This Day in Sports History - 4/4/1974

On Opening Day at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, Hank Aaron ties Babe Ruth as the All-Time Home Run leader with his 714th career HR. The historic blast comes off Jack Billingham on Aaron's first swing of the season, a 3-1 pitch with two runners on base in the first inning. Aaron is presented with the ball by Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Vice President Gerald Ford in a ceremony at home plate. He'll break the record four days from now, on April 8, in Atlanta's first home game of the season. Aaron finishes his career with 755 HRs and holds the record until he's passed by Barry Bonds in 2007.

This Day in Sports History - 4/7/1977

The Blue Jays play their first regular season game, the first American League game staged outside the United States. Their opponents are the Chicago White Sox, and the contest is played in near-freezing temperatures and snow flurries at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto. The Blue Jays win, 9 - 5, as the White Sox strand 19 men on base. Doug Ault contributes the first Toronto hit, home run, run scored and RBI on one swing with a first-inning solo homer.

This Day in Sports History - 4/2/2001

The Seattle Mariners open the season with a 5 - 4 win over the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field. They'll go on to post a record of 116 - 46, tying the mark for most regular season wins established by the 1906 Cubs who were 116 - 36. The Mariners won't reach the World Series, however; they;ll lose the ALCS to the New York Yankees, four games to one.

Five Questions That Will Decide the Indians' Season

Today is the Indians opener against their division rivals the Chicago White Sox. Here are the top five questions that will need to be answered to see how the Indians will do this season.

1. Will Fausto Carmona pitch well and how will the rest of the rotation be?


2. Are young players like Matt LaPorta, Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley ready to step up?


3. When will Grady Sizemore return from injury?


4. How soon will players like Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Jason Kipnis and Lonnie Chisenhall be in the Majors?


5. Will Shin Soo-Choo, who is no longer a surprise, be able to carry the team if others fail?

OLD FACES IN NEW PLACES

MANY PLAYERS MADE THEIR SEASON DEBUT YESTERDAY WITH A NEW TEAM. HERE IS HOW SOME OF THOSE PLAYERS FARED.

MARK TEIXEIRA (YANKEES): 0-4 WITH A WALK
C.C. SABATHIA (YANKEES): 4.1 IP 8 HITS 6 RUNS 5 WALKS AND NO STRIKEOUTS
J.J. PUTZ (METS): 1 IP 0 HITS 0 RUNS 1 WALK 1 STRIKEOUT
FRANKIE RODRIGUEZ (METS) : 1 IP 1 STRIKEOUT 1 SAVE 10 PITCHES THROWN
MARK DEROSA (INDIANS): 0-3 WITH A STRIKEOUT AND A WALK
KEN GRIFFEY JR. (MARINERS): 1-3 WITH A HOMERUN AND A WALK
JOE CREDE (TWINS): 1-4
IVAN "PUDGE" RODRIGUEZ (ASTROS): 0-4 WITH 2 STRIKEOUTS
ADAM DUNN (NATIONALS): 2-4 WITH A HOMERUN AND 4 RBI

OPENING DAY: TEXAS 9 - CLEVELAND 1

The Cleveland Indians opened their season yesterday against the Texas Rangers. Last year's Cy Young winner Cliff Lee started for the Indians and gave up 7 runs on 10 hits in 5 innings. Former Indian Kevin Millwood started for the Rangers and gave up just 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings. He also got 10 ground-ball outs. For the Indians, their 5 hits were scattered throughout the game and in big spots both Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner grounded into inning ending double-plays. Last year's breakout player, Kelly Shoppach, went 0-3 with two strikeouts. Newly acquired 3B Mark Derosa went 0-3 with a walk.

Today is an off day for the Indians and tomorrow they send out Fausto Carmona. Hopefully he will show that last year was just an injury-plagued season and that he will bounce back this year.