Charlton's Baseball Chronology
April 3
2006
The Cardinals down the Phillies, 13-5, in their season opener. Jimmy Rollins strokes an 8th inning double for Philadelphia, extending his 2-season hitting streak to 37 games.
The Orioles open their season with a 9-6 win over the Devil Rays. CF Luis Matos becomes the first player in Orioles history to homer in back-to-back opening days since Frank Robinson in 1969-70.
The Florida Marlins set a modern major-league record by starting six rookies in their opener. They collect five hits but no runs as they lose to the Astros, 1–0. Roy Oswalt goes 8 innings for the win.
The Red Sox become the first team to start an Opening Day infield that has none of the team's starting infielders from the previous postseason. The Sox open with Mike Lowell-3B, Alex Gonzalez-SS, Mark Loretta-2B, Kevin Youkilis-1B. Lowell homers as does David Ortiz to back Curt Schilling’s win, 7–3. Schilling’s batterymate, Jason Varitek is the first Red Sox catcher to start Opening Day for seven straight seasons.
The Yankees roll by the A's, 15-2 as Alex Rodriguez has a grand slam and 5 RBI. Hideki Matsui has 4 hits, including a 3-run homer, to drive in 4. Randy Johnson, with 7 IP, is the recipient of the offense. A's starter Barry Zito joins Brad Havens (1983) and Dave Stewart (1995) as the only Opening Day starters since 1945 to give up seven or more runs and record just four outs. The A's are wearing a right-sleeve arm patch on their home uniforms in memory of Bill King, their lead radio announcer since 1981. The patch features a microphone emblazoned with King's name and his signature call, "Holy Toledo." The Blue Jays are paying tribute to Tom Cheek who broadcast 4,306 consecutive regular-season games beginning with the team's first ever in 1977. The team will wear a left-sleeve arm patch featuring a microphone and the initials "TC."
Anaheim tips the Mariners in their season opener, 5–4, when Orlando Cabrera drives in 2 runs in the top of the 9th with his 3rd hit of the game. Mariner Kenji Johjima became the first C in 122 years to homer in his first game in the majors; the last C to accomplish the feat was Jerry Moore in 1884.
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2005
The Yankees defeat the Red Sox‚ 9-2‚ to open the 2005 baseball season. Randy Johnson gets the win for NY‚ while Hideki Matsui gets 3 hits‚ including a HR‚ drives home 3 runs‚ and robs Kevin Millar of a 2-run HR.
Devil Rays OF Alex Sanchez is suspended 10 days for violating baseball's new policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
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2003
With a 4-0 loss to Montreal's Javier Vazquez‚ the Braves start 0-3 for the first time since they started 0-10 in1988. The team also loses back to back shutout games for the first time since 1992.
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2002
Indians P Chuck Finley is scratched from his start‚ after his wife was arrested and charged with spousal abuse and battery yesterday. When the police arrived at his home‚ they noticed abrasions and scrapes on him. The team says Finley's physically able to pitch‚ but wanted to stay with his daughters. Ryan Drese starts in his place and records his first ML win‚ 6-5 over the host Angels. Drese allows 3 runs in 5 2/3 innings as the Tribe takes the rubber game.
The Giants defeat the Dodgers‚ 12-0‚ as Barry Bonds hits a pair of HRs for the second day in a row. He becomes only the second player in history to begin a season with a pair of 2-HR games. Eddie Mathews was the other.
Playing at home, the Oakland Athletics lose to the Texas Rangers‚ 9-6‚ as the Rangers score 3 in the 8th. The loss snaps the A's string of 20 straight wins at home stretching back to August 24. The A's move past the 1974-75 Cincinnati Reds for most consecutive home wins over two seasons; The Reds mark was 17.
The Astros score eight runs in the fourth inning on their way to a 15-2 rout of the Brewers. Daryle Ward's three-run homer against Ruben Quevado‚ is the highlight of the big inning.
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2001
The Astros defeat the Brewers‚ 11-3‚ as Craig Biggio gets 5 hits for Houston‚ tying a ML record for an opener. Daryle Ward‚ filling in for the injured Moises Alou‚ adds a grand slam to back Scott Elarton. Jose Hernandez and Jeromy Burnitz hit solo HRs for the Brew.
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2000
a href="../ballplayers/player.php?name=Ken_Griffey_Jr_1969">Ken Griffey, Jr. makes his regular season debut in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. The Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers play to a 3-3 tie in a game the umpires call due to rain in the sixth inning. It is the first tie game on Opening Day in 35 years.
In their opener‚ the Texas Rangers defeat the Chicago White Sox‚ 10-4‚ as OF Gabe Kapler becomes the first player to homer in his first two at-bats as a Ranger. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez also hits two homers for Texas before the largest regular-season crowd in the team's history. Ranger starter Kenny Rogers ties Frank Viola for third place in consecutive home wins with the victory over Mike Sirotka. Rogers has won 19 consecutive home games and hasn't lost on his own turf since June 28‚ 1997‚ a span of 1‚012 days (through April 4). Ray Kremer of the Pittsburgh Pirates holds the record of 22 consecutive home wins set in 1926-27: Lefty Grove of Boston (1938-41) is 2nd with 20 straight home wins.
