Tony Pena Jr.’s two Opening Day triples help the Royals rip the Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium, 7-1. The rookie shortstop, the son of a Yankee coach, is the first major leaguer to hit a pair of the three-baggers on Opening Day since Tommy Henrich did it for the Bronx Bombers in 1950.

For only the fourth time in major league history, a hurler under the age of 21 wins an Opening Day assignment when 20 year-old Venezuelan right-hander Felix Hernandez pitches eight strong innings in the Mariners’ 4-0 victory over the A’s at Safeco Field. Fernando Valenzuela of the Dodgers was the last pitcher ‘not of age’ to accomplish the feat, beating the Astros, 2-0, in 1981.

In a 9-5 loss to New York, Elijah Dukes of the Devil Rays becomes the 99th major leaguer to homer in his first official at-bat. The 22 year-old rookie center fielder is the first to accomplish the feat at Yankee Stadium on an Opening Day.

Mike Hampton, who signed the richest contract ever given to a pitcher, makes his Rockies debut, getting the victory when the team beat the Cardinals, 8-0. The $123.8 million southpaw will get off to a quick 9-2 start for Colorado but will finish his stay in the mountains 21-28 along with an ERA of 5.75 over the next one and half seasons before being dealt to the Braves.

Josh Hamilton receives a 22-second standing ovation from the fans at Great American Ball Park as he makes his major league debut. The Reds’ 25 year-old rookie, a former number one draft choice who has overcome a nearly career-ending history of substance abuse, lines out pinch-hitting for pitcher Kirk Saarloos in the eighth inning and then plays left field for the remainder of the 5-1 Opening Day victory over Chicago.

In his first big league at-bat, rookie third baseman Alex Gordon, the Royals #1 pick and second overall in 2005, receives a standing ovation from the Kauffman Stadium crowd when he steps to the plate. The former Golden Spikes Award is the fourth player in franchise history to make his major league debut on Opening Day.

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory’s ceremonial first pitch before the Reds’ home opener lands thirty feet up the first base line from home plate, widely missing its intended target, a bewildered Eric Davis. The terrible toss will receive national media attention, including the politician receiving a second chance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live, an opportunity in which His Honor will also widely miss the mark.

During the Royals’ Opening Day ESPN telecast, commentator Joe Morgan announces the team will honor the late Buck O’Neil by placing a fan who best exemplifies his spirit in a special seat during every home game at Kauffman Stadium. The first person to sit in the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat easily identified by its red color in a sea of blue behind home plate, is the Negro League legend’s younger brother, Warren.