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
Mitch Williams walks the bases full then surrenders two 12th-inning runs in the season opener against Montreal
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.
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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…
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Martha and the Vandellas’ iconic hit Dancing in the Streets played as Tigers win home opener
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 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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The Toronto Blue Jays play their first game ever
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.
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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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The Indians break their Opening Day American League attendance with a record crowd of 74,420
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.
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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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Mets win their first opener at Forbes Field’s final Opening Day
On April 7, 1970, one historic first and one historic last occurred at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field....
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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.
Read MoreThe Pirates, wearing their black and gold color scheme for the first time, lose baseball’s traditional opener in Cincinnati, 4-1, in a game that features scuffles between opposing players, an ump, and a photographer, a fan who jumps on the field, and the police. The Bucs, the first team to permanently change their original colors, abandoned the familiar patriotic look of red, white, and blue, choosing instead to use hues that match the Flag of Pittsburgh.
The Pirates, wearing their black and gold color scheme for the first time, lose baseball’s traditional opener in Cincinnati, 4-1, in a game that features scuffles between opposing players, an ump, and a photographer, a fan who jumps on the field, and the police. The Bucs, the first team to permanently change their original colors, abandoned the familiar patriotic look of red, white, and blue, choosing instead to use hues that match the Flag of Pittsburgh.
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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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