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“Opening Day Through the Decades” Photo Gallery
Click on any image below to see photos in full size and to start Photo Gallery:
We Made it! Happy Opening Day!
“You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid.” –Joe DiMaggio
“A home opener is always exciting, no matter if it’s home or on the road!” -Yogi Berra
Tomorrow’s the “Big Day!” For old-time baseball fans like us, there’s no better day of the year than Opening Day! In the featured photo below, we see the Mets’ home opener Day against the Dodgers, April 12, 1965 at Shea Stadium in front of 37,999 fans. The Dodgers won 6-1, Don Drysdale the winner and Al Jackson the loser. You can feel the excitement in the air!
Writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book titled, “Why Time Begins on Opening Day.” His theme was that the occasion represents a “newness,” or at least a chance to forget last season, since all 30 teams begin with 0-0 records.
Here’s a little bit of Opening Day trivia:
- In 1907, the New York Giants forfeited their game at the Polo Grounds to the Philadelphia Phillies, 9–0, after rowdy fans threw snowballs.
- Twelve S. Presidents have thrown the first ball of the season. On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft became the first U.S president to do so.
- In 1940, Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller threw a no-hitter to open the season against the White Sox. It remains the only no-hitter in Opening Day history.
- Harry S. Truman threw Opening Day first pitches with both his right and left arm in 1950.
- Ted Williamswas a .449 hitter in openers, with three home runs and fourteen RBI during 14 games and had at least one hit in each game.
- On April 4, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 714th career home run on Opening Day at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium.
- In 14 season openers for the Washington Senators, Walter Johnsonpitched a record nine shutouts.
- The Louis Cardinals were the first major league team to open their home season with a night game, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–2 at Sportsman’s Park on April 18, 1950.
- Hall of FamerTom Seaver has been a starting pitcher for the most Opening Day games in major league history, doing the honors 16 times.
- The longest Opening Day game was played on April 5, 2012 between the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays. The game, played at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, ended with the Blue Jays beating the Indians, 7–4, in 16 innings.
Let’s get it on! Good Luck to all baseball fans! Let’s hope your favorite team does better than expected!
Gary Livacari
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Photo Credits: All from Google search
Information: Excerpts edited from the Opening Day Wikipedia page.
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Gary,
The Braves were in Milwaukee for the 1953 season. Wrong year on the Braves home opener photo. They were still the Boston Braves when they opened up Spring Training that year, but Lou Perini announced in mid-March of that year that he was seeking permission to begin the season relocating to Milwaukee.
Right…that’s 1952, the Braves last year in Boston. Thanks!