Opening Day – Society for American Baseball Research

May 5, 1871: Red Stockings win first regular-season game in Boston baseball history

May 2, 1874: Cal McVey leads Red Stockings to an Opening Day victory

April 22, 1876: A new age begins with inaugural National League game

Harry Stovey, Courtesy of John Thorn

May 1, 1883: Philadelphia Athletics shut out Alleghenys on Opening Day

Mike Griffin (Trading Card DB)

April 16, 1887: Mike Griffin becomes first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat — or does he?

April 16, 1887: George Tebeau stakes a claim to being first major-league player to homer in his first at-bat

April 22, 1891: Beaneaters start championship run in first game in new Polo Grounds

April 22, 1891: The storm after the rain: Cubs get best of Pirates on Opening Day

April 27, 1893: Cy Young, Cleveland Spiders beat Pittsburgh in opener after pitching distance change

April 28, 1893: Beaneaters open season with rout of Giants

Trading Card Database

May 15, 1893: Beaneaters win home opener in front of star-studded crowd

April 18, 1895: Phillies stand up to rowdy Orioles on Opening Day

April 24, 1901: White Stockings thump Cleveland as American League turns from minor to major

April 25, 1901: Tigers’ ‘magnificent batting rally’ caps 10-run comeback in AL opener

Cy Young (CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM)

May 8, 1901: Boston wins first home game in Red Sox franchise history

George Winter (Trading Card DB)

April 20, 1903: Boston Americans open season at 10:30 in the morning

Cy Young, 1903 (SABR-Rucker Archive)

April 20, 1903: Cy Young’s no-hitter collapses as A’s take second game of season-opening doubleheader

April 22, 1903: New York makes its American League debut as Highlanders fall to Washington on Opening Day

April 11, 1907: Reds celebrate a ‘grand’ Opening Day with win over Pirates

From Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium: Great Games in Philadelphia’s Lost Ballpark, edited by Gregory H. Wolf

April 12, 1909: Shibe Park opens to celebration and sorrow

Hippo Vaughn (Trading Card DB)

April 14, 1910: Red Sox, Highlanders finish Opening Day in a 14-inning tie

April 14, 1910: Walter Johnson impresses President Taft on Opening Day

Clark Griffith, right, and Philadelphia A's manager Connie Mack shake hands on Opening Day 1919 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. The Washington Senators began playing at Griffith Stadium in 1912. (LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

April 12, 1911: Senators’ victory inaugurates not-yet-completely-built Griffith Stadium

April 13, 1911: Cobb and Crawford lead Tigers to Opening Day victory