Top 25 Opening Day performances of all time

8. Dmitri Young blasts three out

Dmitri Young was a pioneer in baseball. He was one of the few players in league history willing to openly play at 300 pounds or more. Somehow, he managed a long MLB career even as he battled weight issues the entire time. Young played 13 seasons with the Cardinals, Reds, Tigers, and Nationals. Some of his best years came with the Tigers, and he opened the 2005 season with three bombs on Opening Day.

Young’s homers left no doubt, as all three were absolute moonshots. Back before the fences were brought in at Comerica Park, it took some serious clout to hit three balls out in the April cold of the Motor City. Say what you will about Young’s weight, the man could hit.

During his career, Young made the All-Star team twice, and batted .292/.351/.475 with 171 home runs and 683 RBI. He easily could have gotten more out of himself and his talents, but he has gone on to accomplish some good things after his playing days ended. A big collector of baseball cards, Young auctioned off 500 of his best cards, raised over $2 million, and is working to establish a foundation that will help young athletes in Southern California. That’s much more than could be said of younger brother Delmon, whose career ended in disgrace.