Events edit
- 1907 - New York Giants catcher Roger Bresnahan wore shin guards for the first time in a Major League game.
- 1917 - Boston Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth pitches an Opening Day three-hit shut out against the New York Yankees
- 1954 - The St. Louis Cardinals trade Enos Slaughter to the New York Yankees for four minor leaguers, including Bill Virdon.
- 1959 - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Don Drysdale becomes the only pitcher to hit home runs on two separate Opening Days.
- 1961 - The Los Angeles Angels play their first game in franchise history defeating the Baltimore Orioles 7 - 2.
- 1962 - The New York Mets play their first game in franchise history, losing 11 - 4 on the road to the St. Louis Cardinals.
- 1963 - Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn notches his 328th career win, making him the all-time winningest left-handed pitcher in Major League history.
- 1966 - Emmett Ashford becomes the first black umpire in Major League history.
- 1969 - The Seattle Pilots win their Major League season debut behind a Gary Bell 7 - 0 shutout of the Chicago White Sox at Sick's Stadium.
- 1975 - Hank Aaron plays his first game as a Milwaukee Brewers.
- 1990 - California Angels pitchers Mark Langston and Mike Witt combine on a 1 - 0 no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners.
- 1996 - Atlanta Braves pitcher Greg Maddux ends his Major League record for consecutive road victories (18) with a 2 - 1 loss to the San Diego Padres.
- 2003 - In the first of its home games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Montreal Expos rout pitcher David Cone and the New York Mets, 10 - 0.
- 2006 - Derrek Lee signed a five-year $65 million deal with the Chicago Cubs.
- 2006 - Minor leaguers Waner Mateo, Ryan Rafferty, Ramón Ramirez and Justin Mallet are each suspended 50 games each by the Commissioner's office for violating baseball's Minor League drug program, the first penalties since the sport toughened its rules during the offseason.
Births edit
- 1858 - Pop Corkhill, outfielder (d. 1921)
- 1875 - Ossee Schreckengost, catcher (d. 1914)
- 1876 - Win Kellum, pitcher (d. 1951)
- 1882 - Bill McCarthy, pitcher (d. 1939)
- 1885 - Matsutarō Shōriki, Japanese baseball pioneer (d. 1969)
- 1886 - Al Nixon, outfielder (d. 1960)
- 1892 - Ray Gordinier, pitcher (d. 1960)
- 1893 - Hal Deviney, pitcher (d. 1933)
- 1895 - Ralph Sharman, outfielder (d. 1918)
- 1900 - John Middleton, pitcher (d. 1986)
- 1904 - Dutch Ussat, infielder (d. 1959)
- 1916 - Joe Antolick, catcher (d. 2002)
- 1916 - Sam Chapman, outfielder; All-Star (d. 2006)
- 1917 - Barney McCosky, outfielder (d. 1996)
- 1919 - Hank Schenz, infielder (d. 1988)
- 1921 - Jim Hearn, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1998)
- 1940 - Dick Wantz, pitcher (d. 1965)
- 1945 - Mike Kilkenny, pitcher
- 1951 - Sid Monge, pitcher; All-Star
- 1956 - John Martin, pitcher
- 1958 - Jeff Calhoun, pitcher
- 1962 - Tim Fortugno, pitcher
- 1964 - Amalio Carreño, pitcher
- 1964 - Bret Saberhagen, pitcher; All-Star
- 1964 - Wally Whitehurst, pitcher
- 1965 - Turner Ward, outfielder
- 1966 - Steve Scarsone, infielder
- 1970 - Sean Bergman, pitcher
- 1970 - Joe Vitiello, designated hitter
- 1972 - Robin Jennings, outfielder
- 1972 - Bobby Jones, pitcher
- 1972 - Jason Varitek, catcher; All-Star
- 1974 - Trot Nixon, outfielder
- 1975 - Todd Dunwoody, outfielder
- 1976 - Kelvim Escobar, pitcher
- 1978 - Josh Hancock, pitcher (d. 2007)
- 1980 - Mark Teixeira, infielder; All-Star
- 1983 - Zack Segovia, pitcher
- 1984 - Andrés Blanco, infielder
- 1984 - Alejandro De Aza, outfielder
Deaths edit
- 1904 - Shorty Fuller, infielder (b. 1867)
- 1935 - Charlie Gettig, infielder (b. 1870)
- 1938 - Cristóbal Torriente, Negro League outfielder; Hall of Famer (b. 1893)
- 1942 - Norm McNeil, catcher (b. 1892)
- 1949 - Joe Buskey, infielder (b. 1902)
- 1950 - Dick McCabe, pitcher (b. 1896)
- 1953 - Kid Nichols, pitcher, manager; Hall of Famer (b. 1869)
- 1965 - Bobby Vaughn, infielder (b. 1885)
- 1969 - Al Kaiser, outfielder (b. 1886)
- 1970 - Joe Heving, pitcher (b. 1900)
- 1970 - Sailor Stroud, pitcher (b. 1885)
- 1971 - Bert Brenner, pitcher (b. 1887)
- 1973 - Clarence Blethen, pitcher (b. 1893)
- 1979 - Eddie Wilson, outfielder (b. 1909)
- 1983 - Mike Menosky, outfielder (b. 1894)
- 1991 - Walker Cooper, catcher; All-Star (b. 1915)
- 1997 - Milt Smith, infielder (b. 1929)
- 2001 - Nelson Burbrink, catcher (b. 1921)