The Blue Jays defeat the Royals‚ 5-4‚ as SS Tony Batista and OF Shannon Stewart each homer twice.
The Braves defeat the Rockies‚ 2-0. Andres Galarraga homers in his 1st game back after missing the entire 1999 season following cancer surgery.
The Dodgers defeat the Expos‚ 10-4‚ behind a grand slam by first baseman Eric Karros. OF Vladimir Guerrero hits a pair of homers for Montreal as a new major league record for opening day is set with 5 players having multiple HR games.
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1998
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jose Valentin strokes three homers‚ and drives in five runs‚ to lead his team to a 7-1 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Just 4 days after being obtained in a trade with Cleveland‚ Reds 1B Sean Casey is hit in the eye with a ball thrown by Damian Jackson during batting practice. His eye orbit is fractured‚ and will require surgery on April 8.
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1997
Baltimore's Jimmy Key makes his Oriole debut beating the Royals‚ 4-2‚ to run his opening day record to 7-0‚ the best ever. He won 3 with New York and 3 with Toronto.
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1996
The San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs‚ 7-5‚ with Joey Hamilton lasting five innings to notch his first win of the year and his first hit in three seasons. Hamilton had been 0-for-57 at the plate‚ one of the worst offensive starts in ML history. Tony Gwynn is 4-for-4‚ while Caminiti has 4 RBIs‚ 3 on a HR. Brad Ausmus‚ Wally Joyner‚ Scott Servais and Sammy Sosa all hit homers. Frank Castillo is the loser.
The College of St. Francis sets 71 records with a 71-1 four-inning defeat of Robert Morris College. The Fighting Saints score 26 runs in the 1st inning‚ 22 more in the 2nd‚ 4 in the 3rd and 19 in the 4th‚ collecting 44 hits along the way. 1st baseman Brian Mazurek hits for the cycle‚ while freshman SS Mike Palermo ties an NAIA record with 7 hits. LF Mike Holcomb sets a NCAA mark with 9 runs scored.
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1994
Cardinals OF Ray Langford hits a HR as the first batter of the 1994 season. St. Louis goes on the defeat Cincinnati‚ 6-4‚ with Bob Tewksbury gaining the win.
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1993
The Rockies sign free agent vet Dale Murphy. The two-time MVP will hit just .143 in 26 games for the Rocks.
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1992
The Red Sox conclude 27 years of spring training at Winter Haven‚ Florida‚ by beating the Tigers‚ 14-4.
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1991
Nolan Ryan and his son‚ Reid‚ pitch against each other as the Rangers take on the University of Texas. Reid‚ a 19-year-old freshman‚ gives up 4 runs in 2 innings‚ and is down 4-1 to his father when he leaves the game. Dad gives up 5 hits‚ 3 runs‚ and strikes out 7 in 5 innings‚ as the Rangers win 12-5.
The White Sox sign former Royal Bo Jackson to a contract which could earn him more than $8 million over 3 years if he is healthy.
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1989
The Mets win their 11th consecutive home opener 8-4 over St. Louis at Shea Stadium. New York has won on Opening Day in 18 of the last 20 seasons. Dwight Gooden is the winner‚ helped by a home run by Howard Johnson.
Facing Dave Stewart‚ Ken Griffey‚ Jr. doubles in his first ML at bat‚ but the Athletics beat the Mariners‚ 3-2. Mark McGwire homers for the A's.
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1987
The Cubs trade veteran pitcher Dennis Eckersley (6-11) and minor leaguer Dan Rohn to the A's for 3 minor leaguers. Eckersley made his only relief appearance of the year on June 24th‚ and his first out of the bullpen after 301 starts. For the A's‚ Eckersley will perform brilliantly as a full-time reliever.
At Tiger Stadium‚ Jack Morris makes his 8th straight start for Detroit and is booed by the 51‚315 for his attempts to leave the Tigers over the winter. The Yankees and Tigers each score one run in 9 innings before New York scores in the 10th to beat Morris‚ 2-1. Dave Righetti‚ in relief of Dennis Rasmussen‚ is the winner.
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1986
Pedro Guerrero‚ the Dodgers most productive hitter‚ ruptures a tendon in his left knee while sliding into 3B in an exhibition game. He will be sidelined for at least 3 months and not have his first hit until September.
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1985
The Players' Association agrees to the owners' proposal to expand the 1985 League Championship Series from the best-of-5 games to best-of-7.
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1984
Arbitrator Richard Bloch rules that the Royals Willie Wilson and the Mets Jerry Martin can return to action on May 15th‚ the day their year-long suspensions are first due to be reviewed.
