Well, there have been so many, but I think I can narrow the list down to three Opening Days that stand out in my memory.
April 9, 1981: In my first year covering the Los Angeles Dodgers, veteran pitcher Jerry Reuss came up sore late in spring training and manager Tommy Lasorda had to switch gears and award the Opening Day start to a relatively unknown cherubic Mexican pitcher named Fernando Valenzuela. All Fernando did that day was pitch a five-hit shutout and begin a string of eight victories in his first eight major league starts, which would include five shutouts. He went on to be the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young winner and the Dodgers went on to win the World Series. And I came away thinking that kind of thing happened all the time.
April 9, 1990: In my first season in Baltimore, Opening Day was pushed back because of labor problems and the Orioles opened on the road in Kansas City. Everybody in Baltimore who is old enough remembers what happened that night. Swingin' Sammy Horn blasted two homers and drove in six runs in a 7-6 extra-inning victory. And I came away thinking that kind of thing happened all the time.
April 6, 1992: The Orioles opened sparkling new Oriole Park at Camden Yards with a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians and veteran pitcher Rick Sutcliffe pitched a complete-game five-hit shutout to kick off the last big-win (16-15) season of a very good career. And talk about things coming full circle, Rick was in that Dodgers starting rotation along with Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 and had a great April (2-1, 2.30 ERA), but that went largely unnoticed in the euphoria of Fernandomania.
So, how about you? What are you're greatest Opening Day memories?