2002
» The Rangers shut out the Mariners, 9–0, ending Seattle's 10–game winning streak. Seattle 3B Jeff Cirillo ties a ML mark by playing his 99th consecutive errorless game. His streak will end tomorrow.

2001
» The Yankees defeat the Blue Jays, 6-5, in 17 innings and almost six hours. Six relievers pitch 11 scoreless innings before Chuck Knoblauch walks and Derek Jeter singles him to 2B. Paul O'Neill's 4th hit of the game finally ends it.

2000
» The Astros top the Dodgers, 10-3, as LA starting P Orel Hershiser ties a modern major league record by hitting four batters in only one 1/3 innings of work. OF Richard Hidalgo is hit by two of Hershiser's pitches, and is also plunked by reliever Matt Herges, to tie another ML mark. The five HPB also ties another 20th century mark by both pitchers and batters, done by Atlanta and Cincinnati on July 2, 1969.

1999
» The Rockies blow a pair of 4–run leads before bouncing back to score three runs in the last half of the 9th inning and pull out an 11–10 win over the Expos.

Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr. is placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 19–year career because of irritation in his lower back. Ripken's record consecutive game streak ended last September at 2,632 games.

1998
» Florida Marlins rookie 3B Kevin Millar makes his first major league start against the Diamondbacks. On the first pitch he sees from Jeff Suppan, Millar swings and hits a foul ball. In doing so, he breaks the hamate bone in his left hand, sending him to the DL. Florida goes on to defeat Arizona, 4–3.

The Mets score three runs in each of the last three innings to take a 14–0 victory over the Reds, the largest shutout in team history. Another team mark is tied when LF Bernard Gilkey scores five times.

The Blue Jays beat the White Sox, 5–4, despite Lou Frazier tying the Sox team record (George Davis and Jimmy Callahan, in 1905) for stolen bases with 4. Interestingly, Frazier is 0-for-3 at the plate. Albert Belle homers for the Sox and Mike Stanley and Ed Sprague go back to back for the Jays in the 4th.

1996
» The host Rangers show no mercy in running up the largest score in the A.L. in 41 years and trouncing the league-leading Orioles, 26–7. Sixteen of the runs come in the 56-minute 8th inning, their last at bat, and the largest 8th inning tally in baseball history. The inning is highlighted by Kevin Elster's grand slam off O's backup IF Manny Alexander. Manny, no Grover Cleveland Alexander, walks four including three with the bases loaded, but does manage to get an out. For O's reliever Jesse Orosco, it's a bad two days as he gives up 12 earned runs in two 1/3 innings: The two outings raise his season ERA from 1.52 to 3.40. Juan Gonzalez hits two homers and has six RBIs, while Dean Palmer (2) and Will Clark also add round-trippers. O's manager Johnson fumes when Mickey Tettleton takes 3B with Texas ahead 20–7: "I've seen it all, but guys tagging up from second with an 18-run lead, it's ridiculous." Texas manager Johnny Oates, who still carries a clipping from a 1983 IL game when Johnson, with a 9-run lead, had his team stealing against Oates' squad, counters, "Davey didn't have to use an infielder to pitch in that inning."

The wind is blowing out in Chicago, and Brian McRae, with a grand slam, Ryne Sandberg and Mark Grace hit consecutive homers in the 6th to give the Cubs a 10–6 win over the Giants. Losing lefty Mike Watson serves up five Cub homers and shows little respect for venerable Wrigley Field: "I hate this place. They should burn it down."

The A's have a delayed home opener in the reconstructed Oakland Coliseum, though there are no bleachers for the time being. The formerly symmetrical stadium now sports six distinct angles in the outfield, much like the old Forbes or Ebbets Field. All the fans tonight are given yellow construction helmets with the A's logo on them. The A's, 2–4 in their six early games in Las Vegas, lose 4–3 to the White Sox when Frank Thomas cracks a 2-run homer in the 8th to give Chicago reliever Matt Karchner his 3rd win.

At Anaheim, California's Mark Langston picks up a complete game win, 4–3 over the Tigers. Detroit's Mark Parent and the Angels' Tim Wallach both homer, but neither is over the left field fence where actor Charlie Sheen has purchased 2,615 seats for himself and three friends. Sheen, an inveterate sports memorabilia collector, was hoping for a home run in his vicinity. "I didn't want to crawl over the paying public," said Sheen after shelling out $6,500 for the seats.

1994
» The Red Sox defeat the Athletics, 13-5, as Mo Vaughn and Tim Naehring twice hit back-to-back home runs. The pair connect off Bob Welch in the 2nd inning and off Carlos Reyes in the 6th.

Expo OF Larry Walker throws out Giants P John Burkett at 1B on a ground ball into RF. Montreal goes on to defeat San Francisco, 4-3.

