MLB’s Opening Day is upon us, with the Dodgers and Padres opening the season tomorrow in Seoul, South Korea. I, by the way, am not a big fan of these overseas “Openers” – mostly because of the necessary time gap between the openers for the rest of MLB. Still, Opening Day is a time to celebrate – and I’ll do so with some MLB Opening Day trivia tidbits, as well as my predictions for the 2024 season.
Two disclaimers here. Given statistical accuracy and game formats, I am limiting myself to the Modern Era (post 1900) and not all Negro League game stats have been fully documented and incorporated into the MLB record book. (In 2020, the Negro Leagues from 1920-48 were designated major leagues.)
“You always get a special kick on Opening Day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.’
Joe DiMaggio
So, let’s look at some Opening Day stats and stories.
THESE PLAYERS WERE A ‘HANDFUL” ON OPENING DAY
In the Modern Era (since 1901) only 14 MLB players have collected five hits (five is a handful, isn’t it?) in an Opening Day game. Looking for unicorns within this list, on March 30, 2023, we saw the first (still only) Opening Day in which two players collected five hits (it happened in two different games). The players were Andy Rutschman of the Orioles and George Springer of the Blue Jays. Rutschman also became the first (only) catcher to record a five-hit Opening Day.
Now, there are some potential trivia tidbits (that you can turn into trivia questions) in this list, but here’s one that intrigues The Roundtable.
In a statistical anomaly, seven of the 14 players to enjoy a five-hit Opening Day played the same position. What position was it?
Your answer: Second base and the players were Craig Biggio; Jeff Kent; Nellie Fox; Billy Herman; Aaron Miles; Larry Doyle; and Eddie Collins. For those who like to know such things, the list also includes three left fielders, two third baseman, one right fielder and one catcher. As you might guess, most of these players were batting high in the order: Five leading off, five batting second, two in the three-hole, one at cleanup and one sixth,
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THREE’S A CROWD – OR A CROWD OF THREES
The Opening Day, single-game record of three home runs is shared by four players. The quarter includes: the Blue Jays’ George Bell, Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes, Tigers’ Dmitri Young and White Sox’ Matt Davidson. Here’s another anomaly that would make a good trivia question. Three of the four three-homer Opening Day games were logged against the same franchise. Who were the unlucky opponent so those three triple-round tripper openers?
Your answer. The Kansas City Royals. Here’s the full list.
George Bell … On April 4, 1988, Bell – batting clean-up and serving as the DH – became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs in an Opening Day game, as his Blue Jays topped the Royals 5-3 in Kansas City. Bell’s power outburst was no surprise. He was coming off a 1987 season in which he hit 47 homers, drove in 134 runs and was the AL MVP. Bell went three-for-four with three runs scored and four RBI, hitting all three home runs off Royals’ starter Brett Saberhagen.
Tuffy Rhodes … On a windy April 4, 1994, Rhodes (leading off and playing CF for the Cubs in Chicago) hit three solo shots off Mets’ starter Dwight Gooden. Rhodes also had a single and a walk in five plate appearances. Despite Rhodes’ record-tying performance, the Cubs lost to the visiting Mets 12-8. At the time, Rhodes had played 107 MLB games in four seasons – hitting a total of five home runs. His MLB career consisted of 225 games in six seasons, with a .224 average and just 13 round trippers (with a high of eight in 1994). Rhodes did go on to hit 474 home runs in eleven seasons in Japan.
Dmitri Young … On April 4, 2005 the Tigers’ Young joined Bell and Rhodes on the list of batters with three home runs in an Opening Day game – as the Tigers topped the Royals 11-2 in Detroit. Young started at DH and went four-for-four with four runs and five RBI. Young, an All Star in 2003 and 2007, hit a total of 21 home runs in 2005 – and 171 in 13 MLB seasons. He hit a career-high 29 round trippers in 2003.
