Today In History

Top Ten Most Memorable Baseball Opening Days - compiled by sportsd historian Ken Siegel - April is synonymous with the start of baseball and Opening Day is uniquely special. It is a day where hope springs eternal. All teams are tied and all fans can still hope that this is their team’s year. Here is my list of the most memorable Opening Days in baseball history: 10. First Night Opener (1950) – For over half a century, baseball’s Opening Day, had been just that – a “day” time event. But as most teams in the 1930s and 1940s were installing lights in their stadiums, it was inevitable that soon teams may start having night time openers. The first ever such event was on April 18, 1950 when the St. Louis Cardinals hosted and defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. While the game itself wasn’t memorable, the precedent it set was significant as nighttime opening games became more prevalent shortly thereafter and now is a normal occurrence in the sport. 9. New York Giants Forfeit Opener (1907) – On April 11, 1907, the New York Giants became the first, and still the only, major league team to forfeit their opening game. A snowstorm had hit the New York area just prior to the game, but despite the inclement weather, the game was not postponed as it likely should have been. Instead, the freezing fans were covered with snow and they became increasingly unruly as the game progressed and the Giants were losing. Numerous snowball fights erupted throughout the stands and snowballs were being thrown at the players and umpires on the field. Eventually the umpires were forced to halt the game and declare that the Giants, as the home team, would have to forfeit the game to the Phillies. 8. Tuffy Rhodes 3 Home Runs (1994) – Tuffy Rhodes, who in 4 previous major league seasons had hit a grand total of just 5 home runs, proved in 1994 that Opening Day can be special for anyone. On April 4, 1994, Rhodes batted leadoff for the Cubs and hit a home run in each of his first 3 at bats of the season, all against the Mets’ Dwight Gooden. Rhodes would go 4 for 4, with a walk, for the game. Rhodes, who would only hit 8 home runs for that season (including the 3 on Opening Day), and just 13 for his career, had a most memorable and improbable Opening Day. But of course, in typical Chicago Cubs fashion, the Cubbies still managed to lose the game 12-8. 7. Taft First Pitch (1910) – On April 14, 1910, President William Taft became the first U.S. President to throw out the first pitch on Opening Day when he did so before the Washington Senators’ opener at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. Taft’s first pitch started a tradition still going strong more than 100 years later. Every U.S. President since Taft has thrown out a first pitch either on Opening Day, an All-Star Game, or World Series Game. President Taft’s attendance and his ceremonial first pitch of the baseball season, helped to demonstrate to the population, the importance of Opening Day and baseball in general, in America. 6. Walter Johnson 15 Inning Shutout (1926) – On April 13, 1926, 38 year-old pitcher Walter Johnson pitched one of the greatest games ever on Opening Day. Johnson pitched a complete game 15-inning shutout for the Washington Senators as they defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 1-0. Johnson allowed only 6 hits in his 15 innings of work. It was Johnson’s 9th career Opening Day shutout, but it would also be one of the final flashes of greatness for one of the game’s legendary pitchers, as the aging Johnson would finish only 15-16 in 1926 and 5-6 in 1927, his final season. 5. Baseball Returns (1995) – Baseball fans were saddened by the cancellation of the end of the 1994 regular season and the whole postseason due to a players’ strike. The strike extended throughout the offseason and into spring training of 1995, leading to the realistic threat of a season to be played by replacement players. But fortunately, the strike was settled in time to salvage a shortened 144 game regular season. Though Opening Day was later in April than usual, baseball fans around the United States were very happy to see their favorite players back on the field to start the 1995 season. 4. Babe Ruth Hits First Ever Home Run in Yankee Stadium (1923) – Babe Ruth’s arrival in New York a few years earlier propelled the Yankees to the top of the league and led to the franchise moving out of the Polo Grounds and into their own stadium in 1923. April 18, 1923 wasn’t just any Opening Day. It was the opening of Yankee Stadium, and the Boston Red Sox, the team that sold Ruth to the Yankees in a deal that ultimately made the new stadium possible, were the opponents. So of course, with his usual flair for the dramatics, Babe Ruth hit the first ever home run on Opening Day in a stadium forever remembered as “The House That Ruth Built.” 3. Hank Aaron Smacks HR # 714 (1974) – Hank Aaron finished the 1973 season with 713 career home runs, just one shy of tying Babe Ruth’s long-standing career record. Baseball fans had to wait all off season for Aaron to complete his chase of Ruth’s historical mark. When the 1974 season started, it only took one at bat for Aaron to tie the record as he hit home run # 714 in the first inning of the Braves’ Opening Day game at Cincinnati. Hank Aaron would break Ruth’s record four days later in the Braves’ home opener. 2. Bob Feller No-Hitter (1940) – On April 16, 1940 in Comiskey Park, Cleveland Indians’ Pitcher Bob Feller pitched the only no-hitter ever on Opening Day. He struck out 8 White Sox batters en route to his memorable 1-0 victory. Feller’s gem was foreshadowing of the great season he would go on to have in 1940 as he went 27-11 for the season, and led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts; the pitching version of the Triple Crown. 1. Jackie Robinson Debut (1947) – On Opening Day in 1947 (April 15th), Jackie Robinson made the most historically significant major league debut ever in the sport. When he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the top of first inning, he officially broke baseball’s color barrier. His courage and great play throughout that year paved the way for generations of African-American players who followed him. April 15 is now Jackie Robinson Day as every player on every team wears Robinson’s # 42 to commemorate this most courageous Opening Day debut.......Do you agree with my rankings? Please let me know at ksiegel@nostalgicamerica.com