1989
» Mets SS Kevin Elster plays his 73rd consecutive errorless game in a 4–2 win over the Phillies, breaking Ed Brinkman's major-league record for shortstops.

1987
» Rob Deer's 3-run homer and Dale Sveum's 2–run shot off Greg Harris caps a 5-run rally in the bottom of the 9th inning and gives the Brewers a 6–4 win over Texas and a 12-0 record, breaking the 1981 A's record for the best start in American League history.

Cardinals ace John Tudor suffers a broken leg when Mets catcher Barry Lyons crashes into the St. Louis dugout while chasing a foul pop. Tudor, who was not pitching in the 4–2 Cardinals win, will be sidelined until August 1st.

1986
» Oakland's Jose Rijo sets a club record with 16 strikeouts in eight innings as the A's beat Seattle 7–2. The two clubs combine for 30 strikeouts overall, setting the modern major-league record for a 9-inning game.

1984
» Kansas City's Bret Saberhagen picks up his first ML victory as the Royals beat the Tigers 5–2. It is the first loss of the season for the red-hot Tigers, who began the year 9–0 and will never fall out of first place in the American League East. Dan Petry pitches eight innings, allowing four earned runs in the loss.

1981
» In the first game of a doubleheader the Oakland A's set the major-league record for consecutive wins at the start of the season, running their record to 11-0 with a 6–1 win over Seattle. The record will fall in 1987. The Mariners win the nightcap 3–2 on Richie Zisk's solo home run in the 8th inning.

1980
» Houston's J.R. Richard fires a one-hitter against the Dodgers, striking out 12 in a 2–0 victory. Reggie Smith's infield roller in the 4th inning is LA's lone hit.

1979
» Following a 6–3 loss to the Orioles, Yankees Goose Gossage and Cliff Johnson brawl in the clubhouse. Gossage sustains a sprained ligament in his left thumb, and will be sidelined until July 12th. After the fight, Reggie Jackson predicts that Cliff Johnson's days as a Yankee are numbered. He is proved correct when Johnson is traded to Cleveland on June 15th for Don Hood.

In Cincinnati, Tom Seaver allows jut two hits as the Reds beat the Braves, 2–0.

Starter Vide Blue allows ten runs against the San Diego Padres but is still the winning pitcher in the 14-10 game. Nine of the runs are earned. It is the most runs allowed in a win since Bob Friend allowed 10 runs, all earned, in 1954.

1977
» Brooks Robinson makes his last home run a dramatic one. Pinch hitting for Larry Harlow, he hits a three run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning off Dave LaRoche to beat the Indians 6-5. Brooks will go to bat just 47 times this year, finishing his career with 268 homers. In yesterday's game against Cleveland, O's rookie Eddie Murray hits his first ML homer, off former Oriole Pat Dobson.

Kansas City whips the Twins, 11–3, as Frank White paces the KC offense with a double and homer in one inning.

1976
» The Mets outlast the Cards, 4–3, in a 17-inning contest. Bake McBride tallies five hits for St. Louis.

After trailing 7–1 in the 4th inning, the Reds rally to beat the Astros, 9–8. The Reds score six runs in the last three innings to win. In the 9th, Tony Perez homers and Dave Concepcion hits a 2-out, 2-run single to bring home the winner.

1975
» In Cincinnati, the Reds spot the Astros a 7–1 lead, then roar back to score three in the 9th to win, 9–8. Tony Perez hits a solo home run in the 9th and Concepcion knocks in two runs.

1974
» The Yankees obtain Walt 'No Neck' Williams and pitchers Ed Farmer and Rick Sawyer from the Tigers for C Gerry Moses. Moses had come to New York in the Graig Nettles trade.

1973
» Al Kaline, 38, steals home on a double steal with Willie Horton as the Tigers defeat Boston 11–7.

1972
» Steve Carlton, facing his former teammates for the first time, scatters three hits in outdueling Bob Gibson and the Cardinals, 1–0. The lone run comes on a Willie Montanez triple and a single by Johnson.

1971
» Longtime Giants announcer Russ Hodges dies at Mill Valley, California.

1970
» A first-inning double by Ken Henderson is the only hit off Wayne Simpson as the Reds beat the Giants, 6–0. This is Simpson's 2nd shutout in three starts.

1969
» Harmon Killebrew beats the Angels defensive shift by hitting an opposite field 9th inning single through the open right side of the infield to give the Twins a 6–5 win. Rod Carew ties the score in the 7th with a steal of home. The Twins have won five straight.

Boston trades last year's 1B Ken Harrelson and pitchers Dick Ellsworth and Juan Pizarro to Cleveland for pitchers Sonny Siebert and Vincente Romo and C Joe Azcue.

1968
» The National League owners approve expansion, pending unanimous approval of two new teams.

Nolan Ryan of the Mets becomes the 6th pitcher in NL history to strike out the side on nine pitches. But Los Angeles wins 3–2 at Shea Stadium.

