IN THE NEWS: While at spring training, Hal Chase of the Highlanders contracts smallpox. The entire team is vaccinated and quarantined while traveling north.
IN THE NEWS: Billy Sullivan, the White Sox catcher in the first AL game, replaces Fielder Jones as manager.
Philadelphia's Shibe Park is dedicated as a record crowd of 31,160 sees 18-year-old John "Stuffy" McInnis make his ML debut at SS. Eddie Plank pitches the A's to an 8-1 win over Boston, allowing six hits. A's catcher Mike "Doc" Powers injures himself going after a foul pop, and after the game complains of intestinal pains (other versions have the pain due to a sandwich or twisting himself in an unusual fashion). The 38-year-old will be operated on tomorrow, but will not survive the month, the first ML death this century caused by an on-field injury.
At Washington, the Yankees open the season under new manager George Stallings, losing to the Senators, 4-1. The Nationals score three runs in the first off journeyman Doc Newton to pave the way for Charlie Smith. Smith allows just four hits and strikes out 10.
IN THE NEWS: On Opening Day in Detroit, Detroit's George Mullin pitches a one-hitter, beating the White Sox, 2-0, and setting a record for fewest base runners in an opener. Gavvy Cravath singles and walks, the only Sox to reach base.
IN THE NEWS: With Christy Mathewson sidelined with a bruised hand, the result of a line drive off the bat of Moose McCormick, Red Ames gets the call. Before an Opening Day crowd of 30,000 at New York, Ames pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, loses it with one out in the 10th, then loses the game 3-0 in the 13th. Kaiser Wilhelm matches Ames by not allowing a hit until the 8th inning. The Giants outfield has no putouts.
IN THE NEWS: The Tigers announce plans to build a new concrete and steel stadium. The Pirates name their million-dollar ballpark Forbes Field in honor of the English general who founded Pittsburgh.
The Pirates edge Chicago, 1-0, in 12 innings, handing the loss to ace Three Finger Brown.
IN THE NEWS: The National Commission learns that an effort to bribe umpires Bill Klem and James Johnstone was made before the Giants-Cubs playoff game in 1908. The identity of the alleged briber is not disclosed, but all clubs are notified of the results of the investigation. Klem reveals that the alleged briber was Dr. James Creamer. Creamer, who served as the Giants' team physician last season, will be barred for life from all major league ball parks.
IN THE NEWS: In the 6th inning of the Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh, Honus Wagner steps across the plate to the other batter's box as Reds P Harry Gaspar delivers the ball. Umpire Bill Klem refuses to call him out. The Pirates win 2-1, but Reds manager Clark Griffith protests and acting NL president John Heydler backs Klem. But the league will override Heydler and Klem and order the game replayed September 20th. The Pirates will win again, by a score of 4-3.
IN THE NEWS: Sidelined much of April with the flu, Walter Johnson makes his 1st appearance of the year. He should've stayed in bed as the Highlanders rough him up for six runs before he's lifted in the 3rd. Behind Joe Lake, New York rolls to a 17-0 win over Washington.
IN THE NEWS: Great Scott! White Sox rookie Jim Scott debuts with a 1-0 win over the Browns.
IN THE NEWS: A's popular C Doc Powers dies at the age of 38. He developed intestinal problems sustained when he ran into a wall during the Shibe Park opener on April 12th.
IN THE NEWS: The White Sox win their 3rd 1-0 game from St. Louis in three days, setting the AL mark for consecutive 1-0 wins. Hits by the two teams in the three games total only 18.
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