Matt Davidson … On March 29, 2018, as the White Sox topped the Royals 14-7 in Kansas City, DH and (appropriately) cleanup hitter Davidson opened the season with a three-homer, five-RBI game. He went three-for-four with a walk, four runs scored and five RBI. Davidson went deep off three different pitchers: solo shots in the fourth and fifth off Danny Duffy and Blaine Boyer and a three-run blast in the eighth off Brian Flynn. Davidson, in his fourth MLB season, went on to a .228-20-62 campaign. In his 306 MLB games (2013, 2015-18, 2020, 2022), Davidson has ja .220-54-157 stat line.
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A UNICORN OF A WIN
In 1980, Mike Parrot was the Opening Day starter (at home) for the Seattle Mariners – an honor he earned with a 14-12, 3.77 season for the 67-95 Mariners in 1979. He picked up the win, going 6 1/3 innings in an 8-6 Seattle victory over Toronto. Why then unicorn designation? Parrot would pitch in 26 more games that season (15 more starts) and not record another victory – ending the campaign at 1-16, 7.28. Parrot pitched in five MLB seasons (1977-81, all for the Mariners) – going in 19-39, 4.87.
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WHO’S ON FIRST? NONE OF YOU.
Who was the first MLB pitcher to throw nine no-hit innings in an Opening Day start? I’ll toss in a little hint here. It’s not the Feller you may be thinking of – and it’s not a good Day to guess.
MLB has seen a pair of Opening Day no-hitters, Bob Feller of the Indians on April 16, 1940 and Leon Day of the of the Newark Eagles (Negro National League II) on May 5, 1946.
Still, neither of these gentlemen can lay claim to be the first MLB pitcher to throw nine no-hit innings in an Opening Day start. Back on April 15, 1909 – as the Giants opened against the Superbas (Dodgers) in Brooklyn – Giants’ righty Leon “Red” Ames started and, with just the minimum of support, could have made history. Ames held Brooklyn hitless for nine innings, but got nary a run of support from his batsmen. Ames finally gave up a hit with one out in the tenth and, while he kept the shutout going through the 12th inning, eventually lost 3-0 in 13 innings. How the game has changed: Both Ames and Brooklyn starter Irvin “Kaiser” Wilhelm went the distance.
Ames, by the way, had a 17-season MLB career (1903-10), going 183-167, 2.63. His best season was 1905 (Giants), when he went 22-8, 2.74.
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A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE
Which player became a “victim of circumstance” and set an Opening Day single-game record by fanning five times? That would be Ron Karkovice.
On March 31, 1996, White Sox’ catcher Karkovice set an MLB Opening Day record by striking out five times as Chicago lost 3-2 in Seattle. Karkovice, however, may have been a victim of circumstance.
First Circumstance: Future Hall of Famer (and whiff artist) Randy Johnson started on the mound for the Mariners – striking out 14 in seven innings (including Karkovice three times). Johnson holds the record for Opening Day career strikeouts with 107.
Second Circumstance: The White Sox could muster only two runs on four hits over the first nine innings – taking a slim 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth (at that point, Karkovice had fanned just three times).
Third Circumstance: The Mariners tied the contest in the ninth, and the game went to 12 innings before the Mariners prevailed 3-2. In those three extra innings, Karkovice struck out against Norm Charlton (tenth inning) and Edwin Hurtado (twelfth inning) to set the Opening Day record.
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PLEASE, (DON’T) GIVE ME A BREAK
Robin Roberts holds the MLB record for consecutive Opening Day starts for the same team – 12 for the Phillies from 1950 through 1961. The record for overall consecutive Opening Day starts belong to Jack Morris at 14 (1980-93 – Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays.)
More: How the Game has Changed
In the 1950’s (1950-59), Robin Roberts won 199 games and threw 3,011 2/3 innings – an average of 301 innings pitched per season.
I’d like to go a little deeper for a tidbit/question in this category. Hall of Famer Steve Carlton started 14 of the 15 Phillies’ Opening Day games from 1972 through 1986. The one year he missed cost him the record for both overall consecutive Opening Day starts and consecutive Opening Day starts for the same team. Who was the pitcher who interrupted Carlton’s streak?
