At the Giants’ home opener at SBC Park, the torch is passed both literally and figuratively as Barry Bonds hit his 660th career homer to tie his godfather, Willie Mays, for third on the all-time home run list. The 72 year-old Hall of Famer Mays greets his godson at home plate with a torch studded with $18,000 of diamonds forming the numbers 660, 25, which is Barry’s number, and 1, the number to needed move ahead.

ByTom

At the Giants’ home opener at SBC Park, the torch is passed both literally and figuratively as Barry Bonds hit his 660th career homer to tie his godfather, Willie Mays, for third on the all-time home run list. The 72 year-old Hall of Famer Mays greets his godson at home plate with a torch studded with $18,000 of diamonds forming the numbers 660, 25, which is Barry’s number, and 1, the number to needed move ahead.

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The Phillies play their first game in Citizens Bank Park

ByTom

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.

A ten-foot bronze statue of Richie Ashburn is unveiled at Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies. Zenos Frudakis’s work of the five-time All-Star, located behind centerfield in Ashburn Alley, which features the team’s Walk of Fame.

ByTom

A ten-foot bronze statue of Richie Ashburn is unveiled at Citizens Bank Park, the new home of the Phillies. Zenos Frudakis’s work of the five-time All-Star, located behind centerfield in Ashburn Alley, which features the team’s Walk of Fame.

The New York Yankees and Joe Torre agree to a three-year contract extension. The contract also includes an additional six-year deal in which the 62-year old manager will serve as a team advisor through the 2013 season. That adjunct to the deal will never be implemented.

ByBaseball

The New York Yankees and Joe Torre agree to a three-year contract extension. The contract also includes an additional six-year deal in which the 62-year old manager will serve as a team advisor through the 2013 season. That adjunct to the deal will never be implemented.

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41-year-old Roger Clemens makes his debut as an Astro a memorable one, blanking the Giants on one hit over seven innings to earn his 311th career victory, a 10-1 blowout

ByTom

2004 – What retirement? 41-year-old Roger Clemens makes his debut as an Astro a memorable one, blanking the Giants on one hit over seven innings to earn his 311th career victory, a 10-1 blowout. Homers by Richard Hidalgo, Jeff Bagwell and Jeff Kent support The Rocket who fans nine, including slugger Barry Bonds twice. Clemens also singles in his first at-bat as a National Leaguer. 

2004 – Adam LaRoche of the Atlanta Braves collects the first two hits of his career in one inning. En route to an 18 – 10 win over the Mets, the rookie first baseman singles and doubles during the Braves’ 33-minute, 11-run 4th inning.

ByTom

2004 – Adam LaRoche of the Atlanta Braves collects the first two hits of his career in one inning. En route to an 18 – 10 win over the Mets, the rookie first baseman singles and doubles during the Braves’ 33-minute, 11-run 4th inning.

On Opening Day at Bank One Ballpark, Diamondbacks’ outfielder Luis Gonzalez and Rockies’ second baseman Luis Gonzalez each homered, making it only the second time in major league history players with the same first and last names homered in the same game. The first occurrence happened when Ken Griffey Jr., and his dad, Ken Griffey, playing for the Mariners, hit back-to-back homers off Angels’ hurler Kirk McCaskill in 1990.

ByBaseball

On Opening Day at Bank One Ballpark, Diamondbacks’ outfielder Luis Gonzalez and Rockies’ second baseman Luis Gonzalez each homered, making it only the second time in major league history players with the same first and last names homered in the same game. The first occurrence happened when Ken Griffey Jr., and his dad, Ken Griffey, playing for the Mariners, hit back-to-back homers off Angels’ hurler Kirk McCaskill in 1990.

David Aardsma surpasses Hank Aaron in an unlikely category. ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ will no longer be the first player named alphabetically in baseball history books when the Giants hurler makes his major-league debut against the Astros.

ByBaseball

David Aardsma surpasses Hank Aaron in an unlikely category. ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ will no longer be the first player named alphabetically in baseball history books when the Giants hurler makes his major-league debut against the Astros.

The Mets open their season with a 7 – 2 win over the Braves. SS Kazuo Matsui, making his American baseball debut, opens the game with a home run on the first pitch from Russ Ortiz‚ becoming only the 20th player in baseball history to homer on the first major league pitch he sees. Matsui adds a pair of doubles and two walks in his debut. He is the third player in Met history to homer in his first at bat‚ joining Mike Fitzgerald and Benny Ayala.

ByBaseball

The Mets open their season with a 7 – 2 win over the Braves. SS Kazuo Matsui, making his American baseball debut, opens the game with a home run on the first pitch from Russ Ortiz‚ becoming only the 20th player in baseball history to homer on the first major league pitch he sees. Matsui adds a pair of doubles and two walks in his debut. He is the third player in Met history to homer in his first at bat‚ joining Mike Fitzgerald and Benny Ayala.

In an on-line poll in which nearly 8,000 fans participate, Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie is selected as the title of a documentary about the 2003 season. Other choices offered by the team and the Boston Globe web sites included This Is the Year, The Ecstasy and the Agony and Always the Bridesmaid in addition to fan’s wry suggestion of I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Wish I Didn’t Know What You Did Last Fall.

ByBaseball

In an on-line poll in which nearly 8,000 fans participate, Still We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie is selected as the title of a documentary about the 2003 season. Other choices offered by the team and the Boston Globe web sites included This Is the Year, The Ecstasy and the Agony and Always the Bridesmaid in addition to fan’s wry suggestion of I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Wish I Didn’t Know What You Did Last Fall.