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.
In front of a sell-out crowd of 51,798 at Memorial Stadium on ‘Thanks Brooks (Robinson) Day’, Red Sox designated hitter Ted Cox goes 4-for-4, tying the big league mark shared by Casey Stengel, Willie McCovey, Mack Jones, and Forest Jacobs for the most hits in a major league debut. The performance is also the start of a historic two-game hitting streak by the rookie DH, who will collect two hits in his first two at-bats in tomorrow’s contest to become the only player to begin a big league career with six consecutive hits.
The Pittsburgh Pirates open at home for the first time in 61 years and defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4 – 2, before 32,294 spectators. Curt Roberts, the Pirates’ first black player, hits a triple against Robin Roberts in the 1st inning.