Lou Piniella was the first batter in Kansas City Royals history.

Lou Piniella was the first batter in Kansas City Royals history.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Lou Piniella was the first batter in Kansas City Royals history. On April 8, 1969, he led off the bottom of the first inning against left-hander Tom Hall of the Minnesota Twins and doubled to left field. He finished the season with a team-leading .282 batting average, winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award….

Mudcat Grant was the starting pitcher for the Montreal Expos on the franchise’s first MLB game on April 8, 1969.

Montreal Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10 in their inaugural game

ByBaseball

Four expansion teams make their debuts. The Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres all win their inaugural games. At Shea Stadium, the Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10, to keep the Mets winless for openers. Pitcher Dan McGinn hits the Expos’ first home run as the key hit, a three-run home run by Coco Laboy, is given up by Canadian-born Mets relieverRon Taylor.