When was the first Opening Day?
Fun fact! The first Opening Day didn’t actually take place in Cincinnati!
When was the first Opening Day?
The very first Opening Day took place on April 22, 1876, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame website. Fans were treated to nice weather and a short game at the Jefferson Street Grounds in Philadelphia, as Boston beat the Philadelphia Athletics 6-5.
The National League had just been formed a couple months before on February 2, linking together the Chicago White Stockings, Boston Red Stockings, St. Louis Brown Stockings, Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds.
Why is Cincinnati known for Opening Day Ceremonies?
Considering Cincinnati’s longstanding connection with Opening Day, it’s funny to note that the Reds would be kicked out of the National League only a few years after the first Opening Day in 1880 (partially due to their renting out their stadium on Sundays and refusal to stop selling beer during ballgames). They would rejoin the NL in 1890 and later become well known for their Opening Day celebrations. For decades, each major league season would be scheduled to start with the first official pitch thrown in Cincinnati, and nearly every single Opening Day has been scheduled with a Cincinnati game at home.
A central part of Cincinnati’s Opening Day festivities is their Opening Day parade. According to the Findlay Market website, the origins of the parade came from the club itself, back in 1890, as the players and a band paraded through town on streetcars (there were also horse drawn wagons), encouraging folks to head to the stadium and watch the game.
The official organization-run parade came to an end in 1902, but fans picked up the slack by celebrating Opening Day with a parade of their own. In 1920, the Findlay Market rooter’s group joined in, and Findlay began to take a bigger role in the parade, even making a point to deliver the “official” American flag to fly at the game. Later, the activities took on the name of the Findlay Market Parade, which is what it is called today
When is Opening Day 2025?
This year, the season’s opening game will take place on March 18 in Japan in a game between the Dodgers and the Cubs. But the more official Opening Day will take place on March 27 with games played by all teams except for the Rockies and Rays (who will be playing their game on the 28th).
Why is the 2025 Rockies versus Rays Opening Day Game delayed?
The Rockies/Rays Opening Day game has been delayed to prepare Steinbrenner Field (the Yankees’ spring training field that is being used as the Ray’s home park following the damage to Tropicana Field during Hurricane Milton last year) in Tampa for the Ray’s use this year. Fun fact: the Rays will have 120 hours to install 3,000 signs and ads, cover up the “Yankees” splayed across the base stands, and restock all the shops with Rays merch.
Where will Opening Day 2025 games be played?
Opening Day Games will be played in Tokyo, New York, Toronto, Arlington, Washington, Kansas City, Houston, Cincinnati, San Diego, Chicago, Miami, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tampa, and Seattle.