1966
» In the first regular season game at Anaheim Stadium, California drops a 3–1 decision to the White Sox before 31,660 fans. Rick Reichardt hits the Angels' first regular-season home run in the new facility.

Tommy Sisk finally gives Pittsburgh a home win, topping the Cardinals, 5–3.

1965
» At a cost of $20,000, the outer Astrodome ceiling is painted because the sun's glare makes fielding fly balls hazardous. Outfielders had been wearing batting helmets in preseason games because of the glare. Painting the skylights will reduce the lighting by nearly 40% and create the need for lights. But the lack of sunlight will cause the grass to die and spur the introduction of artificial turf.

Jim Maloney pitches a one hitter as the Reds top the Braves, 2–0. The only hit is Denis Menke's single in the 8th inning.

1964
» One day after Sandy Koufax fans the side on nine pitches, Bob Bruce strikes out the Cardinals in order on nine pitches in the 8th inning of a Houston loss.

1962
» Mickey Mantle's homer in the 4th, off Chuck Estrada, starts the Yanks to a 3–1 win over the Orioles.

The Pirates win their 9th straight, beating the Phils, 8–3. This is a new club record, breaking the mark at the beginning of the 1938 season. Roberto Clemente's 2-run single and Bill Mazeroski's 2-run homer are the big blows.

1961
» Washington's Marty Kutyna pitches brilliantly in relief, yielding four hits in six 1/3 scoreless innings to ruin Chicago's home opener, 7–2. As in Washington's opener, JFK throws out first ball—but this JFK is from Oak Lawn, near Chicago. Eddie Gaedel and seven other midgets act as vendors in the box seat sections. This is Veeck's response to complaints that vendors were blocking the view of fans.

1960
» Opening Day in Cleveland takes on added drama as Rocky Colavito makes his debut with the Tigers. He is hitless in six ABs and strikes out four times. Detroit's Frank Lary and Cleveland's Gary Bell each pitch 10 shutout innings. The Tigers score twice in the 11th, but Jim Piersall's 2-run single off Jim Bunning ties the game. In the 15th, as the major-league record for the longest Opening Day game is tied, Al Kaline's 2-run single gives Detroit a 4–2 win.

Before a home crowd of 41,661, Minnie Minoso celebrates his return to the White Sox with a 4th-inning grand slam against Kansas City. Leading off the bottom of the 9th with the score tied 9–9, Minoso hits a solo homer for his 6th RBI.

On Patriot's Day at Fenway Park, Roger Maris makes his debut with the Yankees a smash as he goes 4-for-5, including two home runs, and drives in four runs. The Yanks spoil Boston's opener with an 8–4 win as Jim Coates goes all the way for New York. Tom Brewer is the loser. Red Sox catcher Haywood Sullivan has his first ML hit after five seasons and 16 at bats. Mayor John Collins, wheel-chair bound because of polio, tosses out the first ball.

1957
» Harvey R. Hansen succeeds Fred Knorr as president of the Detroit Tigers.

1956
» A record crowd of 12,214 watches the Dodgers nip the Phillies 5-4 at Jersey City. This is the largest daytime crowd the Dodgers will draw in New Jersey for their 15 games there.

1954
» On Patriot's Day in Boston, The Yankees sweep both games from the Red Sox. New York wins the morning game, 2–1, on Jim MacDonald's one hitter. Harry Agganis has Boston's only hit, a second inning bloop single. In the afternoon game, the Yankees top Mel Parnell, 5–0 behind Jim McDonald, as Mickey Mantle belts his first homer of the year.

Eddie Yost hits a lead off homer in the 9th to give the Senators a 4–3 win over the A's. The win goes to reliever Camilo Pascual, who matches the ML total of his brother Carlos.

1952
» Eddie Mathews of the Boston Braves hits his first ML HR off Ken Heintzelman of the Phillies in Philadelphia. The Braves win 4-0.

1950
» Sid Gordon of the Braves hits the first National League grand slam of the season, as Boston beats the Giants 10-6 at the Polo Grounds. There will be 35 grand slams in the league this year, a NL single-season record, later topped. Giants pitcher Jack Harshman hits his first homer, off Johnny Sain, but it's not enough.

At Wichita, Pueblo beats Wichita (Western L), 13–5. Winning pitcher Daniel Stupur of Pueblo sets a league record by issuing 15 walks.

1949
» At pregame ceremonies marking the season opener in Yankee Stadium, a granite monument to Babe Ruth is unveiled in center field. Plaques honoring Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins are also presented. Mrs. Babe Ruth, Mayor William O'Dwyer, and Governor Thomas E. Dewey are at the game.

In Brooklyn, the Dodgers pay tribute to Jack "Shorty" Laurice, the "number one" fan and leader of the Ebbets Field "Sym-phony" band. Laurice died in 1948.