In 1976, Jim Kaat (like Carlton, a lefty and future Hall of Famer) got the Opening Day nod from the Phillies. Kaat, at the time, was a three-time 20-game winner, and an All Star for the White Sox the year before (he had been traded to the Phillies in December of 1975). For those who may be wondering whether Carlton’s health played an issue in Kaat’s Opening Day start, Carlton started the second game of the season and went on to a 20-7 record in 35 starts.
Oh, one other tidbit, Tom Seaver holds the record for total opening day starts with sixteen – 11 for the Mets, three for the Reds and two for the White Sox. Seaver recorded seven wins, two losses and seven no decisions on Opening Day,
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Just A chart for your entertainment.
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TOSSING YOU A CURVE ON THIS ONE
What pitcher holds the mark for the most strikeouts in an Opening Day game? Answer: Camilo Pascual.
This is a bit of a unicorn, as Pascual’s 15 strikeouts on Opening Day 1960 have never been matched. (Three players have fallen just one short of the total: Randy Johnson (twice – 1963 & 1996, Mariners); Don Drysdale (1960 Dodgers); and Shane Bieber 2020 Indians).
On April 18, 1960, Pascual (known for his sweeping curve ball) took the mound at Griffith Stadium for the Washington Senators (against the Boston Red Sox). In 1959, the Senators had finished in last place in the AL, but Pascual had gone 17-10, 2.64, leading the league with 17 complete games and six shutouts. As the Senators’ Opening Day starter in 1960, Pascual picked up right where he left off – tossing a complete game three-hitter, walking three and striking out a still Opening Day record 15 batters in a 10-1 win over the Red Sox. It was one of two 15-whiff games in his career.
Pascual pitched 18 MLB seasons (1954-71), winning 174 and losing 170, with a 3.63 earned run average. He was a five-time All Star, two-time twenty-game winner and led the league in complete games, shutouts and strikeouts three times each.
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WALK DON’T RUN
Can you name the pitcher who holds the record for the most walks surrendered in an Opening day game (11)? Hint, despite the 11 free passes, the opposition only scored three runs (two earned) off him in 11 innings. Answer: Herb Score.
On April 16, 1957, Cleveland southpaw Herb Score set the Opening Day record for pitcher’s walks, delivering eleven free passes to the visiting White Sox. Despite Score’s wildness, it was a close contest, with Score going the distance in a 3-2, 11-inning loss. Score struck out ten and gave up just seven hits and two earned runs – stranding 14 Chicago base runners.
Score was the 1955 AL Rookie of the Year, when the 22-year-old lefty went 16-10. 2.85 and led the league in strikeouts with 245. In 1956, he was even better, going 20-9, 2.53 and again topping the league in whiffs (263). His 1957 season ended on May 7, when he was it in the face by a line drive off the bat of Yankee Gil McDougald. Score suffered a broken nose, as well as damage to is right cheek bone and right eye. He was hospitalized for about three weeks and did not return to the mound that season.
Score came back in 1958, but suffered an elbow injury early in the season (some wondered if he had changed his delivery after the McDougald incident, but Score denied that – and had been pitching well to that point). At any rate, from 1958 until he retired in 1962, Score was 17-26, 4.43.
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A PAINFUL WAY TO START THE SEASON
On April 9, 1990, Astros’ first baseman and cleanup hitter Glenn Davis was hit by a pitch an Opening Day record three times. Davis came to the plate six times and never put the ball in play – but still made only one out. Davis (who led the league in HBP that season with eight) was hit by a pitch three times, walked twice and struck out once as the Astros lost to the visiting Reds 8-4. Davis finished Opening Day with a batting average of .000, but an on-base percentage of .833.
Second Inning – Davis, leading off, HBP (on 1-0 count) from Tom Browning;
Third Inning – Davis (one out, none on) hit by a 2-2 pitch from Browning;
Fifth Inning – Five-pitch walk off Tim Layana;
Seventh Inning – Davis fans on three pitches from Norm Charlton;
Ninth Inning: Runner on second two out, Davis intentionally walked by Rob Dibble (score tied at four);
Eleventh Inning: Davis hit by pitch (one out, one on) on a 2-2 pitch from Randy Myers.
Davis played 10 MLB seasons (1984-93), hitting .259, with 190 home runs and 603 RBI. He was hit by a pitch 55 times.
