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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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BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 03: Caleb Joseph
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 03: Caleb Joseph /

3. Bob Muncrief, St. Louis Browns Opening Day 1942

April 14, 1942: Browns 3, Tigers 0 (Box Score)
Muncrief’s line: 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 4 K
WPA: 0.647

The 9,793 in attendance on Opening Day in 1942 observed a swift one hour and 27-minute shutout by St. Louis Browns starting pitcher Bob Muncrief. He was incredible in the Browns 3-0 Opening Day victory in Detriot allowing just three hits in a complete game shutout.

The 26-year-old increased the Orioles win probability by 11 percent in the bottom of the fifth inning after getting Myril Hoag to hit a ground ball double play to keep the O’s up by one run.

Muncrief dominated the rest of the way and didn’t allow a Tigers hit following the fifth inning and faced 28 batters. Most noteworthy, Muncrief produced a remarkable 4.2 base-out runs saved (RE24) in one of the most notable pitching performance in team history.

Despite the White Sox bringing two pinch hitters to the plate, Muncrief retired the side the Orioles in the bottom of the eighth secure. In the final frame, he smoothly retired the side once again to secure the Opening Day shutout.

His wins probability added of 0.647 was one of the highest single-game WPA’s in baseball.

The righty spent nine seasons with the Orioles and compiled 69 wins with a 3.66 ERA. He also threw 10 shutouts. Muncrief would later win a World Series title in 1948 with Cleveland.

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