On April 7, 1977 — After a lengthy snow delay on Opening Day at Exhibition Stadium, the Toronto Blue Jays play their first game ever with a victory against the Chicago White Sox, 9 – 5. In his first major league at-bat Toronto’s Al Woods becomes the first player to pinch-hit a home run on Opening Day and rookie Doug Ault homers twice, in the 1st and 5th innings, off Francisco Barrios. Snowflakes are seen during the game. Ault, will hit 17 homeruns over his 4 year career.
[jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game, players, ballparks and the people that shaped the game!” subscribe_button=”Join us!” show_subscribers_total=”1″]
Subscribe to our Podcast
The Daily Rewind
on Apples Podcast | Spotify | Google | Stitcher
And connect with us wherever else you listen to Podcast and hangout!
Game ticket & learn more about the players, teams, stadiums and dates in history
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
Toronto Blue Jays 9, Chicago White Sox 5
SABR Article
Game Played on Thursday, April 7, 1977 (D) at Exhibition Stadium
CHI A 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 - 5 15 0
TOR A 1 1 2 1 2 0 0 2 x - 9 16 3
BOX+PBP WP: Johnson (1-0) LP: Brett (0-1) SV: Vuckovich (1) HR: Zisk (1), Ault 2 (2), A. Woods (1)
Play by Play
WHITE SOX 1ST: Garr walked; Garr stole second [Garr to third (error by Cerone)]; Bannister flied out to right; Orta hit a sacrifice fly to center [Garr scored]; Zisk homered; Spencer singled to right; Gamble walked [Spencer to second]; Soderholm forced Gamble (shortstop to second); 2 R, 2 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 2, Blue Jays 0. BLUE JAYS 1ST: Scott struck out; Torres struck out; Ault homered; Velez flied out to center; 1 R, 1 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 2, Blue Jays 1. WHITE SOX 2ND: Lemon grounded out (second to first); Downing singled to shortstop; Garr reached on an error by McKay [Downing to third]; Bannister singled to right [Downing scored, Garr to second]; Orta struck out; Zisk doubled to left [Garr scored (unearned), Bannister to third]; Spencer grounded out (pitcher to first); 2 R (1 ER), 3 H, 1 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 1. BLUE JAYS 2ND: On a bunt G. Woods singled to second; G. Woods stole second; Bowling struck out; Garcia singled to right [G. Woods scored]; McKay singled to right [Garcia to second]; Cerone forced McKay (shortstop to second) [Garcia to third]; Scott grounded out (pitcher to first); 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 2. WHITE SOX 3RD: Gamble struck out; Soderholm singled to left; Lemon struck out; Downing singled to left [Soderholm to second]; Garr singled to third [Soderholm to third, Downing to second]; Bannister grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 3 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 2. BLUE JAYS 3RD: Torres singled to center; Ault homered [Torres scored]; Velez struck out; G. Woods grounded out (second to first); Bowling grounded out (shortstop to first); 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 4. WHITE SOX 4TH: Orta flied to left in foul territory; Zisk struck out; Spencer singled to right; Gamble walked [Spencer to second]; Soderholm flied out to left; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 4. BLUE JAYS 4TH: Garcia doubled to center; McKay singled to right [Garcia scored]; Cerone singled to center [McKay to second]; BARRIOS REPLACED BRETT (PITCHING); Scott forced McKay (pitcher to third) [Cerone to second]; MASON BATTED FOR TORRES; Mason walked [Cerone to third, Scott to second]; Ault grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Mason out at second]; 1 R, 3 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 5. WHITE SOX 5TH: MASON STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING SS); Lemon was called out on strikes; Downing singled to left; Garr singled to right [Downing to second]; JOHNSON REPLACED SINGER (PITCHING); Bannister lined to third; Orta grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 2 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 5. BLUE JAYS 5TH: Velez singled to left; Velez stole second; G. Woods grounded out (pitcher to first); A. WOODS BATTED FOR BOWLING; A. Woods homered [Velez scored]; Debut game for Al Woods; Garcia grounded out (third to first); McKay grounded out (second to first); 2 R, 2 H, 0 E, 0 LOB. White Sox 4, Blue Jays 7. WHITE SOX 6TH: A. WOODS STAYED IN GAME (PLAYING RF); Zisk singled to shortstop; Spencer struck out; Gamble walked [Zisk to second]; Soderholm singled to center [Zisk scored, Gamble to second]; Lemon walked [Gamble to third, Soderholm to second]; Downing popped to third in foul territory; Garr grounded out (pitcher to first); 1 R, 2 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 7. BLUE JAYS 6TH: Cerone doubled to left; Scott struck out; Mason flied out to left; Ault walked; Velez walked [Cerone to third, Ault to second]; G. Woods lined to center; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 3 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 7. WHITE SOX 7TH: Bannister flied out to center; Orta walked; Zisk singled to left [Orta to second]; Spencer grounded out (pitcher to first) [Orta to third, Zisk to second]; Gamble popped to third in foul territory; 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 7. BLUE JAYS 7TH: HAMILTON REPLACED BARRIOS (PITCHING); A. Woods was called out on strikes; Garcia singled to center; McKay forced Garcia (shortstop to second); Cerone forced McKay (third to second); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 7. WHITE SOX 8TH: VUCKOVICH REPLACED JOHNSON (PITCHING); Soderholm struck out; Lemon struck out; Downing walked; Garr singled to left [Downing to second]; NYMAN BATTED FOR BANNISTER; Nyman grounded out (first unassisted); 0 R, 1 H, 0 E, 2 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 7. BLUE JAYS 8TH: NORDBROOK REPLACED NYMAN (PLAYING SS); Scott doubled to left; Mason reached on a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt [Scott to third]; Ault singled to center [Scott scored, Mason to second]; LAGROW REPLACED HAMILTON (PITCHING); On a bunt Velez singled to pitcher [Mason to third, Ault to second]; G. Woods grounded into a double play (shortstop to second to first) [Mason scored (no RBI), Ault to third, Velez out at second]; A. Woods was called out on strikes; 2 R, 3 H, 0 E, 1 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 9. WHITE SOX 9TH: Orta grounded out (pitcher to first); Zisk struck out; Spencer reached on an error by Scott [Spencer to second]; Gamble grounded out (shortstop to first); 0 R, 0 H, 1 E, 1 LOB. White Sox 5, Blue Jays 9. Final Totals R H E LOB White Sox 5 15 0 19 Blue Jays 9 16 3 9
