Contributed by Ryan Campbell

Events

1969 – Ted Williams makes his managerial debut for the Washington Senators in front of President Nixon.

1970 – The New York Mets finally win on Opening Day after eight consecutive losses.  They are still the only team in baseball history to win a World Series before an Opening Day Game. 

1986 – Red Sox OF Dwight Evans becomes the first player to hit the first pitch of the first game of the season for a home run.

Births

1873 – Hall of Famer John McGraw, a solid player in his day who made it big as a manager, winning 10 pennants and 3 World Series titles in 31 years at the helm of the New York Giants. 

1918 – Hall of Famer Bobby Doer, a nine time All-Star second baseman for the Red Sox.

1973 – Brett Tomko, who has changed addresses ten times since a promising 1997 rookie campaign in which he went 11-7 with a 3.43 ERA. .

1979 – Adrian Beltre, who eschews the use of a protective cup, sometimes with disastrous results.