The Chicago Cubs unveil a statue of Ernie Banks outside of Wrigley Field. Unfortunately, sculptor Lou Cella engraved “Lets play two” on the sculpture instead of “Let’s play two.”

ByTom

The Chicago Cubs unveil a statue of Ernie Banks outside of Wrigley Field. Unfortunately, sculptor Lou Cella engraved “Lets play two” on the sculpture instead of “Let’s play two.”

In one of the wildest Opening Days in Pittsburgh Pirates franchise history, Pittsburgh beats the Braves, 12 – 11, in 12 innings. They lead 9 – 4 entering the bottom of the 9th but their top two relief pitchers, Damaso Marte and Matt Capps, blow the lead with a fly ball falling between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth with two outs. Pittsburgh scores three in the 12th on a Xavier Nady home run, but Atlanta almost ties it again with two runs in the bottom of the frame.

ByTom

In one of the wildest Opening Days in Pittsburgh Pirates franchise history, Pittsburgh beats the Braves, 12 – 11, in 12 innings. They lead 9 – 4 entering the bottom of the 9th but their top two relief pitchers, Damaso Marte and Matt Capps, blow the lead with a fly ball falling between LF Jason Bay and CF Nate McLouth with two outs. Pittsburgh scores three in the 12th on a Xavier Nady home run, but Atlanta almost ties it again with two runs in the bottom of the frame.

On Opening Day, the Reds pay tribute to Joe Nuxhall by wearing the number 41 on their uniforms. The team’s beloved broadcaster, who spent over 60 years with the organization, including his major debut as a 15 year-old hurler, died during the off-season at the age of 79.

ByTom

On Opening Day, the Reds pay tribute to Joe Nuxhall by wearing the number 41 on their uniforms. The team’s beloved broadcaster, who spent over 60 years with the organization, including his major debut as a 15 year-old hurler, died during the off-season at the age of 79.

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3/31/2008: It is opening day in St. Louis and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals hit a 385 foot solo shot to left center in the second off of the Rockies’ Jeff Francis to give his team a 5-1 lead. In the bottom of the third with the same score, the rains came washing the game out and postponing the opener until the following evening.

ByTom

3/31/2008: It is opening day in St. Louis and Albert Pujols of the Cardinals hit a 385 foot solo shot to left center in the second off of the Rockies’ Jeff Francis to give his team a 5-1 lead. In the bottom of the third with the same score, the rains came washing the game out and postponing the opener until the following evening.

Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves 3-2

Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves 3-2

ByTom

2008 – Nationals Park opens for action with the host Nationals beating the Braves, 3 – 2. Odalis Perez pitches a solid game and Jon Rauch gets the historic first win after blowing a save. Nick Johnson drives in a run with a double in his first at-bat in over 18 months. With two outs in the bottom of the 9th, Ryan Zimmerman hits a walk-off home run off Peter Moylan.

The Dodgers celebrate the 50th anniversary of their move to Los Angeles and set the attendence record for a single game

ByThis Day in Baseball

2008 – The Dodgers celebrate the 50th anniversary of their move to Los Angeles, CA by playing an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox in their original home, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A crowd of 115,300 is present, the largest ever assembled at a baseball game anywhere. The previous record of 93,103 had been set in the Dodgers’ second season in L.A., for an exhibition game against the New York Yankees in honor of paralyzed catcher Roy Campanella on May 7, 1959.

At the start of spring training, Hideki Matsui, who already made plans for marriage in a few weeks, a fact not known to the team, makes a wager with some of his teammates about who would be the first to get married. A surprised Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agree to pay off the bet after learning the Yankee slugger pulled a fast one on them by getting ‘hitched’ in New York on the club’s off day yesterday.

ByTom

At the start of spring training, Hideki Matsui, who already made plans for marriage in a few weeks, a fact not known to the team, makes a wager with some of his teammates about who would be the first to get married. A surprised Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu agree to pay off the bet after learning the Yankee slugger pulled a fast one on them by getting ‘hitched’ in New York on the club’s off day yesterday.

2008 – Opening Day in Major League Baseball is held in the Tokyo Dome. The game was put in doubt earlier in the month when the Red Sox planned to “strike” due to disagreements with MLB over payment for coaches who make the trip. Daisuke Matsuzaka battles control problems, walking five, and allows two runs in five innings in a homecoming of sorts. In the 6th inning, Manny Ramirez hits a two-run double off Joe Blanton to tie the score and Brandon Moss singles him in for the lead. Oakland retakes the lead, 4 – 3, entering the 9th. Moss then delivers more heroics with one out in the 9th, homering off A’s closer Huston Street to tie the score. Hideki Okajima tosses a scoreless bottom of the inning for the win. In the 10th, Ramirez hits a two-run, two-out double off Street for a 6 – 4 lead. Oakland scores once off Jonathan Papelbon in the 10th, but he hangs on for the save.

ByTom

2008 – Opening Day in Major League Baseball is held in the Tokyo Dome. The game was put in doubt earlier in the month when the Red Sox planned to “strike” due to disagreements with MLB over payment for coaches who make the trip. Daisuke Matsuzaka battles control problems, walking five, and allows two runs in five innings in a homecoming of sorts. In the 6th inning, Manny Ramirez hits a two-run double off Joe Blanton to tie the score and Brandon Moss singles him in for the lead. Oakland retakes the lead, 4 – 3, entering the 9th. Moss then delivers more heroics with one out in the 9th, homering off A’s closer Huston Street to tie the score. Hideki Okajima tosses a scoreless bottom of the inning for the win. In the 10th, Ramirez hits a two-run, two-out double off Street for a 6 – 4 lead. Oakland scores once off Jonathan Papelbon in the 10th, but he hangs on for the save.

The Twins agree to a new deal with their All-Star closer, signing Joe Nathan (1.88, 37 saves) to a $47 million, four-year contract, which includes a 2012 club option. The 33 year-old right-hander’s 160 saves over the past four seasons is tied with Mariano Rivera of the Yankees for most in the American League.

ByTom

The Twins agree to a new deal with their All-Star closer, signing Joe Nathan (1.88, 37 saves) to a $47 million, four-year contract, which includes a 2012 club option. The 33 year-old right-hander’s 160 saves over the past four seasons is tied with Mariano Rivera of the Yankees for most in the American League.

2008 – Javy Lopez retires. Lopez hit 260 home runs and slugged .491 in his major league career, producing a 112 OPS+ in 15 seasons. He set a single-season home run record for catchers with 42. A three-time All-Star, Lopez sat out 2007 before managing just a .188 average in his comeback attempt with the Atlanta Braves this spring.

ByTom

2008 – Javy Lopez retires. Lopez hit 260 home runs and slugged .491 in his major league career, producing a 112 OPS+ in 15 seasons. He set a single-season home run record for catchers with 42. A three-time All-Star, Lopez sat out 2007 before managing just a .188 average in his comeback attempt with the Atlanta Braves this spring.