CLEVELAND INDIANS HOME OPENER ODDS-N-ENDS
RECORD IN HOME OPENERS – The Tribe is 58-54 in home openers, registering a winning percentage of .523.
EARLIEST HOME OPENER –March 31, 2008 vs. the Chicago White Sox
LATEST HOME OPENER – May 6, 1902 vs. the Chicago White Sox
LONGEST WINNING STREAK – 5 games – 1920 thru 1924
LONGEST LOSING STREAK – 6 games – 1906 thru 1911
ONE-RUN GAMES – 34 – The Tribe is 19-15 in one-run home openers.
SHUTOUTS – The Indians have thrown 9 shutouts, most recently April 19, 1990…..The Tribe has been shutout 8 times, most recently April 15, 1958.
WINNINGEST PITCHER – Bob Feller – 4 wins
LAST TRIBE HOME RUN – In 2012 Jack Hannahan hit a 3-run home run to right field on a 2-2 pitch in the 2nd inning with 2 on and 2 out.
LAST TRIBE GRAND SLAM – Casey Blake on April 7, 2006 vs. the Minnesota Twins off Kyle Lohse (5th inning)
PREVIOUS HOME OPENERS VS. YANKEES – Entering the 2013 campaign, the Indians have hosted the Yankees in the home opener 5 times, compiling a record of 2-3. The Tribe’s victory in a home opener against the Bronx Bombers came on April 19, 1990, a game in which Greg Swindell pitched into the 7th inning, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 5. The first Cleveland home opener between the Indians and Yankees took place on April 8, 1975 with the Indians claiming a 5-3 victory, riding a 9.0-inning complete game from Gaylord Perry. The Indians played their last home opener in Cleveland Municipal Stadium against the Yankees on April 5, 1993 losing by a score of 9-3. The two teams have met only once to start the season at Progressive Field, also coming up short, 7-1, on April 2, 1996; rookie shortstop Derek Jeter also connected for his first Major League home run.
HOME OPENER RECORD BY DECADE:
1901-1909 – 4-5 1950-1959 – 6-4 2000-2009 – 5-5
1910-1919 – 4-6 1960-1969 – 3-7 2010-2012 – 0-3
1920-1929 – 9-1 1970-1979 – 5-5
1930-1939 – 6-4 1980-1989 – 5-5
1940-1949 – 5-5 1990-1999 – 6-4
SINCE MOVING TO PROGRESSIVE FIELD in 1994 the Indians have sold out all 19 of the club’s home openers played here, including 2012, when 43,190 Tribe fans combined to establish the highest attendance figure all-time for a home opener at Progressive Field.
AT CLEVELAND STADIUM the Cleveland Indians attracted more than 70,000 fans on Opening Day four times. More than 60,000 fans eight times and more than 50,000 13 times. These figures have gone the way of the dinosaur with the current capacity of 43,429 for Progressive Field.
THE INDIANS OWN THE TOP THREE ALL-TIME CROWDS IN A.L. HISTORY FOR HOME OPENERS
1. 74,420 vs. the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 1973
2. 73,290 vs. the New York Yankees on April 5, 1993
3. 73,163 vs. the St. Louis Browns on April 20, 1948
