On April 5, 1995, the New York Yankees acquire relief ace John Wetteland from the Montreal Expos for minor league outfielder Fernando Seguignol, a player to be named later, and cash. Wetteland will help the Yankees to the World Championship in 1996.
On April 5, 1993, the expansion Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins play their first games ever. After Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio throws out the first ball at Joe Robbie Stadium, the Marlins defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-3. In the meantime, the Rockies lose to Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets, 3-0…
At Camden Yards, William Jefferson Clinton becomes the first U.S. president to successfully throw the first pitch of the season from the pitcher’s mound. Orioles starter Rick Sutcliffe doesn’t fare as well when the Birds lose to the Rangers, 7-4.
At Shea Stadium, the Rockies lose their National League debut to the Mets, 3-0. Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden pitches a four-hit complete game for the victory.
Eric Fox, inserted into the game as a late-inning defensive replacement, hits a grand-slam home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the A’s a 9-4 Opening Day victory before 43,370 fans at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. It will be the outfielder’s only homer of the season.
In front of 42,334 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, the Florida Marlins, making their major league debut, defeat the Dodgers, 6-3. Joe DiMaggio throws out the ceremonial first pitch, and the team retires uniform number 5 in tribute to Carl Barger, their late president.
On Opening Day, Greg Maddux, signed as a free agent in the offseason, allows no runs and scatters five hits to his former team over 8.1 innings. Mike Stanton gets the last two outs in the Braves’ 1-0 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
At Riverfront Stadium, Dodgers’ hurler Orel Hershiser’s scoreless-inning streak ends at 59. With two outs in the bottom of the first, Todd Benzinger’s single scores Barry Larkin, who had been picked off after getting a base hit to lead off the game, but was safe on the ‘Bulldog’s’ throwing error.
With a 6-3 Opening Day victory over the Padres, Houston wins its 2,000th game in franchise history. The Astros score five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, making starter Mike Scott the winning pitcher.
On April 5, 1983, Tom Seaver makes his first appearance for the Mets since 1977. Seaver defeats the Philadelphia Phillies, 2-0, on Opening Day at Shea Stadium. For Seaver, it’s his 14th Opening Day assignment, tying the record set by Walter Johnson…
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