On April 9, 1995, former major leaguer Bob Allison dies at the age of 60. The 1959 American League Rookie of the Year played 13 years for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins, hitting 256 home runs. He reached the 100-RBI mark in 1961 and ’62.
Recently-retired NBA legend Michael Jordan makes his professional baseball debut by going hitless for AA Birmingham. Chattanooga is a 10 – 3 winner over the White Sox affiliate club.
Thanks to a four-run first inning sparked by Eric Young’s leadoff home run, the Rockies defeat the Expos 11-4 for their first win ever. The crowd of 80,227 at Colorado’s Mile High Stadium establishes a new major league Opening Day attendance record.
At Mile High Stadium, the Colorado Rockies beat the Montreal Expos, 11 – 4, for their first victory ever and set a National League record for attendance in their home debut. The crowd of 80,227 breaks the NL record of 78,672 set on April 18, 1958, by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
At Comiskey Park, Bo Jackson of the Chicago White Sox hits a home run in his first at-bat after coming back from hip replacement surgery. The White Sox, however, lose to the Yankees, 11 – 6.
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Darryl Hamilton sets an American League record by handling his 541st consecutive chance without an error. Milwaukee defeats the Oakland Athletics, 6 – 5.
1991 – Major League Baseball’s average salary on Opening Day reaches a record $891,188, with 223 players making at least $1 million.
Keeping with the team’s tradition of having a rookie select the music, Reds freshman first baseman Hal Morris picks U Can’t Touch This, following the Opening Day 8-4 extra-inning victory at the Astrodome. The iconic MC Hammer tune will become the team’s mantra and the unofficial theme song for the eventual world champs.
Delino DeShields, the 21 year-old second baseman of the Expos, goes 4-for-6 to become only the second rookie to collect four hits in an Opening Day debut. Forrest Jacobs, also a second baseman, became the first major league rookie to accomplish the feat in his 1954 Opening Day debut with the Philadelphia A’s.
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the New York Mets, 12 – 3, at Shea Stadium. It is the Mets’ first loss in a season opener at home in 21 years.
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