Opening Day Grand Slam Club

[webmaster]

The Regular Season is finally upon us. Sometimes it seems like the off-season gets longer & longer...

On Opening Day (2003 when I made this list originally) I was only able to watch one game, but that game made me wonder, "Had any player ever hit a grand slam on Opening Day." If I am curious, I assume that other baseball fans must be as well. To that end I present:

The Opening Day Grand Slam Club
In Chronological Order

Year Lg Team                Name
1892 NL Boston Beaneaters     Herman Long
1894 NL Cincinnati Reds       Bug Holliday
1927 NL New York Giants       Bill Terry
1941 NL Chicago Cubs          Bill Nicholson
1945 AL New York Yankees      Russ Derry
1945 NL Cincinnati Reds       Dain Clay
1952 NL Chicago Cubs          Hank Sauer
1960 AL Chicago White Sox     Minnie Minoso
1962 NL Pittsburgh Pirates    Roberto Clemente
1971 AL Chicago White Sox     Bill Melton
1973 AL Boston Red Sox        Carlton Fisk
1978 AL Milwaukee Brewers     Sixto Lezcano
1980 AL Milwaukee Brewers     Sixto Lezcano
1981 AL New York Yankees      Bobby Murcer
1981 AL California Angels     Brian Downing
1982 AL Baltimore Orioles     Eddie Murray
1986 AL Seattle Mariners      Jim Presley
1991 AL Boston Red Sox        Jack Clark
1993 AL Oakland Athletics     Eric Fox
1994 AL Oakland Athletics     Terry Steinbach
1995 AL Milwaukee Brewers     John Jaha
1995 NL New York Mets         Todd Hundley
1996 AL California Angels     Jim Edmonds
1998 NL St. Louis Cardinals   Mark McGwire
2000 AL Tampa Bay Devil Rays  Fred McGriff
2000 NL Los Angeles Dodgers   Eric Karros
2000 NL Houston Astros        Richard Hidalgo
2002 AL Baltimore Orioles     Tony Batista
2002 NL Florida Marlins       Preston Wilson
2006 AL New York Yankees      Alex Rodriguez

Hope you found this "Club" interesting...

Sean
Baseball Almanac
"Where what happened yesterday is being preserved today."

[Mudge]

Hanley Ramirez did it today for Boston.

Making him one of only two players (Sixto Lezcano) who did it twice.

[Macker]

Hanley Ramirez did it today for Boston.

[Mongoose]

Colin Cowgill 2013 for the Mets against the Padres:

[Yaz]

Carlos Pena in 2012

Girardi had Sabathia intentionally walk Sean Rodriguez to get to Pena who made them pay.

Pena would later hit a walk-off single off Mariano Rivera.

[josh24]

Also Hanley Ramirez in 2009:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...00904060.shtml

and Daryle Ward in 2001:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bo...00104030.shtml

[Utter Chaos]

I believe that Juan Encarnacion of the Florida Marlins hit a Grand Slam on opening day in 2005 off John Smoltz against the Atlanda Braves. The final score was 9-0, the winning pitcher I believe was Josh Beckett.

I think he's right. Juan belongs on this list.

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04050FLO2005.htm


Also, Soriano in 2003
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B03310TOR2003.htm
and Phil Nevin in 2004.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B04050LAN2004.htm


edit to fix bad link

[hubkittel]

i was at busch stadium in 1998 when mcgwire hit his-it was one of the most amazing things i have ever seen. before the game everyone was talking about mcgwire and 62 HR. then he comes up with the bases loaded. everyone was on their feet and thinking the exact same thing-grand slam. the place was electric. if memory serves me correctly, we were playing the dodgers and they changed pitchers, bringing in el presidente to face mac. when he hit it out, the stadium was literally rocking. i've been to world series games, playoff games, other opening days, and i've never heard such a noise at busch stadium. it was an incredable moment.