Memorable Opening Days, Part 1

Monday marked the 100th opening day since the Cubs last won the World Series. There have been some memorable ones, and some not so memorable ones during those years. This week, we'll take a look at some from the first 50 years of Just One Bad Century.

*On April 20, 1911, Wildfire Schulte (photo) hit the only opening day home run by a Cubs player during the years 1895-1921. The good news is the Cubs didn't lose the game. Of course, they didn't win it either. It was called because of darkness after the 11th inning.

*On April 12, 1912, Frank Chance played his last game with the Cubs. He retired after Opening Day because his doctors warned him that he might die if he suffered another beaning. It marked the very last day that Tinkers, Evers, and Chance played together. The Cubs lost 3-2 to the Reds.

*On April 22, 1914, only 2000 fans showed up for the home opener in Chicago. Just six years after winning the World Series, the city was fed up with Cubs owner Charles Murphy. The ballpark (West Side Grounds) was falling apart. He fired Frank Chance while he was in the hospital recovering from brain surgery. He fired Johnny Evers the following year, and he hired an umpire--Hank O'Day, the umpire from the famous Merkle Boner game--to be the team's manager. The Cubs lost 4-3 to the Reds.

*On April 20, 1916, the Cubs played their first game at Weegham Park (now known, at least for the time being, as Wrigley Field). A real live bear cub named Joa was kept in a cage outside the ballpark on Addison Street. The Cubs beat the Reds 7-6.

*On April 11, 1917, the Cubs begin opening day by announcing they are establishing a military recruitment station at the ballpark. The United States had entered World War I exactly five days earlier. The Cubs win the game 5-3.

*On April 23, 1924, the home opener becomes the very first Cubs game broadcast on the radio. The radio station is WMAQ. The announcer is Hal Totten (photo). He broadcasts from a small table on the roof. (The upper deck had not yet been built).

*On April 18, 1928, 46,000 turn out to witness opening day in Chicago. This is the first game played since the upper deck has been built. Unfortunately, the Cubs lost the game 9-6 to Cincinnati.

*On April 12, 1933, the Wrigley Field crowd is happier than it has been since 1919. Prohibition has been repealed and beer is served at the ballpark once again. The Cubs win 3-0, thanks to a shutout by pitching ace Lon Warneke.

*On April 17, 1934, Lon Warneke has the best opening day pitching performance in Cubs history. He gives up his first hit in the ninth inning, a single, and ends up with a one hitter.

*On April 17, 1942, the Cubs could have played their first night game on Opening Day. However, Philip Wrigley decided to donate the lights to the War Department after the bombings at Pearl Harbor instead, and the lights wouldn't go up until 1988. The Cubs were very patriotic in 1942. They also announced on opening day that they would donate every ball hit into the stands to the United States Military recreation department.

*On April 20, 1946, the Cubs raise their last pennant flag. It's also the first Cubs game ever televised. The station is WBKB-TV. The announcer is an old bowling announcer known as Whispering Joe Wilson. The Cubs get shut out 2-0 by the Cardinals.

*On April 13, 1954, the Cubs play their first opening day with an African-American in the starting lineup. The shortstop is Ernie Banks.

*On April 11, 1955, the first African-American pitcher for the Cubs, Sam Jones (photo), pitches five innings in relief, and wins the game for the Cubs 7-5 over the Reds.

Next Week--Opening Day highlights from the second half of Just One Bad Century.