Play Ball
A history of Oakland A’s home openers

By A.J. Hayes

Overall Record: Since moving west in 1968 the A’s have gone 20-16 in games played on opening day in Oakland.

First Opener: On April 17, 1968 the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was over following with excitement as 50,164 fans filed into the park for the first official major league game played in Oakland. Veteran right-hander Lew Krausse started for the A’s against Baltimore’s Dave McNally. Krausse opened the game by walking Baltimore lead off man Curt Blefary, but he escaped the frame unscathed. He wasn’t so lucky in the second when Baltimore’s Boog Powell produced the first hit and run in the history of the Coliseum with one swing as he slugged a one-out, solo home run.

Baltimore spoiled the A’s west coast debut 4-1 with Krausse taking the loss.

Click below for more of a tremendous look at A’s baseball history, MartyBert Campaneris was the first hitter to come to bat for Oakland and he popped out to second base. A’s fans waited patiently for the first Oakland hit and run and then it came in one fell swoop as Rick Monday led off the sixth inning with a solo home run. The A’s only other hit that night came on a pinch-hit single by future A’s manager Tony LaRussa.

Starting Pitchers: 21 different A’s pitchers have drawn the opening assignment for home openers played in Oakland including.

Those with one start on opening day include: Krausse, Blue Moon Odom, Ken Holtzman, John Henry Johnson, Don Sutton, Chris Codiroli, Bob Welch, Bobby Witt, Steve Ontiveros, Tom Candiotti, Gil Heredia, and Kevin Appier.

Those with two opening day home starts include Vida Blue, Mike Torrez, Steve McCatty, Ariel Prieto, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson.

Rick Langford notched four home opener assignments.

But the king of opening day pitchers for Oakland was Dave Stewart. “Stew” started six straight home openers for the A’s between 1987-92. He went 4-1 in those games.

Where’s Ernie Banks?:

Never one to shy away from off the wall ideas, Charlie Finley made history again in 1971 when he scheduled his A’s to host a double header on opening day against the Chicago White Sox. It was the first and last time a twin bill was played on opening day in the history of the major leagues.

The day started out great for Oakland as staff ace Catfish Hunter took an early 4-0 lead – with three runs coming on a Sal Bando third inning homer. But the Chisox’s bats came alive and they tied the game in the 5th inning and eventually won 6-5.

The night cap was no contest as Chicago blasted Rollie Fingers – in one of his last big league starts – and four other Oakland pitchers for 13 hits in route to a 12-4 win. The score would have been 13-4 if Chicago’s Carlos May had not been tagged out by alert A’s catcher Gene Tenace after May missed home plate following a first inning home run.

Opponents: When the A’s open their home schedule this season against Toronto it will mark the second time Oakland has opened at home against the Blue Jays. The A’s have hosted the Minnesota Twins the most times on opening day (8). The Seattle Mainers and Chicago White Sox rank second with 5 openers in Oakland.

Most Openers: All-time stolen base king Rickey Henderson played in 11 home openers spread out over his four stints in green and gold. Mark McGwire ranks a close second with 10 home openers. Six players: Campaneris, Reggie Jackson, Bando, Dwayne Murphy, Carney Lansford and Terry Steinbach all played in nine home openers.

Most Productive Hitter:

In those 11 home openers Rickey Henderson cracked 16 hits, scored 15 runs, drove in 8 runs, smacked two home runs and stole 6 bases.

Runners up in the hits department include Murphy, McGwire, Lansford and Jason Giambi who each batted safely 10 times in Oakland home openers.

Home Runs: 33 different Oakland players have connected for 46 home runs in home openers.

Those with one home opener round trippers include Monday, Dick Green, Dave Duncan, Earl Williams, Cliff Johnson, Kelvin Moore, Dave Lopes, Dave Collins, Dusty Baker, Mike Davis, Jackson, Jose Canseco, Troy Neel, Eric Fox, Ernie Young, Ruben Sierra, Matt Stairs, Frank Menechino, Olmedo Saenz, Eric Chavez, David Justice and Erubiel Durazo.

Bando Gene Tenace, Tony Armas, Tony Phillips, McGwire, Terry Steinbach and Jason Giambi went deep twice in home openers.

The kings of home opener round tripper are Rickey and Dave Henderson and Geronimo Berroa who each banged three home runs on opening day in Oakland.

Best Games:

In 1981’s home opener, A’s designated hitter Cliff Johnson fulfilled job title as he tattooed Seattle pitching with a 4-for-5 game with a home run, three RBI and 4 runs scored in the A’s 16-1 drubbing of the Mariners.

That night Armas also went off with a 3-for-5 night including two home runs, two runs and 5 RBI.

On opening day 1985, A’s right fielder Mike Davis played a huge role in Oakland’s 15-6 spanking of the California Angels. Davis went 4-for-5 with a double and a home run, he also scored 4 runs and drove in 5 more.

Best Pitcher:

Through it’s Oakland history the A’s pitching mound has been blessed with it’s share of Hall of Famers, 20-game winners and All-Stars. But the best individual performance by an A’s starter during home opener was turned in by an obscure rookie making his big league debut in 1978.

Right-hander John Henry Johnson had been a member of the A’s organization less than one month when he was dispatched to the hill by manager Bobby Winkles on April 10, 1978. But the fresh faced rookie who had been acquired from the Giants just days earlier in the blockbuster Vida Blue trade pitched like a wily veteran as he cruised through six shutout innings against the Seattle Mariners while allowing just two hits. Dave Heaverlo, also acquired in the Blue deal pitched the final three innings to save the 1-0 win. Designated hitter Gary Alexander – yes, also part of the Blue deal – drove in the winning run.

Tim Hudson, with help from Ricardo Rincon, pitched the only other shutout during a Oakland home opener in 2003 – a 5-0 whitewash of Seattle.

Welcome Back!:

Reggie Jackson returned to the A’s in 1987 and during the home opener Reggie slugged a two run home run before 46,120 Oakland fans in a 6-4 loss to California. It was Jackson’s only home run hit on opening day in his A’s career.