Events edit
- 1912 - In the first game ever played at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox defeat Harvard University in an exhibition game played in a snow storm.
- 1913 - The first regular season game is played at Ebbets Field between the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.
- 1947 - Commissioner of Baseball Happy Chandler suspends Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher for one year for "conduct deemed detrimental to baseball", forcing Durocher to miss Jackie Robinson's rookie season.
- 1959 - At Griffith Stadium, the Baltimore Orioles become the first team in major league history to turn a triple play on Opening Day.
- 1962 - The first regular season game is played at District of Columbia Stadium between the Washington Senators and the Detroit Tigers.
- 1969 - Chicago Cubs outfielder Billy Williams hits four consecutive doubles to lead his team to an 11 - 3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
- 1971 - The Oakland Athletics trade Felipe Alou to the New York Yankees for two prospects.
- 1974 - San Diego Padres owner Ray Kroc criticizes his club over the public address system-during a 9 - 5 loss to the Houston Astros, saying "Ladies and gentlemen, I suffer with you. I've never seen such stupid baseball playing in my life." The game also marked the debut of the San Diego Chicken.
- 1981 - On Opening Day, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela, filling in for team ace Jerry Reuss, shuts out the Houston Astros 2 - 0, on five hits, in his first Major League start.
- 1985 - At County Stadium, Chicago White Sox pitcher Tom Seaver makes his 15th Opening Day start to break the mark set by Christy Mathewson.
- 1989 - New York Yankees outfielder Rickey Henderson steals his 800th career stolen base in a 4 - 3 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
- 1993 - In their home debut, the expansion team Colorado Rockies set a National League record for attendance with 80,227, surpassing the Los Angeles Dodgers April 18, 1958 mark of 78,672.
- 1993 - Chicago White Sox outfielder Bo Jackson hits a home run in his first at-bat coming back from hip replacement surgery.
- 1993 - Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Darryl Hamilton sets an American League record by handling his 541st consecutive chance without an error.
- 1994 - Recently retired NBA player Michael Jordan makes his professional baseball debut by going hitless for the AA Birmingham Barons.
- 2000 - Cleveland Indians first baseman Jim Thome strikes out five times to tie a Major League record.
Births edit
- 1859 - Steve Toole, pitcher (d. 1919)
- 1870 - Ollie Pickering, outfielder (d. 1952)
- 1872 - Jim Rogers, infielder, manager (d. 1900)
- 1875 - Jack Hendricks, outfielder, manager (d. 1943)
- 1879 - Happy Townsend, pitcher (d. 1963)
- 1879 - Doc White, pitcher (d. 1969)
- 1888 - Hippo Vaughn, pitcher (d. 1966)
- 1890 - Heinie Jantzen, outfielder (d. 1948)
- 1893 - Tiny Osborne, pitcher (d. 1969)
- 1901 - Vic Sorrell, pitcher (d. 1972)
- 1904 - Guy Cantrell, pitcher (d. 1961)
- 1904 - Fred Frankhouse, pitcher; All-Star (d. 1989)
- 1905 - Earl Caldwell, pitcher (d. 1981)
- 1906 - Howdy Groskloss, infielder (d. 2006)
- 1909 - Claude Passeau, pitcher; All-Star (d. 2003)
- 1915 - Steve Shemo, infielder (d. 1992)
- 1921 - Charlie Mead, outfielder
- 1936 - Hal Jones, infielder
- 1943 - Roy Gleason, pinch hitter
- 1944 - Joe Brinkman, umpire
- 1945 - Peter Gammons, announcer
- 1946 - Nate Colbert, infielder; All-Star
- 1949 - Sam Ewing, outfielder
- 1952 - Ed Plank, pitcher
- 1961 - Brian Dorsett, catcher
- 1961 - Kirk McCaskill, pitcher
- 1963 - Mike Brumley, infielder
- 1963 - José Guzmán, pitcher
- 1965 - Hal Morris, infielder
- 1967 - Graeme Lloyd, pitcher
- 1975 - Talmadge Nunnari, infielder
- 1976 - Óscar Robles, infielder
- 1980 - Ryan O'Malley, pitcher
- 1981 - A. J. Ellis, catcher
- 1981 - Dennis Sarfate, pitcher
- 1981 - Chris Smith, pitcher
- 1982 - Chad Reineke, pitcher
- 1984 - Adam Loewen, pitcher
- 1985 - David Robertson, pitcher
Deaths edit
- 1899 - Mike Moynahan, infielder (b. 1856)
- 1910 - Bob Addy, outfielder, manager (b. 1845)
- 1915 - Rabbit Robinson, infielder (b. 1882)
- 1917 - Charlie Gould, infielder, manager (b. 1847)
- 1918 - Ed Wilkinson, outfielder (b. 1890)
- 1945 - Ted Cather, outfielder (b. 1889)
- 1961 - Lefty York, pitcher (b. 1892)
- 1969 - Frank Scanlan, pitcher (b. 1890)
- 1971 - Elmer Eggert, infielder (b. 1902)
- 1971 - Will Harridge Hall of Famer (b. 1883)
- 1972 - Roy Leslie, infielder (b. 1894)
- 1977 - Roxie Lawson, pitcher (b. 1906)
- 1980 - Ed Morgan, infielder (b. 1904)
- 1982 - Francisco Barrios, pitcher (b. 1953)
- 1983 - Jake Freeze, pitcher (b. 1900)
- 1983 - Bill Kennedy, pitcher (b. 1921)
- 1988 - Syd Cohen, pitcher (b. 1906)
- 1995 - Bob Allison, outfielder; All-Star (b. 1934)
- 1997 - Joe Coleman, pitcher; All-Star (b. 1922)
- 1999 - Clay Bryant, pitcher (b. 1911)
- 1999 - Jerold Hoffberger, owner (b. 1919)
- 2001 - Willie Stargell, outfielder; All-Star, Hall of Famer (b. 1940)
- 2003 - Ray Murray, catcher (b. 1917)
- 2006 - Jimmy Outlaw, outfielder (b. 1913)