9 greatest Opening Day Moments
With Opening Day a week away, the following list of feats will warm you up.
9. 1901 at Chicago, the White Sox defeat the Cleveland Blues 8-2 in the first game of the new major league, the American League.
8. 1961 – Eddie Yost takes a pitch from Milt Pappas as the Los Angeles Angels and baseball expansion is born. The Angles won 7-2 at Baltimore.
7. 1945 – Usually known for thier futility, the St. Louis Browns, celebrate the raising of their first and only American League Championship banner with a win over the Detroit Tigers. The win marked a record 6th consecutive opening day victory.
6. 1997 – Jimmy Key of the Orioles gets the win over the Royals at Baltimore. The win is his 7th career opening day win. Key, never lost on opening day sets a record for the “Most Perfect” record in baseball history.
5. 1988 – George Bell of the Toronto Blue Jays homers 3 times at Kansas City to set an Opening Day record.
4. 1975 – Frank Robinson, debuts as the first Black Manager for the Cleveland Indians, hits his record 8th and Final opening day homer in his first at-bat as playing manager DH of the Indians. The Tribe prevails 5-3 over the Yankees.
3. 1974 – Henry Aaron, in the top of the first inning homers off the Reds Jack Billingham. The homer is the 713th of his career which tied Babe Ruth for most all time.
2. 1940 – Bob Feller No Hits the Chicago White Sox 1-0 at Comiskey Park. The only Opening Day no-hitter and the greatest feat to happen on opening day.
1. 1947 – Jackie Robinson debuts for the Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The most significant opening day event.
No love for Tuffy’s three opening day HR’s? Shouldn’t he get a subsection 4.A?
No, no love, no subsection.
I was considering it but he tied the record. There have been other clubs to win 6 straight opening days as well.
Tuffy has greater historical significance than Barfield, in name value at least (internationally). Trying to start a confrontation here…
Speaking of names…Bell?…
proves my point. Nowhere near the iconic Tuffy…
point proven, Kman with the win!!