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OPENING DAY STARTS – GIMME FIVE!
Gaylord Perry ten scoreless innings in relief (seven hits. one walk, nine whiffs).
Gaylord Perry was honored by the most teams with Opening Day starts. He started on Opening Day for an MLB-record five different teams:
- Giants (1970)
- Indians (1972 through 1975)
- Rangers (1976)
- Padres (1978-79)
- Mariners (1983)
Perry pitched in 22 MLB seasons (1962-83 … Giants, Indians, Rangers, Padres, Yankees, Braves, Mariners, Royals. He went 314-265, 3.11, with won two Cy Young Awards, led his league in wins three times, wining 20+ games in five seasons.
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THE LONGEST DAY– 15 SHUTOUT INNINGS
On April 13, 1926, the Senators’ Walter Johnson pitched a 15-inning, complete-game shutout (six hits, three walks, nine strikeouts) as Washington topped the Philadelphia Athletics 1-0 in Washington. The opposing starter, Eddie Rommel tossed the second-most innings in an Opening Day appearance – going 14 1/3, as Washington scored the winning run with one out in the 15th. Johnson, by the way, was 38-years-old at the time.
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YOU CAN’T TOUCH THIS
Jimmy Key holds the record for Opening Day wins without a loss at seven – and he did in the minimum seven starts (Blue Jays, Yankees and Orioles). In those seven wins, he threw 44 1/3 innings, with a 3.05 ERA.
Key played in 15 MLB seasons (1984-98 … Blue Jays, Yankees, Orioles), going 186-117, 3.51. He was a five-time All Star and won 15 or more games in five seasons.
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BRINGING THE BOYS HOME SWEET HOME
The Opening Day single-game record for RBI (seven) is shared by the Twins’ Brant Alyea and the Cubs’ Corey Patterson.
On April 7, 1970 – in his very first game as a Twin – LF Brant Alyea drove in an Opening Day record seven runs as Minnesota topped the White Sox 12-0 in Chicago. Batting fifth, Alyea went four-for-four, with two home runs, two singles and two runs scored. The game, it turned out, would foreshadow a strong April for Alyea. In 17 April games, he hit .415, with seven runs, 23 RBI, four doubles and five home runs.
On March 31, 2003, the Cubs’ CF Corey Patterson tied Alyea’s record. In a 15-2 win over the Mets in New York, Patterson, batting seventh, drove in seven runs, going four-for-six with two home runs and two runs scored. Patterson, a career .252 hitter (12 seasons), was a true Opening Day All Star. In seven Opening Day appearances, Patterson hit .440, with seven runs, 12 RBI and three home runs.
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EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Eight is a career magic number for Opening Day. Frank Robinson, Ken Griffey, Jr. and Adam Dunn share the career record for Opening Day home runs with eight each. Robinsons were all hit in one-homer games, giving him the record for the most Opening Days with a home run.
—-BBRT KINGS OF OPENING DAY – IN THE BATTER’S BOX AND ON THE MOUND—-
Photo by wild mercury 
Perhaps no one looked forward to Opening Day more than Ted Williams – the king of the Opening Day batter’s box. A career .344 hitter, Williams was even better on Opening Day. Teddy Ballgame played in fourteen “Openers” and was never held without a hit. He compiled a .449 Opening Day average (22 hits in 49 at bats), with three home runs, eight doubles, one triple, nine runs scored, 14 RBI and eleven walks. His Opening Day on-base percentage was .550 and his season-opener slugging percentage was .837.
Photo by pingnews.com
The Washington Senators’ Walter Johnson can be crowned king of the Opening Day hill. On his first-ever Opening Day start (April 14, 1910), the 22-year-old Johnson tossed a 3-0 one-hit shutout against the Philadelphia Athletics. Sixteen years (and 13 Opening Day starts) later, a 38-year-old Johnson fulfilled his last Opening Day assignment with a 15-inning, complete-game, 1-0 win (6 hits, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts) over the A’s. Johnson holds the record for Opening Day pitching victories with nine and shutouts with seven.
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