IN THE NEWS: Johnny Kling, Cubs catcher on their 1906–08 pennant winners, is reinstated. Kling won the world pocket billiard title over the winter of 1908-09 and swapped a baseball bat for a pool cue. Kling, who played for a Chicago semipro team while holding out for the entire 1909 season, is fined $700, and required to play for the Cubs at his 1908 salary of $4,500.
IN THE NEWS: Boston (NL) acquires OF Wilson Collins and 3B Buck Herzog from the Giants for OF Beals Becker.
IN THE NEWS: Against Princeton University, 22-year-old Hippo Vaughn strikes out eight Tigers in six innings, and impresses Yankee manager George Stallings enough that Hippo will get the Opening Day assignment.
IN THE NEWS: The Reds extend the lease on their park for 20 years at an annual rent of $1,500, with an option to buy at $45,000.
IN THE NEWS: With the weather perfect, President and Mrs. William Howard Taft, along with Veep Sherman, surprise the Nationals by showing up for the season Opener. Jimmy McAleer suggests Taft throw out the first ball, and he becomes the first president to do so. Walter Johnson catches it, then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day Washington games, striking out 9. An easy fly hit by Frank "Home Run" Baker into the overflow crowd—a ground-rule double—mars his 3–0 pitching gem over rival Eddie Plank. Gabby Street is behind the plate for Johnson, the only opener in which he catches for Walter.
The White Sox's Frank Smith also throws a one-hit opener, winning 3–0 against the Browns. Ray Demmitt's single is the only hit for St. Louis. By season's end the AL will see 13 one-hitters—a league record.
At Robison Field, the Pirates spoil St. Louis' opener by beating Vic Willis, 5–1. The Cards don't help the ex-Pirate by making five errors behind him.
Reds pitcher Fred Beebe fires a 3-hitter in stopping the Cubs, 1–0, in 10 innings. Wildfire Schulte has all three Chicago hits. Beebe was acquired in February from the Cards, along with Alan Storke, for Miller Huggins, Rebel Oakes, and Frank Corridon.
In the season opener before 25,000 at New York's Hilltop Park, the Red Sox, sport laced collars, the last major league team to wear a collar. Boston sends the Yankees into extra innings before the game is called at the end of 14 innings with the score, 4–4. Ed Cicotte starts for Boston, with Joe Wood relieving in the 8th inning. Hippo Vaughn goes all the way for New York, retiring Boston batters in the 4th and 12 innings on four pitches. He needs just three pitches in the 10th.
The Giants Red Ames pitches hitless ball for six innings but loses to Braves, 3–2, in 11 innings. Chick Evans, in relief of Al Mattern, is the winner.
Although every opener is played, a record run of bad weather will force 85 postponements between April 15th and June 10th, causing chaos in the late-season schedule. Combined with an absence of close pennant races, this will cause a drop in attendance, which will tip 7,000,000 for the year.
IN THE NEWS: In Boston, Christy Mathewson whips the Doves, striking out nine for a 3–1 win. Matty adds to the offense with a 6th inning homer over the LF fence off Kirby White.
IN THE NEWS: A split Patriots Day doubleheader at Boston draws 14,721 for the A.M. game with the Senators and 31,007 for the P.M., a record total attendance for one day. The Red Sox win the opener 2–1 and the afternoon game 5–4.
IN THE NEWS: Cleveland's Addie Joss pitches his 2nd no-hitter 1–0 over Chicago. Joss's 10 assists help prevent any infield spoilers. Terry Turner's 6th inning double off Doc White scores the Naps only run.
At the Polo Grounds, Hooks Wiltse tosses a 3-hit shutout over the Doves in the Giants' home opener. New York tops Boston, 4–0.
IN THE NEWS: League Park opens in Cleveland with a capacity of 21,000; 18,832 watch Detroit and Ed Willett beat the Naps, 5–0.
IN THE NEWS: The Braves and Phils combine for a major-league record fewest at bats by two teams in nine innings: 48 (25 for Braves, 23 Phils). Boston wins 3–0. The mark will be tied next year and topped in the AL in 1964.
IN THE NEWS: At Boston, CF Tris Speaker pulls off his 2nd unassisted DP, the gem occurring in the 2nd inning against the Athletics. Speaker snares a low line drive and beats baserunner Harry Davis back to 2B. The game goes 11 innings with the A's prevailing 5–3. Eddie Plank is the starter and winner over Eddie Cicotte.
IN THE NEWS: Reds president Garry Herrmann bans the sale of beer and liquor at the Cincinnati park.
IN THE NEWS: Christy Mathewson stops the Phillies 7-game win streak, beating the Quakers 3–2. George McQuillan takes the loss.
IN THE NEWS: The Red Sox manage 16 hits in 12 innings against Walter Johnson, but strike out 12 times, as the Nats edge Boston, 2–1.
The Pirates trade righty Sam Frock and 1B Bud Sharpe to the Braves for righthander Kirby White.
IN THE NEWS: In his major league debut, Detroit's Sailor Stroud capsizes the Browns, 5–0.
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