Opening Day – Society for American Baseball Research

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

George Zettlein, Baseball-Reference.com

April 26, 1872: Mansfields of Middletown are ‘Chicagoed’ in National Association debut

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

Dan Brouthers (SABR-Rucker Archive)

April 19, 1894: Dan Brouthers and upstart Orioles stun heavily favored Giants on Opening Day

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

Cy Young (CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM)

April 14, 1908: Boston wins first game as the Red Sox after formal name change

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