Opening Day, April 16, 1970

[CenTexDave]

Baseball didn't use to open their seasons so early. The 162 game schedule changed that.
But on opening day, April 16, 1940, a young kid from Iowa was pitching for the Cleveland Indians and
threw the only no hitter in the history of baseball on opening day. The Chicago White Sox players entered
the game with a .000 batting average. After 9 innings they left with a .000 batting average.
Congrats to one of the GOAT, Bob Feller.

[fchafey]

When I went to school at Leavenworth in 2106, I had the privilege to go to the Negro League Hall of Fame and remember reading this:

"Leon Day was one of the great pitchers in the history of the Negro Leagues. On this day in 1946, he threw a no hitter on Opening Day. Typically, when one thinks about Opening Day no hitters, the list begins and ends with Bob Feller. It is understandable, as the Cleveland Indians hurler has been the only pitcher in the history of the Major Leagues to throw a no hitter on Opening Day. However, it is important to note that his accomplishment is in MLB history.
The reason for the distinction is because Feller did not fire the only Opening Day no hitter. That is because, on this day in 1946, Leon Day fired a no hitter of his own, taking down the Philadelphia Stars on Opening Day in the Negro Leagues. It was an impressive outing for Day. In all, he allowed three baserunners, with just one walk while his defense made two errors behind him. This would also be the final nine inning no hitter in Negro League history.
Making the start all the more impressive was that it was Day’s first outing in#over two#years. Following the 1943 campaign, Day had been drafted into service during World War Two. He would be stationed in France for most of the war, first at Utah Beach and then further inland. The no hitter would not be the end of Day’s success that year. Although record keeping in the Negro League was notoriously haphazard, and despite pitching with a sore arm,Day is credited with leading the league in wins, complete games, and strikeouts. He ended the season by pitching two games in the Negro League World Series, where his Newark Eagles defeated the Kansas City Monarchs in seven games."

Not taking anything away from Bob Feller, truly the greatest pitcher to ever wear a Cleveland uniform (Eckersley would be next), just an FYI about the "other" league in America at that time.

[CenTexDave]

BFD - I threw a no hitter on opening day also - in Little League. :)
Eckersley after Feller as the greatest Tribe pitcher of all time? The Eck did toss a no hitter for them, but was then traded to the Red Sox, and ended up as one of
the premier all time closers when he was with Oakland. You ever hear of Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, Gaylord Perry, and lately Corey Kluber?
Surprised that if they are counting the Negro League that Satchel Paige never threw one, but don't know how many times he pitched on opening days.

[fchafey]

BFD - I threw a no hitter on opening day also - in Little League. :)
Eckersley after Feller as the greatest Tribe pitcher of all time? The Eck did toss a no hitter for them, but was then traded to the Red Sox, and ended up as one of
the premier all time closers when he was with Oakland. You ever hear of Early Wynn, Bob Lemon, Gaylord Perry, and lately Corey Kluber?
Surprised that if they are counting the Negro League that Satchel Paige never threw one, but don't know how many times he pitched on opening days.

I will concede Early Wynn, but not the Spit ball pitcher, or the Yankees manager, and Kluber just not yet....:)

[CenTexDave]

The thing is with pitchers these days is that many very good ones will never win 20 games like they used to when there was a 4 man rotation.
And a 30 game winner? Detroit's Denny McClain was probably the last we'll ever see of that.

[mac]

i really like this guy Ohtami of the Angels.....I've always been against the DH rule but this guy hits well (3 bagger the other night) and pitches a 100 mph fast ball very well also.......wish i could think of something good to say 'bout my Rangers.....mac

[CenTexDave]

Rangers? We'll, senior citizen Bartolo Colon shined last night. One hitter but didn't get the win in extra innings. Ohtomi will cool off once the teams figure out how to pitch to him. But the Angels look real good now.

[sojourner truth]

For a 44 year old man, way beyond the shelf life for a professional ballplayer, Colon looked as good as anyone I have seen this year.

But the Rangers really stink this year. And their seasoned players, with the exception of Beltre, have all gone Matt Harrison on us and decided they have aches and pains. This usually happens when they cannot produce. But some of the younger talent they are bringing up looks fairly decent.

