As the opening MLB games are now beyond us, it is probably the last chance to remember some of the top feats that occurred on opening day. One of the greatest opening day performances came in 1940, where Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller threw a no hitter for the Cleveland Indians against the Chicago White Sox. To this day, it remains the only no hitter thrown on opening day in the history of the game.
Last season, Bryce Harper added to the list of MLB hitters to hit 2 HR on opening day. However, only three MLB batters have hit three home runs on an opening day.
Last season, Bryce Harper added to the list of MLB hitters to hit 2 HR on opening day. However, only three MLB batters have hit three home runs on an opening day.
On April 4, 1988, Toronto Blue Jays slugger George Bell hit three home runs against the Royals, all off of Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen. Bell, the three time All Star and 1987 AL MVP, had a down 1988 season, hitting .269, 24, 97 after putting up louder numbers in past season. Bell is most known from being traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Chicago White Sox in the deal that brought future 600+ HR hitter Sammy Sosa to the Cubs. Bell hit .278, 265, 1002 in his 12 big league seasons.
It was opening day of 1994 and the New York Mets were playing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Little known OF Tuffy Rhodes, no relation to Dusty, who was the MVP of the 1954 World Series, managed to become the first (and only) player in the history of the National League, to hit 3 HR in an opening day game. The three came off of Mets RHP Dwight Gooden, who would be suspended twice during the season as his problems with cocaine were coming to a head. While Rhodes career consisted of parts of 6 MLB seasons and 13 MLB HR, he became a star in Japan. Over his 13 seasons playing in the JPPL, he hit 464 HR for his career. He hit over 50 HR twice and over 40 7 times. His home run total is the highest for a foreign born player in the history of Japanese baseball.
It was opening day of 1994 and the New York Mets were playing the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Little known OF Tuffy Rhodes, no relation to Dusty, who was the MVP of the 1954 World Series, managed to become the first (and only) player in the history of the National League, to hit 3 HR in an opening day game. The three came off of Mets RHP Dwight Gooden, who would be suspended twice during the season as his problems with cocaine were coming to a head. While Rhodes career consisted of parts of 6 MLB seasons and 13 MLB HR, he became a star in Japan. Over his 13 seasons playing in the JPPL, he hit 464 HR for his career. He hit over 50 HR twice and over 40 7 times. His home run total is the highest for a foreign born player in the history of Japanese baseball.
Exactly 17 years to the day that Bell became the first player in MLB history to club 3 HR in one game, Tigers 1B Dmitri Young became the 2nd player in AL history as well as the 3rd and latest to accomplish the feat. He did so against the Kansas City Royals, the same team Bell did his damage against. Young had the best success of his career in Detroit, mostly as a designated hitter. He hit .292, 171, 683 in 13 big league seasons.
I find it unbelievable that a player never homered in a game three times on opening day prior to 1988. Out of all the great power hitters the game has seen, only George Bell, Tuffy Rhodes and Dmitri Young have done it. Since it didn't happen once again this opening day, we'll have to wait until next opening day to see if a player adds their name to this list.
I find it unbelievable that a player never homered in a game three times on opening day prior to 1988. Out of all the great power hitters the game has seen, only George Bell, Tuffy Rhodes and Dmitri Young have done it. Since it didn't happen once again this opening day, we'll have to wait until next opening day to see if a player adds their name to this list.
RSS Feed
