Opening Day: All Major League Baseball Season Opening Games, by Team, 1876-1998

It's the one day of the year when every team is in first place and optimism reigns supreme. Opening day is baseball's national holiday, a day for calling in sick to work and getting familiar once again with the crack of the bat at the ballpark. History can be made on opening day, too: Hank Aaron hit his record-tying 714th home run on the first day of the 1974 season, Bob Feller tossed a no-hitter to kick off the 1940 campaign, and Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the first pitch of 1947. This is a team-by-team reference to every baseball opening day game played since the National League started in 1876 (and the American League followed in 1901). Each team's entry begins with a chronological list of opening games, noting the opposing team, score, starting pitcher, pitcher of record, and homerun hitters. This is followed by an accounting of the team's overall record, at home record, away record, and record against specific teams. Totals for major statistical categories are given, as well as individual marks for pitching, hitting, and fielding. Appendices list grand slams, overall team and individual opening day records, and year-by-year scores.