They have no bats, and their starting pitching is the worst I have ever seen. Colon is about the only bright spot in the starting lineup, and he even looks good in relief. Other than that, they need to get rid of fumble fingered non hitters like Robinson and Rua. And I would also like to see their GM get the axe. He has zero talent for putting together a semi decent winning team it seems.

They are in the basement of the AL west right now, and the powerhouse Angels, who look like wizards, are way out front. Profar might be a good replacement if he can hit a bit more consistently. And No hit Nomar Mazara has about the worst right field ability I have seen since Nellie Cruz. Plus he couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a bass fiddle at the plate either.

Nope... Looks like a bad year for Ranger fans. Perhaps a swap over to the Astros side might be a good idea for Texas fans with no tolerance for bad ball playing.

[mac]

For a 44 year old man, way beyond the shelf life for a professional ballplayer, Colon looked as good as anyone I have seen this year.

But the Rangers really stink this year. And their seasoned players, with the exception of Beltre, have all gone Matt Harrison on us and decided they have aches and pains. This usually happens when they cannot produce. But some of the younger talent they are bringing up looks fairly decent.

They have no bats, and their starting pitching is the worst I have ever seen. Colon is about the only bright spot in the starting lineup, and he even looks good in relief. Other than that, they need to get rid of fumble fingered non hitters like Robinson and Rua. And I would also like to see their GM get the axe. He has zero talent for putting together a semi decent winning team it seems.

They are in the basement of the AL west right now, and the powerhouse Angels, who look like wizards, are way out front. Profar might be a good replacement if he can hit a bit more consistently. And No hit Nomar Mazara has about the worst right field ability I have seen since Nellie Cruz. Plus he couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a bass fiddle at the plate either.

Nope... Looks like a bad year for Ranger fans. Perhaps a swap over to the Astros side might be a good idea for Texas fans with no tolerance for bad ball playing.

yeow, i'm afraid you're prob'ly right. hell, i think the Rangers are only something like 5 for 10 right now or something real close to that. i got a daughter and SiL down in Houston......maybe I can work something out......but sure hate to do that....mac

[CenTexDave]

Boston is really hot right now. Hope they cool off soon.
Tribe takes on the Twins tonight in Puerto Rico! Hope the rain doesn't follow them down there.

[kantwin]

When I went to school at Leavenworth in 2106....
I'm working on a time machine also.
It needs some refinement, since right now it takes about a day to go 24 hours into the future.

[fchafey]

I'm working on a time machine also.
It needs some refinement, since right now it takes about a day to go 24 hours into the future.

You like the future, by 2106, Nick Saban V, will have delivered the Tide their 35h championship with a slim victory over the Buckeyes of Ohio State 6-3. :)

[CenTexDave]

6-3??? :))

[fchafey]

Boston is really hot right now. Hope they cool off soon.
Tribe takes on the Twins tonight in Puerto Rico! Hope the rain doesn't follow them down there.

The Mets have the best record in baseball Mister........

[fchafey]

6-3??? :))

Touchdowns were banned in 2050. Too many concussive injuries. The field was made longer and wider in order to prepare players for the Canadian League since the NFL is now defunct because too many players are in jail.....:)

[kantwin]

You like the future, by 2106, Nick Saban V, will have delivered the Tide their 35h championship with a slim victory over the Buckeyes of Ohio State 6-3. :)
80+ years and only another 18 championships?
Blasphemer.

[CenTexDave]

The Mets have the best record in baseball Mister........

Red Sux are 13-2; Mets are 12-3.

[fchafey]

Yea, they lost to the Nationals last night. Just saw that. Nuts.

[CenTexDave]

Fear not, Fred - still early in the season. Plenty of time for both the Mets and Red Sux to come down to earth. :)

[fchafey]

This ought to bring a smile to your face........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVFsq9FQBlc

[CenTexDave]

Yep, finally hit one.
Always liked Bartolo Colon. At one time he had a scorching fastball. Surprised he was able to go almost 8 innings the other night.