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.
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.
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 April 20, 1944, Elmer John Gedeon becomes the first major league player to lose his life serving in World War II. The 26-year-old Gedeon, who played briefly as an outfielder for the Washington Senators in 1939, dies when his plane is shot down over St. Pol, France. Gedeon served in the Army Air Corps…
On April 20, 1943, embattled Boston Braves manager Casey Stengel is struck by a taxicab and suffers a broken leg. A local newspaper cruelly nominates the cab driver as “Sportsman of the Year” for knocking Stengel from action for most of the season…
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.
On April 20, 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers become the first major league team to wear protective headgear. Each player’s cap features a special plastic lining designed to fend off the effects of “beanballs.”
A syndicate of 12 Bostonians buys 73 percent of the Braves, formerly the Bees, for $350,000 from the Charles F. Adams estate.
April 20 1939 – The Boston Red Sox show off their prize rookie and last season’s American Association Triple Crown winner – Ted Williams before 30,278 in their opener at Yankee Stadium, delayed two days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams blasts a 407-foot double to right-center field a double off New York…
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