Before 53,000 at Detroit, Tigers rookie Johnny Groth homers twice in his first 3 trips against the White Sox.

1948
» Rookie LH Lou Brissie defeats the Red Sox at Fenway 4-2 in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. Wounded in W W II, Brissie, who has a metal plate in one leg and wears a shinguard as protection, is hit on the shin by a Ted Williams line drive.

1947
» New skipper Burt Shotton manages the Dodgers from the dugout in street clothes, ΰ la Connie Mack. Johnny Mize and Bill Rigney hit homers to help the Giants edge the Dodgers, 4–3.

1945
» Joe Cronin of the Red Sox, catches his spikes at 2B and fractures his right leg in a 4–3 loss to the Yankees. The 39-year-old will retire but continues as manager. Mike Ryba decides the game by hitting Johnny Lindell on the wrist with the bases full in the 9th.

1944
» The Giants defeat the Braves 2-1, as Mel Ott hits the first NL HR of the year and the 464th of his career.

1938
» In the top of the first inning at Philadelphia, Dodger Ernie Koy homers in his first ML at bat. In the bottom of the inning, leadoff man Emmett Mueller also hits a HR in his first time up in the ML.

1937
» The Phillies open in Boston with a doubleheader win against the Bees 2-1 and 1­0.

1929
» The Giants bounce the Phils, 14–5, on 20 hits. Also hitting are Philley 1B Don Hurst and the Giants Harry Kelly, who was verbally riding Hurst from the bench. When separated, Hurst is ejected. Vet Carl Mays is the winning pitcher, running his winning streak to 13 games over the Phils. He's never lost (1st win: May 13, 1924) and it is his final decision against the Quakers.

1928
» The Yankees are out of first place for the first time since May 1926, as they lose the morning Patriots Day game in Boston.

The Browns and Tigers pitchers issue 18 walks. Detroit wins 9-8.

1922
» At Cleveland, the Browns Elam Vangilder fires his 2nd straight three-hitter and homers to lead St. Louis to a 15–1 win. George Sisler and Cy Williams each steal three bases.

1919
» Pushed through the legislature by future New York City mayor Jimmy Walker, a bill legalizing Sunday baseball in the state is signed by Governor Al Smith.

1915
» St. Louis Cardinals righthander Lee Meadows makes his NL debut and becomes the first player to wear glasses regularly on the field since P Will White in 1886. Later in the season, Carmen Hill will become the 2nd pitcher to do so.

1912
» Behind the pitching of Walter Johnson, Washington wins its home opener 6–0 over the World Champion Athletics. Only 10,000 fans show up as shocking news of the Titanic sinking keeps people away. President Taft skips the game and Veep Sherman does the tossing of the first ball.

Playing their home opener against Brooklyn, the Giants win, 6–2. Christy Mathewson is the victor, despite giving up 13 hits.

1910
» 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.

1908
» The National Commission reinstates Jake Stahl and Mike Donlin after fining them $100 each for playing with teams outside organized ball in 1907.

1907
» Ed Walsh has his sinker working as he fields 11 assists and two putouts during a 1-0 win over the Browns. His total of 13 chances ties the mark Nick Altrock set in 1904.

1902
» Righthander Bob Ewing, 29, makes his ML debut with the Reds, and ties a NL record by walking seven batters in the 4th inning. The Chicago Cubs get five runs on one hit in the inning. Ewing adds another three walks en route to a 9-5 loss.

At Boston's Huntington Avenue Grounds, 15,000 watch Boston defeat Baltimore, 7-6, in the AL Opening Day game. Cy Young is the winner.

1901
» At the Polo Grounds, the Giants open a day late, losing 7-0 to Boston. Dummy Taylor is hit hard and takes the loss.

In an exhibition game in Detroit, the Tigers beat Grand Rapids, 8-0. It is the first game ever between a National Agreement club and an American League team.

1900
» In the NL opener at Boston, 10,000 fans watch the Phils win 19-17 in 10 innings, the highest scoring season opener in history. Boston scored nine runs, including a major-league record three by pinch hitters, in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game at 17 apiece. At one point, Philadelphia led 16-4. The record of three pinch runners will be matched four times in the 20th century, all in the 9th inning. Buck Freeman and Lave Cross match homers. Al Orth goes all the way for the Phils, while Vic Willis starts for Boston with Kid Nichols in relief.

In the Opener at Cincinnati, Chicago outslugs the Reds, 13-10. Jock Menefee is the winner over Ed Scott.

On Opening Day in Detroit, Charlie Bennett throws out the first ball in the Detroit park named for him, but his presence fails to rouse the Tigers, who fall to the no-hit pitching of Buffalo’s Morris "Doc" Amole, 8-0. In his 2-year NL career, which ended in 1898, Amole compiled a record of 4-10.