-year history of the franchise.

At Olympic Stadium, the Rockies set a franchise record with seven home runs, including three by Larry Walker, who is pulled from the game in the eighth inning by Rockies manager Don Baylor. The Colorado skipper doesn’t want to run up the score against the Expos with his team ahead 15-1.

Brian Hunter has four hits and three stolen bases as Detroit outlasts the White Sox, 15 – 12.

San Diego pitchers Sterling Hitchcock and Trevor Hoffman combine to one-hit the Phillies in posting a 4 – 1 victory. Hitchcock allows only a double to Rico Brogna in eight innings.

Just one day after Turner Field opens its doors for baseball, the stadium holds its first slumber party. Rain showers force Saturday night’s Cubs-Braves game to be suspended in the 7th inning late Saturday night, but because of the change to daylight savings time and a day game on Sunday, several players decide to spend the night in the clubhouse at the brand-new stadium. The Braves win the completion of the suspended game, 11 – 5, and then win the regularly-scheduled game, 4 – 0.