This Weekend in Baseball History
April 3rd, 1966: Tom Seaver signs with the New York Mets. The former USC pitcher, who previous contract with the Braves was voided because he signed with them after the start of the college baseball season (a rules violation), landed with New York after they drew his name from a hat in a special lottery where the Phillies and Indians also took part).
April 5th, 1972: The Expos trade their most popular player Rusty Staub to the Mets for three top prospects: Ken Singleton, Tim Foli and Mike Jorgensen.
April 4th, 1974: Hank Aaron homers off Jack Billingham of the Reds to tie Babe Ruth at 714 home runs. Surprisingly, it's the only time Aaron ever homered on Opening Day!
April 5th, 1977: The Yankees send Oscar Gamble, Dewey Hoyt and Bob Polonsky to the White Sox for shortstop Bucky Dent, who'd carve his place in history 18 months later.
April 3rd, 1985: Owners and players agree to expand the League Championship Series from five to seven games.
April 4th, 1988: The Mets hit a club record six home runs -- two each by Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds, as they crush the crush the Expos at Olympic Stadium.
April 3rd, 1989: Ken Griffey Junior doubles in his first major league at bat for the Mariners, who lose 3 - 2 at Oakland.
April 4th, 1989: Tommy John, at age 45 and pitching in his 26th season, allows the Twins two runs over seven innings of work as the Yankees defeat Frank Viola and the Twins 4 - 2 on opening day in the Metrodome. Roberto Kelly goes 4-for-4 for New York, including the game's only homer. It's Tommy's 287th career victory.
April 4th, 1994: Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on opening day. All came off Dwight Gooden of the Mets at Wrigley Field. But neither Cooperstown nor even the All Star Game were in his future. In parts of six major league seasons, he totaled just 13 homers.
April 4th, 2001: Hideo Nomo, making his first start for the Red Sox, no hits the Orioles. He strikes out 11, in Boston's first no-hitter since Dave Moorhead in 1965. The onetime Dodger joins Nolan Ryan, Cy Young, Ted Breitenstein (AA and NL) and Jim Bunning in the select circle of pitchers who've fired no hitters in two leagues.
April 3rd, 2009: The Mets and Yankees open their brand new stadiums with exhibition games. The Amazin nipped the Red Sox, 4-3, while the Bronx Bombers smack three homers to outscore the Cubs, 7-4.
And we remember a pair of gentlemen who left us far too early:
April 4th, 1974: Hank Aaron homers off Jack Billingham of the Reds to tie Babe Ruth at 714 home runs. Surprisingly, it's the only time Aaron ever homered on Opening Day!
April 5th, 1977: The Yankees send Oscar Gamble, Dewey Hoyt and Bob Polonsky to the White Sox for shortstop Bucky Dent, who'd carve his place in history 18 months later.
April 3rd, 1985: Owners and players agree to expand the League Championship Series from five to seven games.
April 4th, 1988: The Mets hit a club record six home runs -- two each by Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds, as they crush the crush the Expos at Olympic Stadium.
April 3rd, 1989: Ken Griffey Junior doubles in his first major league at bat for the Mariners, who lose 3 - 2 at Oakland.
April 4th, 1994: Karl "Tuffy" Rhodes becomes the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on opening day. All came off Dwight Gooden of the Mets at Wrigley Field. But neither Cooperstown nor even the All Star Game were in his future. In parts of six major league seasons, he totaled just 13 homers.
April 4th, 2001: Hideo Nomo, making his first start for the Red Sox, no hits the Orioles. He strikes out 11, in Boston's first no-hitter since Dave Moorhead in 1965. The onetime Dodger joins Nolan Ryan, Cy Young, Ted Breitenstein (AA and NL) and Jim Bunning in the select circle of pitchers who've fired no hitters in two leagues.
April 3rd, 2009: The Mets and Yankees open their brand new stadiums with exhibition games. The Amazin nipped the Red Sox, 4-3, while the Bronx Bombers smack three homers to outscore the Cubs, 7-4.
And we remember a pair of gentlemen who left us far too early:
- Gil Hodges (born April 4th, 1924), the beloved Dodgers 1st baseman and adopted son of Brooklyn, who came home to play on the expansion Mets, helped breath life into a struggling mid-'60s Senators franchise, and returned once more to New York to turn the Mets into winners from 1969 until his sudden death on April 2nd, 1972.
- Bart Giamatti (April 4th, 1938) was the Yale professor and lifelong fan whose all-too-brief tenure as commissioner will be remembered for his levelheaded handling of the Pete Rose banishment. Like Gil, he also died in his prime from a heart attack.
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