Top 25 Opening Day performances of all time

7. Walter Johnson’s one-hitter

President Taft, who had just kicked off the tradition of ceremonial first pitches, was treated to arguably the best Opening Day start ever in 1910 thanks to Walter Johnson. The Hall of Famer was just a young pup of 22 when he took the ball that day against the Philadelphia Athletics, and had only 32 career victories. Despite his young age, Johnson had already established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball, and he had everything working that day.

Johnson carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning. His bid was thwarted when Frank Baker lofted an easy fly ball down the right-field line. The right fielder had a play, but collided with a fan standing too close to the field. At the time, there were no clear borders separating fans from the action, and the crowd packed as close to the line as possible. The fielder tripped over the fan, and the ball fell in for a double. In modern times, such a play would have resulted in fan interference being called and an automatic out.

Were it not for the confused fan, Johnson would have had the first Opening Day no-hitter. He would have to settle for the one-hit shutout, and went on to win 25 games that year with a 1.36 ERA and 38 complete games. Johnson eventually got his no-hitter in 1920 against the Red Sox.