Opening Day in Major League Baseball (MLB) has witnessed some incredible moments in history. From historic streaks to remarkable individual performances, every season brings something special. Here’s a look at some of the most iconic opening day events in baseball’s history.
1971: Willie Mays Sets the Tone for the Giants
On Opening Day in 1971, the legendary Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants hit a home run, marking the start of an unforgettable streak. Mays went on to hit home runs in each of the Giants’ first four games.
1972: The MLB Strike Interrupts the Opening Day
For the first time ever in 1972, the MLB season did not start on time due to a player strike. The traditional opening game between the Houston Astros and Cincinnati Reds was canceled, resulting in the loss of 86 games before the strike ended.
1973: Historic Debut of the Designated Hitter
In 1973, Ron Blomberg of the New York Yankees made history by becoming the first-ever designated hitter in MLB. In his debut, he was walked with the bases loaded, though the Yankees lost the game 15-5 to the Boston Red Sox.
1973: Tony Oliva Hits a Home Run as Designated Hitter
Tony Oliva became the first designated hitter to hit a home run in 1973. Playing for the Minnesota Twins against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum, Oliva hit a two-run shot off Catfish Hunter, leading the Twins to an 8-3 win.
1974: Yankees Open at Shea Stadium
Due to renovations at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees had to play their home opener at Shea Stadium in 1974. This was the first time the Yankees had played a home game outside of Yankee Stadium since 1922.
1977: The Seattle Mariners Make Their Debut
In 1977, the Seattle Mariners played their very first regular-season game but lost 7-0 to the California Angels at the Kingdome, marking a rough start for the new franchise.
1982: A Storm Forces Postponements Across the League
In 1982, a freak storm brought heavy snow and subfreezing temperatures from the Northeast to the Midwest. This caused the postponement of many MLB opening games, including those in New York, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, and Milwaukee, as well as National League games in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
1989: Orel Hershiser’s Consecutive Scoreless Innings Streak Ends
In 1989, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Orel Hershiser’s remarkable streak of 59 consecutive scoreless innings came to an end, making his opening day performance a memorable one.
1992: Orioles Debut in Camden Yards
In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles played the first-ever game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The ballpark would go on to become one of the most iconic stadiums in baseball history.
1996: Chan Ho Park Makes History
Chan Ho Park of the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first pitcher born in South Korea to win a major league game in 1996, marking a historic moment for both the Dodgers and baseball as a whole.
2001: Jim Bunning’s Number 14 Retired
On Opening Day in 2001, the Philadelphia Phillies retired Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Bunning’s number 14 jersey in a special ceremony at Veterans Stadium.
2002: Kazuhisa Ishii’s MLB Debut
In 2002, Japanese pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii made his major league debut, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings and striking out 10 in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 9-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
2005: Brad Wilkerson Hits for the Cycle
On Opening Day in 2005, Brad Wilkerson of the Washington Nationals hit for the cycle, leading his team to a 7-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. It was a remarkable achievement for Wilkerson and the Nationals.
2009: Tony Clark and Felipe Lopez Shine
On Opening Day 2009, both Tony Clark and Felipe Lopez of the Arizona Diamondbacks homered from both sides of the plate to lead Arizona to a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
2009: Emilio Bonifacio’s Historic Inside-the-Park Homer
Emilio Bonifacio made history in 2009 by hitting the first inside-the-park home run on Opening Day since 1968. He also swiped three bases and had four hits in Florida’s 12-6 victory over the Washington Nationals.
2009: Alfonso Soriano’s 50th Leadoff Home Run
In 2009, Alfonso Soriano hit his 50th career leadoff home run, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 4-2 on Opening Day.
2012: Adam Dunn Ties Opening Day Home Run Record
In 2012, Adam Dunn tied a major league record with his eighth opening-day home run, a feat matched by Frank Robinson and Ken Griffey Jr. Dunn’s home run helped the Chicago White Sox secure a victory over the Texas Rangers.
2014: Yu Darvish Reaches 500 Strikeouts
In 2014, Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers became the fastest starting pitcher in MLB history to reach 500 strikeouts.
2016: Kenta Maeda Hits a Home Run on Debut
Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda made an unforgettable debut in 2016 when he not only shut out the San Diego Padres 7-0 but also homered in his second at-bat. The Padres became the first team in MLB history to be shut out in the first three games of the season.
2016: Trevor Story Makes History with Homers in First 3 Games
Rookie Trevor Story made history in 2016 by hitting a home run in each of his first three major league games. He also became the first player in MLB history to hit a home run for each of his first four hits, leading Colorado to a 4-3 win over Arizona.
2021: MLB Moves the All-Star Game to Denver
In 2021, Major League Baseball moved the All-Star Game to Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, after withdrawing the event from Atlanta, Georgia, due to political reasons.
