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.
1948 – Stan Spence, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr hit consecutive home runs as the Boston Red Sox set a team record on Opening Day, but the long ball isn’t enough as the Philadelphia Athletics beat Boston in 11 innings, 5 – 4.
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.
April 20, 1946 at Fenway a record opening day crowd of, 30,446 sees Johnny Pesky, in 1st home game since 1942 (he was in the service), scores both runs including 8th inning home run to break a 1-1 tie off Dick Fowler as the Red Sox beat Philadelphia A’s 2-1. Pesky will lead the AL…
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.
On September 7, 1945, Washington’s Joe Kuhel hits the season’s first and only home run by a Senators’ player at Griffith Stadium. Even Kuhel’s shot fails to clear the fences. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
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.
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.
April 17, 1942 newly marrieds Pee Wee Reese and Pete Reiser are both serenaded with “Here comes the bride” by a fan playing a trumpet in their first at-bats during a 7-1 Ebbets Field home opener win over the Phils. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
April 18, 1938 The Red Sox open the 1938 season at Fenway Park vs the New York Yankees. The defending world champions started their ace Red Ruffing against Rookie Jim Bagby. The Yankees were up early 4-2, Bill Dickey and Centerfielder Myril Hoag had done most of the damage. However, the Sox would…
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!