Phils set for next chapter in rich Opening Day history
When the Phillies begin the season in Atlanta on April 1, it will mark their 131st Opening Day. The Phillies are 2-1 in openers played on April 1 (no foolin'), a 3-0 Curt Schilling win in Los Angeles in 1997, a 7-2 loss in Atlanta in 2002 and a 5-4 win over the Astros at Citizens Bank Park in 2011.
Noteworthy season openers in Phillies history:
May 1, 1883
The Phillies lose their initial opener, 4-3, to Providence at Recreation Park, 24th and Columbia Avenues, when the Grays score four runs in eighth to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Attendance was an estimated 1,200. Future Hall of Famer Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourne was the winner, the first of 48 victories for him that season. John Coleman was the loser, the first of his 48 defeats (13 wins).
May 2, 1885
The Phillies bow to Providence, 8-2, in the latest season opener in franchise history.
April 19, 1890
Kid Gleason tosses the Phillies' first Opening Day shutout, a 4-0 win over the Giants in New York.
April 19, 1900
The Phillies beat the Braves in Boston, 19-17, in 10 innings, the highest-scoring opener in National League history. The Braves score nine in the ninth to send the game into extra innings.
April 9, 1913
In the first NL game ever played at Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, the Phillies blank the Dodgers, 1-0, behind Tom Seaton.
April 14, 1914
Center fielder Sherry Magee becomes first Phillies player to homer twice on Opening Day in a 10-1 win over the New York Giants at Baker Bowl.
April 17, 1923
The Phillies and Dodgers tie in 14 innings, 5-5, in Brooklyn. Two other season openers go 14 innings, 1988 and '98.
April 19, 1937
The Phillies win a doubleheader, beating Boston, 2-1, in 11 innings and 1-0 at Braves Field. It is the only time the Phillies started the season with a twin bill.
April 19, 1938
Emmett Mueller of the Phillies and Ernie Koy of Brooklyn each hit home runs in their first Major League at-bats in the first inning of a 12-5 Brooklyn victory, the last season opener at Baker Bowl. The Phillies move to Shibe Park in July.
April 13, 1955
Robin Roberts loses a no-hitter at Connie Mack Stadium when Alvin Dark singles with one out in the ninth inning. Robbie prevails, 4-2, over the Giants. Richie Ashburn, injured late in Spring Training, sees his club-record, consecutive-game-playing streak end at 730 games.
April 12, 1965
The Phillies christen the Houston Astrodome with 2-0 win behind Chris Short's four-hit shutout and Dick Allen's two-run homer.
April 7, 1970
Short ties a Major League record with his third Opening Day shutout, a 2-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in the final Connie Mack Stadium opener. All three of Short's shutouts are 2-0.
April 15, 1972
Steve Carlton makes first start for the Phillies and beats the Cubs, 4-2, at Wrigley Field.
April 6, 1974
Mike Schmidt hits a walk-off homer off Tug McGraw in 5-4 win over the New York Mets at Veterans Stadium.
April 7, 1986
Carlton loses, 7-4, to Cincinnati in his club-record 14th Opening Day start.
April 4, 2005
Charlie Manuel makes his Phillies managerial debut in an 8-4 win at Citizens Bank Park, the first game for the Washington Nationals, formerly the Montreal Expos.
April 5, 2012
The Phillies beat the Pirates, 1-0, in Pittsburgh. Roy Halladay is the first Phillies pitcher to win back-to-back season openers since Art Mahaffey (1962-63). It was the third 1-0 Opening Day win in franchise history.