IN THE NEWS: NL president Tom Lynch reveals he had asked all umpires to produce certificates as to their eyesight; tests showed all have perfect vision.
IN THE NEWS: The idea of selecting a Most Valuable Player is introduced. Hugh Chalmers, the automobile maker, offers a new car to the player in each league chosen MVP by a committee of baseball writers. This is in response to last year's controversy where Chalmers ended up presenting cars to both Nap Lajoie and Ty Cobb, the AL batting leaders.
Before the start of the opener in Philadelphia, 2B Eddie Collins, the best player on the champion A's, is presented with a new automobile. Jumbo Vaughn and the A's Chief Bender then display tough pitching, each allowing a run apiece through seven innings, but Jack Barry's error in the 8th allows Otis Johnson to score the winning run for the Yankees. Hippo Vaughn allows four hits in the 2–1 victory.
The Reds suffer their worst Opening Day ever, losing to the Pirates, 14–0. Babe Adams tops Art Fromme. The Bucs 17-hit attack is led by Wagner, with three hits, Dot Miller with four hits and Bobby Byrne with five hits and five RBIs. Reds reliever Jesse Tannehill, pitching his first NL game since jumping the Pirates ship in 1902, gives up six hits and walks three in 4+ IP. The shock is so great that Tannehill retires after this game.
IN THE NEWS: With Cleveland leading St. Louis 3–1 in the 9th inning at Cleveland's League Park, the game is stopped because of a severe storm. Many fans are bruised by hailstones.
Phillies P Jack Rowan allows just three hits while his teammates pepper Christy Mathewson for 14 hits in 18 innings. The Quakers beat the Giants, 6–1. Hours later, the Polo Grounds grandstand and LF bleachers ignite in a mysterious fire, lighting up the night sky with flames. President Frank Farrell of the Highlanders invites the Giants to use the AL grounds, Hilltop Park; the offer is accepted, paving the way for the Giants' invitation for the AL team to use the Polo Grounds when the Hilltop Park lease expires after the 1912 season. A $500,000 steel-and-concrete structure will replace the wooden stands of the Polo Grounds.
IN THE NEWS: Cleveland's great pitcher Addie Joss dies unexpectedly from tubercular meningitis. Beset with arm injuries last season, Joss made just 13 appearances last year, but his career ERA of 1.88, compiled in nine seasons, will earn him a plaque in Cooperstown.
IN THE NEWS: Walter Johnson ties a major-league record by striking out four batters in the 5th inning of Washington's 6–2 loss against Boston. The 5th inning runner scores the games 1st run, and Boston scores three more in the 6th, plus runs in the 7th and 9th to beat the Nationals ace.
Grover Cleveland Alexander makes his ML debut, but an unearned run in the 9th by Boston gives the Phils rookie a 5–4 loss. Bill Klem makes the call behind the plate.
IN THE NEWS: The Giants pick up four stolen bases in a 3–1 win over Brooklyn, the start of a post-1900 record 347 steals for the year. Eight Giants will steal 19 bases or better, topped by Josh Devore's 61 and Larry Doyle's 38.
Addie Joss's funeral is held at Toledo with Billy Sunday preaching the sermon. The funeral is the 2nd largest in the city's history. His Cleveland teammates insist on being there, forcing postponement of the season opener.
A bill to permit Sunday baseball is refused in the lower house of the New Jersey legislature.
IN THE NEWS: Battle Creek of the South Michigan League makes two triple plays in the first two innings against Grand Rapids, a trick never performed in the ML.
NL President Lynch orders his umpires to stop catchers, especially Roger Bresnahan, from verbally attacking batters.
IN THE NEWS: In the first of two with Brooklyn, Grover Cleveland Alexander wins his first ML game, 10–3. Alex strikes out six and walks six, while slapping two of the Phillies seven hits.
IN THE NEWS: In Philadelphia, Walter Johnson picks up his first win of the year, edging the A's 2–1. Frank Baker hits a solo home run off Johnson, the first home run over the fence the Washington ace has allowed: there have been two inside-the-park homers hit of Walter.
In the Highlanders 10–6 loss to the A's, New York pitchers Hippo Vaughn and Jack Quinn throw just seven pitches to the A's Stuffy McInnis, who has five singles. Stuffy hits a first pitch three times and the 2nd pitch twice.
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