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Best Baltimore Orioles Opening Day Performances of All-Time

By Christopher Church

29 Sep 2001: Tony Batista of the Baltimore Orioles joggs during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/Allsport
29 Sep 2001: Tony Batista of the Baltimore Orioles joggs during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw/Allsport /
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The Baltimore Orioles and the other 29 Major League Baseball teams were all scheduled to play on MLB Opening Day 2018 for the first time since 1968 until inclement weather postponed the Nationals-Reds game.

Baltimore Orioles Opening Day history is full of memorable performances that date back to the St. Louis Browns era with the likes of Ned Garver and Bob Muncrief to Rick Sutcliffe and Brady Anderson.

MLB Opening Day is special for every team and fans as the long 162-game journey begins. At one point in 2014, Ozzie Smith’s movement made headway in his campaign to make Opening Day a national holiday as his petition reached required 100,000 signatures to reach the White House.

The first ever Baltimore Orioles Opening Day goes all the way back to May 3, 1901, as the Orioles lost 11-3 to the Chicago White Stockings.

Victories are something the Orioles are familiar with on Opening Day especially of late, winning six of their last seven Opening Day games, all under current Orioles manager Buck Showalter.

According to Baseball Almanac’s Opening Day analysis chart, the Orioles have won 59.5 and since the data stops through 2016 and the O’s have only added Opening Day wins since we’ll round it up to 60 percent.

The Orioles will open the season against the Minnesota Twins for the second time in three years. Per Baseball Almanac, the Orioles are 4-0 all-time against the Twins on Opening Day including their come from behind Opening Day victory in 2016 on a gloomy day in Baltimore.

Remember Spring Snow during the Orioles 2003 Opening Day? For all the snow lovers, the Orioles Opening Day 2003 against the Cleveland Indians entered nearly whiteout conditions midway through the third innings.

Without further ado, here are the Orioles best Opening Day performances in franchise history.

5. Jerry Hairston, Brady Anderson, Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2001

April 2, 2001: Red Sox, 1, Orioles 2 (Box Score)

An announced 46,547 filled Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the Orioles Opening Day 2001 game against American League East foe Boston Red Sox.

The pitching matchup featured two Cy Young winners in Red Sox Pedro Martinez and 32-year-old Pat Hentgen for the Orioles. Hentgen didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning when Trot Nixon put the Red Sox on top 1-0 in the pitching duel.

The youthful Jerry Hairston kickstarted the Orioles offense with a double to left field in the sixth inning. Hairston then stole third base to set up an RBI single by shortstop Mike Bordick.

Martinez lasted only an inning more before the game went into extra innings and Hairston delivered once again. This time in the 11th inning, delivering his second double of the game.

Next up, Anderson smacked a line drive single as Hairston came around to score from second base to give the O’s the 2-1 walk-off victory on Opening Day at Camden Yards.

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