Comments on: Most Opening Days with a Hit – Baseball-Reference PI http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/627 This and that about baseball stats. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:48:35 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David in Toledo http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/627/comment-page-1#comment-4353 David in Toledo Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:00:43 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/627#comment-4353 Nope, my bad. The Giants opened in 1955 on Wednesday, April 13, in Philadelphia and Robin Roberts threw a no-no for 8.1 innings. Willie Mays went hitless and his total for opening-day games with hits now appears to be 17, tied for first place with the four immortals at the top of Sean's list. Nope, my bad. The Giants opened in 1955 on Wednesday, April 13, in Philadelphia and Robin Roberts threw a no-no for 8.1 innings. Willie Mays went hitless and his total for opening-day games with hits now appears to be 17, tied for first place with the four immortals at the top of Sean's list.

]]> By: David in Toledo http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/627/comment-page-1#comment-4352 David in Toledo Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:53:37 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/627#comment-4352 Thanks, birtelcom. According to the Sporting News, on Thursday, April 14, 1955, Mays went 3 for 4 against the Dodgers, who won 10-8 because pitcher Don Newcombe hit two home runs. I think that was opening day. So it appears that Mays is the leader for players since 1951 with 18 opening-day hits: the 15 recorded in the Play Index, plus 1952, 1954, and 1955. I wouldn't bet against Ty Cobb, though. Thanks, birtelcom. According to the Sporting News, on Thursday, April 14, 1955, Mays went 3 for 4 against the Dodgers, who won 10-8 because pitcher Don Newcombe hit two home runs. I think that was opening day.

So it appears that Mays is the leader for players since 1951 with 18 opening-day hits: the 15 recorded in the Play Index, plus 1952, 1954, and 1955. I wouldn't bet against Ty Cobb, though.

]]> By: birtelcom http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/627/comment-page-1#comment-4351 birtelcom Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:39:07 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/627#comment-4351 According to the New York Times of April 17, 1952, Mays was 1 for 4 on Opening Day (April 16) of the 1952 season -- Sal Maglie won for the Giants at the Polo Grounds, Bob Elliot had two homers in his debut as a Giant; this was New York's next NL game after the Bobby Thompson homer game. According to the New York Times of April 17, 1952, Mays was 1 for 4 on Opening Day (April 16) of the 1952 season -- Sal Maglie won for the Giants at the Polo Grounds, Bob Elliot had two homers in his debut as a Giant; this was New York's next NL game after the Bobby Thompson homer game.

]]> By: David in Toledo http://www.baseball-reference.com/blog/archives/627/comment-page-1#comment-4347 David in Toledo Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:02:55 +0000 http://www.baseball-reference.com/sotd/archives/627#comment-4347 Willie Mays also got a hit on opening day, April 13, 1954. If he got hits on the first days of 1952 and 1955, he takes the lead (of those players who are listed), with 18. (In 1951, he was in Minneapolis on opening day and in 1953 he was in the Army.) Willie Mays also got a hit on opening day, April 13, 1954. If he got hits on the first days of 1952 and 1955, he takes the lead (of those players who are listed), with 18. (In 1951, he was in Minneapolis on opening day and in 1953 he was in the Army.)

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