So busy!
Today, baseball players and fans across the country are preparing for the first game of the regular season after spring training.
Some teams in the American League and National League are lacking strong hitters and All-Star pitchers. However, the divisional matchups are likely to be strong in the 2024 MLB season.
As baseball fans around the world look forward to game time, we can’t help but look back at some of the biggest Opening Day blunders in history.
MLB opening day history statistics from sellouts to record holders
Nolan Ryan walked 10 batters in the 1974 season opener while pitching for the California Angels. (Robert Riger/Getty Images)
New York Mets lost in Game 1
The New York Mets lost their franchise debut to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 11, 1962.
The new team played in St. Louis on opening day and lost to the Cardinals 11-4.
MLB Opening Day: Everything you need to know about the first day of baseball season
Nolan Ryan walked a lot of batters on opening day.
In the 1974 season opener, former California Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan walked 10 batters against the Chicago White Sox.
However, Ryan, nicknamed “Ryan Express,” allowed just four hits and two runs in the April 5 game, and the Angels defeated the White Sox 8-2.
In 1999, Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
After getting out on a home run, Justin Turner ran past former Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger on the basepaths. (Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)
Rockies vs. Padres back and forth
On April 4, 2005, the season opener between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres reminded baseball fans around the world that anything can happen during game time.
The Rockies took the lead by scoring seven runs in the first five innings against Woody Williams at Coors Field in Denver.
MLB Opening Day: Club pizza, pickle-topped hot dogs and other new foods coming to stadiums in 2024
Left-hander Joe Kennedy started for the Rockies. When the Padres narrowed the lead to 7-6, left-hander Javier Lopez was brought in to replace Kennedy. Lopez quickly allowed a single, and right-hander Alan Simpson was called upon.
In the top of the 6th inning, the Padres scored 5 runs and took an 8-7 lead. The Rockies tied the game in the same inning, but the Padres regained the lead in the next inning.
After a series of ups and downs, the Rockies won the opening game of 2005 in the final, 12-10.
The Miami Marlins have one of the lowest annual attendance records in MLB. (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images)
The Phillies went into overtime in their opening 12 games.
The Philadelphia Phillies played their first 12 games in overtime. Two of the games ended in draws.
In 1923, the Phillies tied the Brooklyn Robins, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-5. The game lasted until the 14th inning, when it was called due to darkness. At that time, there were no lights in the stadium.
Then, in 1924, the Phillies tied the game 6-6 against the Boston Braves. The game went to the 11th inning and was called due to lack of lighting.
Cleveland vs. Toronto: The longest opening day game
On Opening Day 2012, the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays faced off for 16 innings at Progressive Field. This game holds the record as the longest opening game.
Fourteen different pitchers appeared on the mound, including Ricky Romero and Jason Frazier of the Blue Jays and then-Indians Chris Perez and Vinny Pestano. According to MLB, a total of 540 pitches were thrown throughout the game.
The game lasted 5 hours and 14 minutes and ended with Cleveland losing 7-4.
Former Blue Jays catcher JP Arencibia ended the game with a three-run home run.
The 2012 season opener featured a 16-inning game between the Cleveland Guardians and Toronto Blue Jays. (Ben Jackson/MLB Photo via Getty Images)
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The Miami Marlins have the worst record for opening games.
The Miami Marlins have an opening record of 12 wins and 18 losses since the franchise’s inception in 1993.
In 2023, the Marlins lost to the New York Mets 5-3 in the opening game. In 2024, they will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in Miami.
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Miami has the second-worst attendance record in MLB and has yet to sell out on Opening Day.
Battle for Bellinger and Turner bases in 2021
In the opening game of 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
In the third inning, former Dodgers outfielder and first baseman Cody Bellinger stepped to the plate, with Justin Turner standing by first. Bellinger hit a fly ball to left field, thought he had hit a home run, and celebrated as he circled the bases.
Turner wasn’t convinced it was gone. He believed the ball was caught in the outfield and ran back to first base, passing Bellinger along the way. The ball hit Raimel Tapia’s glove and left the field for a home run. But the damage was already done, and Bellinger was called in.
