Events edit
- 1914 - The Baltimore Terrapins host first game in Federal League history, defeating the Buffalo Buffeds, 3 - 2.
- 1921 - The Washington Senators lose their home opener to the Boston Red Sox with U.S. president Warren G. Harding, former president Woodrow Wilson, and VP Calvin Coolidge in attendance.
- 1921 - New York Yankees outfielder Babe Ruth goes 5-for-5 in the Yankees' season opener against the Philadelphia Athletics.
- 1926 - Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson defeats Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Eddie Rommel 1 - 0, in a 15-inning pitcher's duel.
- 1933 - St. Louis Browns outfielder Sammy West goes 6-for-6 in an 11-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox.
- 1953 - The Braves franchise plays its first official game representing the city of Milwaukee.
- 1954 - The Baltimore Orioles play their first official game, a 3 - 0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
- 1954 - Milwaukee Braves rookie Hank Aaron makes his Major League debut, going 0-for-5 in a 9 - 8 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
- 1962 - St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Stan Musial scores his 1,869th run to set a new National League record.
- 1963 - After eleven hitless at bats, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Pete Rose records his first Major League hit, a triple off Pittsburgh Pirates' Bob Friend.
- 1963 - Boston Red Sox rookie Dave Morehead shuts out the Washington Senators, 3 - 0, in his first Major League appearance, becoming the first Red Sox pitcher to debut with a shutout since Boo Ferriss in 1945.
- 1970 - The Oakland Athletics uses gold-colored bases during the club's home opener. The Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation.
- 1972 - The first player strike in Major League history ends, with an abbreviated schedule to start two days later.
- 1980 - The first Q battery in Major League history occurs when Kansas City Royals reliever Dan Quisenberry pitches to catcher Jamie Quirk against the Detroit Tigers.
- 1984 - Montreal Expos first baseman Pete Rose collects his 4,000th hit, a double off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jerry Koosman.
- 1985 - Milwaukee Brewers reliever Rollie Fingers records his 217th American League save, surpassing Sparky Lyle.
- 1993 - Lee Smith becomes the all-time saves leader, surpassing Jeff Reardon.
- 1998 - At 28 years, 143 days old, Seattle Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his 300th career home run to become the second youngest player to reach the milestone, behind only Jimmie Foxx, who reached the milestone at 27 years, 328 days.
- 2004 - Dennis Eckersley, Bruce Hurst, Bill Carrigan, Wade Boggs, Billy Goodman and Pete Runnels are selected for induction into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
- 2004 - San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds hit his 661st home run, passing Willie Mays to take sole possession of third place on Major League's career list.
- 2009 - The Mets play their first game in Citi Field, losing to the San Diego Padres by the score of 6-5.
Births edit
- 1858 - Bill Barnes, outfielder (d. 1945)
- 1863 - Charlie Sweeney, pitcher (d. 1902)
- 1864 - Billy Murray, manager (d. 1937)
- 1866 - Herman Long, infielder (d. 1909)
- 1875 - Kid Elberfeld, infielder, manager (d. 1944)
- 1879 - Jake Stahl, infielder, manager (d. 1922)
- 1883 - Mike Simon, catcher (d. 1963)
- 1885 - Vean Gregg, pitcher (d. 1964)
- 1885 - Red Killefer, outfielder (d. 1958)
- 1889 - Claude Hendrix, pitcher (d. 1944)
- 1890 - Al Platte, outfielder (d. 1976)
- 1890 - George Shears, pitcher (d. 1978)
- 1891 - Charlie Meara, outfielder (d. 1962)
- 1892 - Pat Martin, pitcher (d. 1949)
- 1893 - Roy Walker, pitcher (d. 1962)
- 1902 - Ben Cantwell, pitcher (d. 1962)
- 1906 - Roxie Lawson, pitcher (d. 1977)
- 1913 - Jake Mooty, pitcher (d. 1970)
- 1915 - Oscar Grimes, infielder; All-Star (d. 1993)
- 1917 - Jim Schelle, pitcher (d. 1990)
- 1941 - John Stephenson, catcher
- 1942 - Ike Brown, infielder (d. 2001)
- 1959 - Ed Amelung, outfielder
- 1962 - Jeff Bittiger, pitcher
- 1963 - Mark Leiter, pitcher
- 1964 - Doug Strange, infielder
- 1965 - Jeff DeWillis, catcher
- 1966 - Wes Chamberlain, outfielder
- 1970 - Ricardo Rincón, pitcher
- 1971 - Kevin Ohme, pitcher
- 1980 - Joselo Díaz, pitcher
- 1983 - Steve Pearce, outfielder
- 1983 - Hunter Pence, outfielder
Deaths edit
- 1898 - Charlie McCullough, pitcher (b. 1866)
- 1923 - Gene Krapp, pitcher (b. 1887)
- 1927 - Kirtley Baker, pitcher (b. 1869)
- 1927 - Tommy Johns, outfielder (b. 1851)
- 1933 - Ody Abbott, outfielder (b. 1888)
- 1941 - Joe Schultz, outfielder (b. 1893)
- 1946 - Billy Gumbert, pitcher (b. 1865)
- 1951 - Wish Egan, pitcher (b. 1881)
- 1962 - Bill Akers, infielder (b. 1904)
- 1964 - Ed Pipgras, pitcher (b. 1904)
- 1967 - Tommy Griffith, outfielder (b. 1889)
- 1967 - Herb Welch, infielder (b. 1900)
- 1976 - Mike McCormick, outfielder (b. 1917)
- 1982 - Ray Knode, infielder (b. 1901)
- 1992 - Steve Shemo, infielder (b. 1915)
- 1995 - Hal Peck, outfielder (b. 1917)
- 1998 - Jack Bolling, infielder (b. 1917)
- 2001 - Frenchy Bordagaray, outfielder (b. 1910)
- 2005 - Don Blasingame, infielder; All-Star (b. 1932)
- 2006 - Bill Baker, catcher (b. 1911)
- 2006 - Dutch Fehring, catcher (b. 1912)
- 2009 - Mark Fidrych, pitcher (b. 1954)
- 2009 - Harry Kalas, broadcaster (b. 1936)