Dustin Pedroia becomes just the 2nd – secondbaseman in history to hit 2 homeruns on opening day
Dustin Pedroia becomes just the 2nd – secondbaseman in history to hit 2 homeruns on opening...
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 6, 2015 | Opening Day | 0 |
Dustin Pedroia becomes just the 2nd – secondbaseman in history to hit 2 homeruns on opening...
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 12, 2004 | Ball Park, Opening Day | 0 |
In front of a sellout crowd of 41,626 fans, the Phillies play their first game in their $458 million Pattison Avenue ballpark. On a cloudy day, the Citizens Bank Park history begins with a 4-1 loss to the Reds with right fielder Bobby Abreu hitting the park’s first homer, accounting for Philadelphia’s only run.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Mar 31, 1996 | Opening Day | 0 |
On March 31, 1996, the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox play the earliest Opening Day game...
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 4, 1994 | Extra Innings, Houston Astros, Opening Day, This Day In Baseball | 0 |
1994 – Mitch Williams walks the bases full then surrenders two 12th-inning runs in the season opener against Montreal. Ken Caminiti’s two-run double ends a dramatic three-run comeback for a 6-5 Houston triumph. Astros debut new navy and gold uniforms with the leaning star.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 4, 1994 | 3 Home Run Games, Opening Day | 0 |
On April 4, 1994, journeyman outfielder Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes of the Chicago Cubs blasts three home runs on Opening Day. Victimizing New York Mets right-hander Dwight Gooden, Rhodes becomes the first player in history to hit home runs in his first three at-bats of the season. In spite of Rhodes’ unexpected home run barrage, the Cubs lose the game, 12-8…
Read MorePosted by Baseball | Apr 9, 1993 | Opening Day | 0 |
At Mile High Stadium, the Colorado Rockies beat the Montreal Expos, 11 – 4, for their first victory ever and set a National League record for attendance in their home debut. The crowd of 80,227 breaks the NL record of 78,672 set on April 18, 1958, by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 9, 1990 | Extra Innings, Hit By Pitch, Opening Day | 0 |
Keeping with the team’s tradition of having a rookie select the music, Reds freshman first baseman Hal Morris picks U Can’t Touch This, following the Opening Day 8-4 extra-inning victory at the Astrodome. The iconic MC Hammer tune will become the team’s mantra and the unofficial theme song for the eventual world champs.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 9, 1990 | Debut, Opening Day | 0 |
Delino DeShields, the 21 year-old second baseman of the Expos, goes 4-for-6 to become only the second rookie to collect four hits in an Opening Day debut. Forrest Jacobs, also a second baseman, became the first major league rookie to accomplish the feat in his 1954 Opening Day debut with the Philadelphia A’s.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 3, 1989 | Opening Day | 0 |
At Shea Stadium, the New York Mets win their 11th consecutive home opener, an 8 – 4 decision over the St. Louis Cardinals. The Mets have now won on Opening Day in 18 of the last 20 seasons.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 4, 1988 | 3 Home Run Games, Opening Day | 0 |
On April 4, 1988, George Bell of the Toronto Blue Jays becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on Opening Day. Bell’s home runs, all coming against Kansas City Royals ace Bret Saberhagen, help the Jays to a 5-3 win…
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 4, 1988 | Opening Day | 0 |
On April 4, 1988, the New York Mets set an Opening Day record by clouting six home runs in a 10-6 win over the Montreal Expos. Kevin McReynolds and Darryl Strawberry each bang out a pair of home runs at Olympic Stadium. Estimates place Strawberry’s second home run at 525 feet…
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 9, 1985 | Opening Day | 0 |
Tom Seaver establishes a big league record with his 15th Opening Day assignment, earning the victory in the White Sox’s 4-2 win over Milwaukee at County Stadium. The right-hander, who also got the first-day nods from the Mets (1968-77, 1983) and Reds (1978-79, 1981), will extend the mark previously held by Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators to 16 next season.
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 10, 1984 | Opening Day | 0 |
Martha and the Vandellas’ iconic hit Dancing in the Streets, which was recorded a couple of miles north of the ballpark twenty years ago at the Motown Studios, finally is played over the public address system at Tiger Stadium. Jim Campbell, the Detroit’s GM who thought the lyrics might cause rowdiness in the stands, finally gives into the wishes of his younger fans, resulting in a ballpark tradition of the crowd cheering when Martha Reeves belts out the immortal words,“Can’t Forget the Motor City.”
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 3, 1984 | Opening Day | 0 |
On Opening Day, Tiger rookie Barbaro Garbey becomes the first Cuban refugee to play in the majors when he grounds out in the seventh inning as a pinch-hitter for Dave Bergman. The 27 year-old utility player will stay in the game, playing first base in Detroit’s 8-1 rout of Minnesota in the Metrodome.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 2, 1984 | Opening Day | 0 |
For the first time in ten years, the Mets lose on Opening Day, bowing to the Reds, 8-1. The last time the team dropped a season opener was in 1974, when Mike Schmidt hit a two-run walk-off home run off Tug McGraw, giving the Phillies a 5-4 victory over New York at Veterans Stadium.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 10, 1980 | Opening Day, walkoffs | 0 |
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.
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 10, 1980 | Grand Slams, Opening Day, walkoffs | 0 |
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.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 10, 1979 | Opening Day | 0 |
On April 10, 1979, Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck offers fans free admission to the next home game after his team’s unimpressive debut on Opening Day. The White Sox’ 10-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays prompts the unusual action by Veeck…
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 7, 1977 | Opening Day | 0 |
At Exhibition Stadium, the Toronto Blue Jays play their first game ever with a victory against the Chicago White Sox, 9 – 5. In his first major league at-bat Toronto’s Al Woods becomes the first player to pinch-hit a home run on Opening Day and rookie Doug Ault homers twice, in the 1st and 5th innings, off Francisco Barrios. Snowflakes are seen during the game.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 12, 1976 | Opening Day | 0 |
The First Home Opener in LA Dodgers history rained out On April 12, 1976 Los Angeles Dodger first...
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 4, 1974 | Homerun History, Opening Day | 0 |
On April 4, 1974, Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron blasts an historic three-run home run against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jack Billingham on Opening Day. The home run is the 714th of Aaron’s Hall of Fame career, tying him with the legendary Babe Ruth for the most home runs in major league history.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 7, 1973 | Opening Day | 0 |
The Indians break their Opening Day American League attendance record when a crowd of 74,420 watches Gaylord Perry go the distance in the Tribe’s 2-1 victory over Detroit at Cleveland Stadium. The previous mark had been set by the team in 1948 in the season opener against St. Louis.
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 15, 1972 | Classic Broadcast, Opening Day | 0 |
On April 15, 1972 at Riverfront Stadium, on opening day Future Hall of Famer Don Sutton faces off...
Read MorePosted by Tom | Apr 10, 1971 | Ball Park, Opening Day | 0 |
1971 – The Phillies debut in their new $49.5 million Veterans Stadium by beating Montreal, 4 – 1. Don Money of the Phillies connects for the park’s first home run.
Read MorePosted by This Day in Baseball | Apr 6, 1971 | Homerun History, Opening Day | 0 |
On April 6, 1971, Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run on Opening Day, marking the start of an historic streak. Mays will hit home runs in each of the Giants’ first four games, setting a major league record…
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