After rain washes out yesterday's Opener at Royals Stadium‚ Yul Bryner tosses out the first ball and Kansas City opens with a 4-2 win over the Yankees. The threat of snow holds the crowd to just 10‚006. Bud Black‚ with relief help from Quisenberry‚ tops Ron Guidry‚ still winless in Openers. Onyx Concepcion hits Guidry's first pitch of the game for a homer‚ while Dave Winfield has a two-run homer for New York.
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1976
Angels Bobby Bonds suffers a fractured finger during an exhibition game with the Dodgers. After 99 painful games‚ Bonds will have surgery on August 9th.
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1974
The Dodgers trade P Bruce Ellingsen to the Indians for 17-year-old minor league IF Pedro Guerrero.
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1969
Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and joins the Expos‚ signing for $50‚000 per year.
The Phils send 1B Bill White back to the Cards for infielders Jim Hutto and Jerry Buchek.
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1966
Tom Seaver‚ University of Southern California pitcher‚ signs with the Mets for a reported $50‚000 bonus. A selection of the Braves in the January free-agent draft‚ Seaver was signed by Atlanta's Richmond farm club a month later‚ after USC had begun its baseball schedule. The violation netted Richmond a $500 fine and forbade Atlanta from signing Seaver for 3 years. However‚ Seaver was also declared ineligible at the college level‚ so an unprecedented special draft is held. Three clubs willing to match Richmond's $40‚000 contract-the Indians‚ Phillies‚ and Mets-participate. New York's name is drawn from a hat as the winner.
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1964
P Carl Willey of the Mets suffers a broken jaw when he is hit by a line drive off the bat of Detroit's Gates Brown during a spring training loss. He will be out until June 6th but his career will be effectively ended.
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1961
Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia is sold to J. Schleifer Properties. The park is to be torn down after the 1963 season and replaced by bowling alleys.
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1960
The Orioles pickup C Clint Courtney‚ along with SS Ron Samford‚ from the Senators for 2B Billy Gardner.
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1958
The Cubs send OF Bob Speake and cash to San Francisco for veteran Bobby Thomson.
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1938
Goose Goslin‚ released by Detroit‚ returns for his 3rd stint with the Senators.
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1924
In Ashville‚ the first game ever played in McCormick Field is a smashing success as the visiting Detroit Tigers beat the Ashville Skylanders‚ 18-14. A sparse crowd of 3199 watches as Harry Heilmann bangs 3 homers‚ two off the top of the LF grandstand. Ty Cobb adds a homer. When the Dodgers leave Ebbets Field‚ the scoreboard will be relocated to McCormick Field.
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1923
Two "Black Sox" sue the White Sox. Swede Risberg and Happy Felsch seek $400‚000 damages and $6‚750 back salary for conspiracy and injury to reputation‚ but their suit will be unsuccessful.
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1909
Eddie Plank pitches the A's to a 5-4 win over the Phillies to even the Philadelphia series at one game apiece.
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1902
The NL names club owners Arthur Soden‚ John T. Brush‚ and James Hart as an interim committee to run the league.
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1901
Connie Mack accuses Christy Mathewson of reneging on a Philadelphia contact signed in January. The young pitcher had accepted advance money from Mack‚ but jumped back to the Giants in March. Mack considers going to court‚ but eventually accepts the loss of the pitcher.
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1891
The Cleveland Spiders beat Pittsburgh 6-3 in St. Augustine in the first spring training game between 2 ML teams ever played in Florida.
John M. Ward returns from Paris with the announcement that he has reconciled with his wife‚ actress Helen Dauvray. The stormy marriage between stars of baseball and the stage is one of the most publicized in America.
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1888
Chicago sells pitching star John Clarkson to Boston for $10‚000. He has said he doesn't ant to play for Chicago but would rather play near his Boston home. With last year's deal for catcher King Kelly‚ the Beaneaters have acquired a "$20‚000 Battery" from the White Stockings.
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1887
Boston club president Arthur Soden announces to the players that while John Morrill remains manager‚ Mike Kelly will serve as captain.
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1885
The Metropolitans release Tim Keefe and Dude Esterbrook; both players later sign with the New York Giants.
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1884
The Fast Day game-a Boston Red Stockings tradition-is canceled for the first time since the club's founding in 1871. Mass. governor Robinson has set the date for Fast Day a week earlier than usual and blizzard and six inches of snow fall today.
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1883
The Cleveland club visits the White House‚ where President Chester A. Arthur greets them by telling them that "Good ball-players make good citizens."
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1879
The annual Fast Day opener in Boston draws more than 1‚000 fans despite the rainy weather.
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1869
A reporter for the New York Clipper comments on pitcher Alphonse "Phoney Martin‚ writing‚ "His style is peculiar‚ being neither slow nor swift‚ but a 'happy mean.' He is an extremely hard pitcher to hit for the ball never comes in a straight line‚ but in a tantalizing curve." This argues that Martin predates Candy Cummings‚ generally given credit for inventing the curve.
