Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox play the earliest Opening Day game in history
On March 31, 1996, the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox play the earliest Opening Day game...
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Category: Opening Day
Tuffy Rhodes hits 3 straight on opening day
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…
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George Bell smacks 3 homeruns on opening day
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…
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Mets clout 6 homeruns on opening day
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 MoreVeeck offers free admision
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…
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Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth for All Time Homerun Record
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.
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Mays homers in 4 straight to start season
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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Opening Day postponed after Martin Luther King, Jr assasinated
On April 8, 1968, the major leagues decide to postpone Opening Day because of the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. With 11 black players on their roster, the Pittsburgh Pirates vote not to play games on Monday – the day of the scheduled opener – or Tuesday. The Pirates will open the season on Wednesday. The National Football League plays their games on the day of King’s assassination and are criticized for the decision.
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Billy Bruton of the Detroit Tigers ties the record with 4 doubles in one game
On May 19, 1963, Billy Bruton of the Detroit Tigers ties a major league record by collecting four...
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Don Drysdale homers in opener – First pitcher two hit more than one homerun on opening day
On April 11, 1959, Don Drysdale of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits his second Opening Day home run, becoming the only pitcher to hit more than one career homer in opening games. Drysdale’s historic blast doesn’t prevent the Dodgers from losing their game, 6-1, to the Chicago Cubs…
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O’s turn triple play on opening day
On April 9, 1959, the Baltimore Orioles become the first team in major league history to turn a triple play on Opening Day. The O’s turn the triple killing in front of Vice-President Richard Nixon, who throws out the ceremonial first pitch as a substitute for President Dwight Eisenhower.
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Ty Cobb, Al Simmons, Dizzy Dean, Cy Young. Connie Mack, Big Ed Walsh, and Rogers Hornsby
April 13, 1953 at Crosby Field – Ty Cobb, Al Simmons, Dizzy Dean, Cy Young. Connie Mack, Big...
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U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener
Nine days after firing the very popular General Douglas MacArthur from his post as Commander of the Far East, U.S. President Harry S. Truman throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Senators’ home opener against New York at Griffith Stadium. The Air Force Band tries to drown out the boos from the crowd directed at the Commander in Chief by loudly playing “Ruffles and Flourishes” and “Hail to the Chief” during the pregame ceremonies.
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George Vico homers on the first pitch he ever sees in the major leagues, becoming only the fifth player to accomplish the feat.
On Opening Day, George Vico homers on the first pitch he ever sees in the major leagues, becoming only the fifth player to accomplish the feat. The home run, given up by White Sox hurler Joe Haynes, is the first of only a dozen the Tigers rookie first baseman collects in his brief two-year career.
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Richie Ashburn makes his debut – it is the first big league game he has ever attended
In the first big league game he ever attends, Richie Ashburn makes his major league debut, going 1-for-5 in the Phillies’ Opening Day victory over Boston at Shibe Park. The 21 year-old rookie left fielder replaces holdout Harry Walker, last year’s National League batting champ, batting leadoff in the Phillies’ lineup.
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First televised game Cubs shut out by Cards
1946 – In their Opening Game at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs are shut out by Harry Brecheen of the St. Louis Cardinals, 2 – 0. The game is the first in Cubs history to be televised, as Wilson does the play-by-play for WBKB.
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Washington’s Joe Kuhel hits the season’s first and only home run by a Senators’ player at Griffith Stadium
FollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollowFollow On September 7, 1945, Washington’s Joe Kuhel hits...
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Mel Ott of the New York Giants hits the first National League home run of the season, the 464th of his career.
1944 – Mel Ott of the New York Giants hits the first National League home run of the season, the 464th of his career, helping the Giants defeat the Boston Braves, 2 – 1.
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Season starts 2 weeks late because of World War II
The season starts, two weeks later than customary. Stalwarts such as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Enos Slaughter and Johnny Mize are gone to military service, among some 60 players who could have been classified as regulars in the 1942 season.
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The New York Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452, for any Yankee Stadium opener
1932 – The New York Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452, for any Yankee Stadium opener. Babe Ruth homers as Lefty Gomez beats Lefty Grove in the 8 – 3 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics.
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The greatest pitchers duel in opening day history
April 13, 1926, one of the greatest Opening Day pitchers’ duels ever occurs, 25,000 fans...
Read MoreRuth fires 3 hitter on opening day
On April 11, 1917, Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox pitches a three-hitter in shutting down the New York Yankees on Opening Day. Ruth’s performance marks the start of good things to come. He will win 24 games in 1917, while leading the American League with 35 complete games…
Read MoreTaft throws out first pitch
On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. Attending the game in Washington, D.C., President Taft tosses the first ball to future Hall of Famer Walter Johnson…
Read MoreBresnahan debuts leg guards
On April 11, 1907, Roger Bresnahan of the New York Giants plays the Opening Day game wearing leg guards usually used in cricket-the first shin guards in major league history. The leg guards come in handy, protecting Bresnahan from a fifth-inning foul tip. Other catchers will follow Bresnahan’s lead and wear similar shin guards.
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