Phillies enjoy share of Opening Day moments
When the Phillies take the field at Great American Ball Park on Monday, it will mark the seventh time they have opened the season in Cincinnati. The Reds hold a 4-2 lead, having won the past three (1981, '86 and 2016).
Most Opening Day starts
C -- Mike Lieberthal (10)
1B -- Ryan Howard (10)
2B -- Chase Utley (8)
SS -- Jimmy Rollins (14)
3B -- Mike Schmidt (16)
LF -- Greg Luzinski (9)
CF -- Richie Ashburn (10)
RF -- Johnny Callison (9)
P -- Steve Carlton (14)
Club records
Most home runs (5) -- Schmidt
Most wins (5) -- Robin Roberts
Most starts (14) -- Carlton
Most losses (9) -- Carlton
Most shutouts (3) -- Chris Short
Notable season openers
May 1, 1883
The Phillies lost their initial opener, 4-3, to Providence at Recreation Park, 24th and Columbia Avenues, when the Grays scored four runs in the eighth to overcome a 3-0 deficit. Attendance: an estimated 1,200. Future Hall of Famer Charles (Old Hoss) Radbourne was the winner, the first of 48 victories for him that season. John Coleman was the loser, the first of his 48 defeats (13 wins).
April 19, 1900
The Phils won at Boston, 19-17, in 10 innings in the highest-scoring opener in baseball history. Boston tied it by scoring nine runs in the bottom of the ninth.
April 9, 1913
The Phillies won first game played in Brooklyn's Ebbets Field, 1-0, over the Dodgers. Right-hander Tom Seaton was the winner.
April 14, 1914
Center fielder Sherry Magee became the first Phils player to homer twice on Opening Day in a 10-1 win over the New York Giants at Baker Bowl.
April 14, 1915
The Phillies won at Boston, 3-0, Grover Cleveland Alexander blanked the defending world champions. The Phils went on to win their first National League pennant.
April 19, 1937
The Phillies won a doubleheader beating Boston, 2-1, in 11 innings and 1-0 at Braves Field. It is the only time the Phils started the season with a twin bill.
April 19, 1938
Emmett Mueller of Phillies and Ernie Koy of Brooklyn each homered in their first Major League at-bat in first inning of a 12-5 Brooklyn victory, the last season opener at Baker Bowl. The Phils moved permanently to Shibe Park in July.
April 13, 1955
Roberts lost a no-hit bid at Connie Mack Stadium when Alvin Dark singled with one out in the ninth inning. Robbie prevailed, 4-2, over the Giants. Ashburn, injured late in Spring Training, sees his club record consecutive game played streak end at 730.
April 12, 1965
The Phillies won first NL game played in Houston's Astrodome over the Colt .45s, 2-0. Short tossed a four-hitter and third baseman Dick Allen homered.
April 6, 1974
Schmidt hit a walk-off homer off of Tug McGraw in 5-4 win over the New York Mets at Veterans Stadium. It is the only walk-off homer on Opening Day in Phillies history.
April 7, 2000
Left-hander Randy Wolf was the winner, third baseman Rolen hits first homer and the Phils prevailed, 4-1, in the first game at Houston's Enron Field.
April 4, 2005
Charlie Manuel made his Phillies managerial debut in an 8-4 win at Citizens Bank Park, the first game for the Washington Nationals, formerly the Montreal Expos.
April 5, 2010
Third baseman Placido Polanco drove in six runs in an 11-1 romp at Washington. Right-hander Roy Halladay won his Phillies debut. Polanco's RBIs are the most for a Phils player since Magee drove in six in the 1914 opener.
April 1, 2011
Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. delivered a walk-off single to cap a three-run ninth inning that lifts the Phillies to a 5-4 win over Houston at Citizens Bank Park.
April 5, 2012
Halladay tossed eight shutout innings as the Phils won, 1-0, in Pittsburgh. It was the third 1-0 Opening Day win in franchise history.
March 31, 2014
Rollins drove in four runs as the Phillies romped, 14-10, at the Texas Rangers, the most Opening Day runs for the club since 19 in 1900.